In 2011 European bookies were putting the odds of Queen Elizabeth II abdicating and replacing Bruce Forsyth as the host of the popular BBC dance competition Strictly Come Dancing at 50,000 to […]
An Odd Bit of Odds
Even His Grandmother Wanted Him Dead
Roman Emperor Elagabalus (ca 203 – 222; reigned 218-222) became emperor at the age of fourteen. During the four years of his reign, he chalked up quite a list of accomplishments, […]
Someone Needs to Pour Some Chlorine In That Gene Pool
Charles II of Spain (1661-1700) is widely regarded as one of the least competent kings to have reigned. He was the unhappy result of over a century of inbreeding within the Hapsburg […]
He Was a Scrooge When It Came to Henry VIII
Charles Dickens didn’t mince words when it came to King Henry VIII: “The plain truth is, that he was a most intolerable ruffian, a disgrace to human nature, and a blot of […]
The Liberace of the 17th Century
Duke Charles II of Brunswick (1804-73) was known as “the Duke of Diamonds” because he wore them in such profusion that he could have been mistaken for an animated chandelier. He had […]
Which is More Formidable?
In the early days of World War II, the Duke of Windsor (the former King Edward VIII), paid visits to French troops to help boost their morale. His flaccid grasp of the […]
If Only There Were A Backspace Button for Speech
When Crown Princess (later Queen) Louise of Sweden visited Uppsala Cathedral, the Archbishop conducted the tour in English. His use of the language was good, but he got tripped up at a […]
Long Live the …. Whoops… Too Late
King Louis XIX succeeded to the throne of France upon the abdication of his father, Charles X. Twenty minutes later he abdicated in favor of Henry V.
Long Live the King!
Sobhuza II, King of Swaziland from December 10, 1899 to August 21, 1982, holds the record for the longest reign of any monarch in history, with 82 years, 254 days on the […]
Heavy is the Head That Wears The Crown… And Watch Out if The Throne is Heavy, Too
Bela I (1020 – 1063), King of Hungary achieved many great things during his life, rightfully earning him the massive wooden throne he had constructed for himself. Unfortunately, he is largely remembered […]
Dressed for Success — or for Treason
Purple, the most expensive dye from Murex seashells, was reserved exclusively for Roman royalty. For anyone else to wear the color was treason. source
Passport for the Dead
In 1974, archeologists noted the deteriorization of the mummified remains of Rameses II, and he was flown to Paris for examination. He was issued an Egyptian passport, listing his occupation as “King […]
Royal Roominess
Buckingham Palace’s 775 rooms include 78 bathrooms, 92 offices, 52 royal and guest bedrooms and 188 staff bedrooms. source
Commonplace Fun Facts 