The more royal a family is, the darker the secrets. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down very unsettling aspects of the British Royal family through the years.
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00:00Think about how you obtained that mural. Is it good to have it on your crown?
00:05Welcome to Ms Mojo, and today we're counting down
00:09very unsettling aspects of the British royal family through the years.
00:14It is a grubby and secretive and corrupt institution.
00:20Number 10. Media Relations
00:22It all comes down to control. It's like, this family is ours to exploit.
00:28Their trauma is our story and our narrative to control.
00:32The royal family's relationship with the media has been fraught with tension and controversy.
00:38Historically, this relationship oscillated between periods of cooperative engagements
00:43and open hostility. The scrutiny intensified following events like the divorce of Prince
00:49Charles and Princess Diana, where the media's role was particularly criticised.
00:54Lenses and magnification. You can sit a mile away.
00:59Quite happily. And photograph through windows and everything else. And they do.
01:03Diana's tragic death in 1997, attributed partly to paparazzi chasing her car,
01:09notably worsened attitudes towards the press across the board. The family's approach has
01:15often involved legal actions against publications for breaches of privacy,
01:20highlighting an ongoing struggle to control their narrative and manage invasive media practices.
01:27You know this is unlawful. So we have to draw the line. We have to take legal action.
01:32Number nine. Colonial Past
01:34A long time ago, but not long enough ago that it's not still very relevant.
01:41Everyone in Britain got in a big old boat and we set sail and we robbed,
01:45and this will sound far-fetched, everyone in the world.
01:48The history of the monarchy is inextricably entwined with the history of the British
01:53Empire, which at its peak was the largest empire in history, with vast territories across the globe.
02:00The royal role involved sanctioning and sometimes directly participating
02:05in the colonial administration. This empire was built on the control and
02:10exploitation of numerous countries and peoples, leading to significant cultural,
02:15social and economic impacts on colonised regions.
02:20And they have written the story of colonialism and it has been about education,
02:25trains, legal regimes. It has not been about hunger, famine, the industrialisation,
02:31immiseration. All of those have disappeared from their history books.
02:36The legacy of this colonial past includes widespread debate about historical injustices,
02:42including slavery and the suppression of native cultures and political systems.
02:48These historical actions and their ongoing repercussions
02:51are subjects of intense scrutiny and re-evaluation today.
02:56This is not in the past for us. We feel the impact and the legacy of colonisation
03:02every single day, in the over-policing of our people, in the systemic discrimination
03:07that still exists from police interaction through to the courts.
03:11Number 8. Racism
03:24Emerging from the aforementioned colonial reckoning, in modern times the royal family
03:29has also faced accusations of racism. This came to prominence most notably
03:34during Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021.
03:40The couple revealed controversies within the family about the potential skin colour
03:44of their son, Archie, and this revelation sparked widespread media coverage and public debate.
03:51There's a conversation with you? With Harry.
03:56About how dark your baby is going to be? Potentially and what that would mean or look like.
04:04The interview brought to light long-standing concerns about institutional racism
04:09and the approach to diversity and inclusion. These allegations have prompted discussions
04:14about the monarchy's need to both address and reform its attitudes and policies
04:19regarding race and discrimination in a more transparent, progressive manner.
04:25I'm glad it's all out in the open. I'm glad that they did the interview.
04:29People are saying it's inappropriate. It's ridiculous. It was time for that to come out
04:33in the open and now the palace has to reckon with themselves.
04:36Number seven, political power and influence. The line between the symbolic and the substantive
04:42in terms of political influence has long been a source of intrigue. While their official role
04:48in modern times is ostensibly one of neutrality, whispers of behind-the-scenes influence linger.
04:55What if on this occasion I'd be happy for people to know the displeasure was actually real?
04:59That I am personally concerned about her lack of compassion? You know how seriously I take
05:04my constitutional responsibility to remain silent, but each of us has our line in the sand.
05:08Historically, monarchs wielded considerable political power. Queen Victoria, for instance,
05:14despite the rise of constitutional monarchy, was known to exert influence on policy
05:20through her personal relationship with prime ministers like Benjamin Disraeli.
05:25As she'd instinctively used her diplomatic skills in Germany in the years following Albert's death,
05:30Victoria leaped at the chance to stand at the helm of Disraeli's political ideals
05:35to galvanise Britain's classes under a powerful monarch.
05:39The 20th century did see a marked decline in direct political power,
05:44and today the influence seems more subtle. Weekly meetings with the prime minister
05:48offer a platform for the king or queen to share their insights and experiences,
05:53potentially swaying policy through quiet persuasion.
05:58Britain prides itself on its parliamentary democracy delivering the will of the people.
06:04And yet at the heart of power, the monarch and their heir are able to pressure governments
06:09into changing legislation without the knowledge of the people or their elected representatives.
06:14Number 6. Secrecy. Ironically, the one thing that there's no mystery about when it comes
06:20to the royal family is that it thrives on mystique.
06:24The people look to the monarchy for something bigger than themselves,
06:26an inspiration, a higher ideal. If you put it in their homes,
06:30allow them to watch it with their dinner on their laps.
06:33Shrouded in secrecy, their lives are a carefully curated public image.
06:38From residences like Buckingham Palace to personal finances, details are closely guarded.
06:44This culture of privacy fuels widespread fascination,
06:48with glimpses into royal life treated as rare treasures.
06:52I mean, I feel like I want to spend as long as I can here just finding out more and more and more.
06:57Does it, do you ever feel like you get to an end of what you know? Do you get surprised every day?
07:01This opaqueness can breed suspicion, as seen with the brouhaha over the Princess of Wales'
07:08extended absence from view in 2024. Critics argued a monarchy in the 21st century
07:14needs more transparency, while others defend the right to a private life.
07:19What they've been through with all the wild speculation and the sort of traumas and the
07:25criticism and the photographs and things, and actually what it was, was a woman dealing with
07:31what is clearly traumatic surgery.
07:33Number five, financial support. Public funding is a highly contentious issue,
07:39particularly during times of economic hardship.
07:43At a time when people are struggling to put food on the table, at a time when people are
07:47being denied cost of living pay rises, and I think there's going to be a lot of resentment and anger.
07:54The Sovereign Grant, an annual sum paid by the Treasury,
07:57finances the upkeep of palaces, travel and staff salaries.
08:02While there is revenue generated through tourism and the Crown Estate,
08:06a vast portfolio of lands and holdings, critics argue this doesn't justify the taxpayer burden.
08:12Cost of living crisis, people are struggling, really, really struggling
08:16to spend such an arm's breadth of money on a part of this.
08:20Transparency surrounding the true cost of the monarchy is also a concern.
08:24Security expenses, for example, are not fully disclosed,
08:28leading some to believe the actual cost is higher than reported.
08:32The debate over taxpayer funding reflects
08:34a broader questioning of the monarchy's relevance in modern society.
08:39While we struggle to heat our homes, we have to pay for your parade.
08:43The taxpayer pays a hundred million for you, for what for?
08:48Need for a penny, not for a king.
08:51Number four, the Crown Jewels.
08:53So there are some disadvantages to crowns, but otherwise they're quite important things.
08:59While the British Crown Jewels dazzle with their brilliance, their history is far from sparkling.
09:04Gems like the famed Koh-i-Noor diamond, meaning mountain of light, originated in India.
09:11However, Britain's claim to it stems from a disputed treaty,
09:15with many arguing it was stolen under duress.
09:18Similar questions surround the Cullinan diamonds, the largest ever discovered,
09:23which arrived in British hands during a period of brutal colonial wars in South Africa.
09:29It was the all-white parliament of the Transvaal colony who made the decision to
09:33present a gift that would be worth $400 million today.
09:37South African trade unionists suggest compensation.
09:40These treasures represent not just immense wealth,
09:43but a complex and often violent past marked with conquest and displacement.
09:49Today, the ownership of these jewels remains a contentious issue,
09:53with some countries demanding their return.
09:56I think to India it really represents a chance to put aside a lot of its darkest chapters of history,
10:02a lot of the fact that its wealth had been taken from its lands,
10:06and really provides a sense of addressing trauma.
10:11Number 3. Scandals
10:13In a counterpoint to their air of tradition, the royal's lineage is steeped in scandal.
10:20Henry VIII's marital mayhem, six wives, two beheaded, shocked Europe.
10:33Centuries later, whispers surrounded Queen Victoria's close friendship
10:39with a Scottish servant, John Brown.
10:42The 20th century saw a king's abdication rock the monarchy.
10:46That I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility
10:52and to discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do,
10:57without the help and support of the woman I love.
11:02Edward VIII, smitten with American divorcee Wallis Simpson,
11:06chose love over the crown in 1936, forever altering the line of succession.
11:12Princess Margaret, the queen's feisty sister,
11:15courted controversy with her flamboyant lifestyle.
11:19More recently, Prince Charles' affair with Camilla Parker Bowles,
11:22and particularly Prince Andrew's reported association with Jeffrey Epstein,
11:28tarnished the institution's image.
11:31He can no longer officially and publicly use his HRH title,
11:36but what we're waiting to find out is whether that is enough
11:40to sway public opinion in the family's favour.
11:43Number two, misogynistic succession laws.
11:47The line to the British throne has been meticulously charted for centuries,
11:51ensuring a smooth transfer of power.
11:54These laws, of course, haven't been fair or progressive.
11:58Queen Jane? Terrible idea.
12:00But it's His Royal Highness' idea. Are you saying it's terrible?
12:04She's a girl. Girls can't rule.
12:07Traditionally, a system called male preference primogeniture held sway.
12:12This meant the eldest son, regardless of the age of his sisters, would become king.
12:18This practice, rooted in a desire to maintain a clear line of succession
12:23and avoid disputes, persisted for generations.
12:26However, the tides began to turn in the 21st century.
12:30Funded any tradition should be overturned.
12:34Public opinion and evolving societal norms cast a critical eye on gender-based bias.
12:40In 2011, the Commonwealth realms, including the United Kingdom,
12:44came together for the Perth Agreement.
12:47This historic accord aimed to modernize succession laws.
12:51Attitudes have changed fundamentally over the centuries,
12:54and some outdated rules, like some of the rules on succession,
12:58just don't make sense to us anymore.
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13:16Number 1. The Gilded Cage
13:19While the crown promises prestige, it exacts a heavy toll on personal freedoms.
13:26Royal protocol dictates every aspect of life, from dress codes to interactions with citizens.
13:33Do you know the one thing I really hate?
13:35Is when I go to a restaurant and the waiter comes to the table and attempts to memorize the order
13:40without writing it down. You just know it's going to go wrong.
13:45This constant scrutiny and control can be stifling.
13:49Princess Diana's struggles with isolation within the monarchy
13:52became a stark reminder of the mental health toll such restrictions can have.
13:58You couldn't indulge in feeling sorry for yourself.
14:00You had to either sink or swim, and you had to learn that very fast.
14:04The pressure to conform and the lack of autonomy can leave royals feeling
14:09like carefully curated figures rather than individuals.
14:13This is a complex issue, as some may find comfort in the structure,
14:18while others might prioritize personal growth and independence,
14:23potentially leading to a clash with tradition.
14:26Needs to be conversation and accountability.
14:28And if that doesn't happen, then that's very sad.
14:31But I will focus on my life, my amazing family that I'm so grateful to have,
14:37my two kids who are bouncing up and down me this morning.
14:39What other dark truths could have made this list? Let us know in the comments.
14:44There is no getting away from it.
14:46The royal family can appear ruthless when their reputation is at stake.
14:51Do you agree with our picks?
14:53Check out this other recent clip from Ms Mojo.
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