Queens

Anne Neville was crowned Queen of England in a magnificent summer spectacle at Westminster. Yet in mere months, everything fell apart—and that was just the beginning of her nightmare.

Today, people see Queen Barbara of Poland’s marriage to King Sigismund as a “love conquers all” fairy tale—but their unearthed letters tell a darker story.

Kings and queens have fascinated people since the earliest monarchies, and with good reason. The kind of power that monarchies can hold often leads to fascinating—and scandalous—events. Here are some of the weirdest facts about the world's greatest monarchies, both old and new.

When Nazli Sabri married Fuad I and became Queen of Egypt, people called it a fairy tale. Behind closed doors, it was really a horror story.

Queen Tamar of Georgia's exquisite beauty made jaws drop—but no one realized that Tamar's elegant face hid a twisted mind.

Queen Marie of France may have looked prim and proper, but the truth is, her “nice” reputation hid a chilling dark streak.