Famous Royal Fallouts
Buckingham Palace, London
Once, according to his book, when royal brothers Harry and William met, punches were thrown.
Are they jealous of each other?
He who will one day get the top job whether he wants it or not, toes the royal party line. The Spare got to play the field and enjoys an easy laid back Californian life style William yoked to duty can only dream of.
It was ever thus. History is littered with animosity between brothers.
That between Charles III and his brother Andrew is almost biblical. Charles never got the fatted calf. Andrew, according to reports, his mother’s favourite, lived extravagantly and, allegedly, slept around. He confessed all to HM and was forgiven but not by Charles wo refused him the title The Duke of Edinburgh.
Still with the Bible, Jacob hated his twin brother Esau because he was the first born. Joseph, of the coloured coat, his father’s favourite, was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers.
Ruins of Forteresse Montrichard, Loir-et-Cher
Back to the royals. Cunning, duplicitous John, favourite son of Henry II plotted to relieve his brother Richard, his mother’s favourite, of the throne and asked his father to keep Richard away from England for as long as possible.
Then there was Louis XI whose brother Charles was so jealous of him he spent his life plotting against him to bring him down.
Catherine de Medicis positively encouraged her sons jealousy by setting them against each other. Francis II, her least favourite son, died young so escaped her chicanery but his brothers Charles IX, Henry III and the mis-named Hercules fought each other for her attention.
Charles was ten when he succeeded Francis II. He and Hercules were insanely jealous of his mother’s favourite, Henry. Hercules, who understandably changed his name to Francis, joined Henry’s enemies. His mother said: ‘Would to God you had died young’.
At least Harold and Willy enjoyed what should be every child’s birthright. A loving mother.
Post by Pamela (BA History of Art).
