10 Most Evil Royals

10 Most Evil Royals

Welcome to WatchMojoUK, and today we’re exploring our picks for the 10 Most Evil Royals.

For this list, we’ll be looking at some of the worst crimes and atrocities that members of the UK royal family have done or are suspected to have been involved with throughout history.

Who’s the most unproblematic royal of all time? Let us know below!

James VI and I

From James VI of Scotland to James I of England, Ireland, and Scotland, after the union of the crown, that’s a pretty big thing to be known for. But for James, there was a darker side that eclipsed this. After being inspired by witch trials in Denmark, he began watching them in Scotland. From here, the punishment for suspected witches became a lot more fatal with James’s backing. Often, the paranoia over his own demise played a big part in who was accused of using magic. After making his thoughts known in the book “Daemonologie,” James took a more active role in the hunt by causing terrible suffering during the interrogations of suspects. However, after arriving in England, he sharply dropped his obsession.

George IV

When George IV received the UK crown in 1820, he was a bit of a controversial figure due to his attitude. And this wasn’t helped by how he treated his wife, Caroline of Brunswick. The two had been separated for years, both having affairs, with Caroline living abroad. But with the coronation, she returned to be Queen Consort, which George didn’t like. So, he put together the Pains and Penalties Bill, which would divorce the duo and stop her from getting the title. Well, the public hated that idea, and after a debate in Parliament, the bill was withdrawn. Ignoring this, George still stopped Caroline from being at the coronation. But suspiciously, Caroline suddenly became sick on that historic day and later perished.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York

While Andrew hasn’t been found guilty of a crime, suspicions about his actions have been called into question for years. And it all stems from his friendship with convicted human trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The accusations that Andrew was involved gathered steam in 2019. That's when he had that disastrous interview with “Newsnight” where he claimed he couldn’t sweat to defend an accusation from Virginia Giuffre. In 2021, Giuffre issued a civil suit against Andrew. The prince tried his best to get it thrown out, but it didn’t work. In 2022, he and Giuffre settled out of court. Reportedly for £12 million, which the royal family controversially helped with. In the aftermath, Andrew was stripped of his titles and hidden from public life.

Henry VIII

It’s not every royal that changes a nation’s whole religion just to secure a divorce from their partner. But Henry was a unique case who was impulsive and obsessed with getting a male heir. After leaving the Catholic Church and establishing the Church of England, he went on a rampage over numerous wives. After separating from the popular Catherine of Aragon and banishing her to isolation, he married Anne Boleyn. When no boy came along, Henry had Anne executed for treason and having an affair with her own brother. Then the next terrible betrothal was with 15-to-18-year-old Cathrine Howard when Henry was 49. After a couple of years, she was executed along with two men she allegedly had flings with.

Richard III

After the passing of Edward IV in 1483, the crown went to his son, the 12-year-old Edward V, while Richard was given the title of Lord Protector. Straight away, Richard began wiping out threats to his and Edward’s reign. Before Edward’s coronation, his claim to the throne was annulled when his parent’s marriage was declared illegitimate. As such, Richard was announced as king. It then becomes a bit murky about what happened to Edward and his younger brother, Richard of Shrewsbury. It’s believed the two were banished to the Tower of London and became the “princes in the tower.” After that, it’s assumed Richard slew his nephews to cement his reign…which only lasted until 1485 when he became the last king to fall in battle.

John, King of England

If you've ever wondered why British fiction likes to showcase John as a villain, well, they have a good reason. While his brother, Richard I, was off fighting in the Third Crusade, John started to plot. He got his chance when Richard was captured and held for ransom. John allied himself with France to take England’s crown. But it didn’t work. Richard’s loyal forces defeated John’s army. After becoming king in 1199 after Richard’s passing, John slew his rival to the throne, and nephew, Arthur. Once he ostracised himself from nobles and barons in England and France, John signed the peace treaty, the Magna Carta. Well, he immediately broke the pact. This led to a battle and John's downfall.

Richard II

There’s a good reason why William Shakespeare wasn’t a fan of Richard. After taking the crown in 1377 at the age of 10, the king was surrounded by advisors. But they didn’t have his or the country’s best interests in mind. Straight away, various poll taxes were instigated that forced the Peasants' Revolt in 1381. In later life, Richard became more ruthless. He executed several former advisors and anyone that undermined his reign. In 1399, Henry IV invaded England from France. He easily unseated Richard from the throne, leaving the former king to perish in captivity. Some historians believe Richard had a narcissistic personality, while others think he suffered from some form of mental illness, especially near the end of his reign.

Edward VIII

On the surface, Edward abdicating the throne in 1936 to marry the divorcée Wallis Simpson sounds like something in a romance novel. But what happened after he left the UK tainted his reputation significantly. Against the government's wishes, he and Simpson visited Germany in 1937. They met with Adolf Hitler and others, taking part in the infamous salute along the way. Once World War Two started, Edward’s sympathies with Germany began to reflect horribly on the royal family. In 1945, the Marburg Files were discovered. Within were sensitive letters between Edward and German officials. Allegedly, within them, the former king encouraged the bombing of the UK to force a peace treaty, as well as a plan to install him as a puppet king.

Elizabeth I

Elizabeth’s reign, which began in 1558, is best known for one thing, slaying a huge number of Catholics. In 1569, a group of Catholic loyalists planned to dethrone Elizabeth and free the cousin she imprisoned, Mary, Queen of Scots, to take her place. After Elizabeth beat the conspirators, she had over 750 of them executed. As a result, Pope Pius V declared her a heretic and called her sovereignty illegitimate. On top of this, there’s speculation she may have been involved in the demise of Amy Dudley, the wife of one of Elizabeth’s romantic suitors, Robert Dudley. Amy had fatally fallen down the stairs. While it was officially an accident, some think Robert caused her passing, perhaps with Elizabeth’s knowledge.

Mary I

Having witnessed her father, Henry VIII, treat her mother, Catherine of Aragon, horribly, Mary was looking for revenge when she took the throne in 1553. Her reign got off to a violent start as she arrested and later beheaded the disputed queen, Lady Jane Grey. From there, Mary attempted to reinstall the Catholic church and restore previous Church land that was lost in the reformations. Neither worked out. So, Mary turned her ire towards the Protestants. Reportedly, over her years in power, Mary was responsible for burning 283 people at the stake, one of the most horrific ways to execute someone. This earnt her the legacy of one of the cruellest rulers and gave her the nickname of Bloody “Mary.”