Red, White, & Royal Blue focuses a fictional British Prince, but some royals came out in real-life... while historians speculate about the sexuality other royals.

It's rare for members of a family to be openly LGBTQ+. Only three royals have come out in recent years, and some were not well received.

It's hard to assign accurate labels to historical figures, but it is true that many royals in the past were thought to be homosexual or bisexual. Although how these royals would identify personally is still up for debate, historians think that they were part of the LGBTQ+ communities.

Find out about a few past and current royals by clicking on the links below.

1. Lord Ivar Ivar Mountbatten

Lord Ivar, Queen Elizabeth's Cousin, was the first British Royal to publicly come out as gay. Lord Ivar Mountbatten was married to Penny Mountbatten for over a decade, but the couple divorced in 2010. He would not announce his relationship with a man until six years later, although he had known he is bisexual since he turned 18.

He told Mail on Sunday that he was "much happier" now, but he still wasn't 100% comfortable being gay. "Coming out" is a funny term, but I guess that's what I did in an indirect way. I emerged to a happy place. "I have struggled and still do with my sexuality in many ways. It has been an incredible journey to get here."

In 2018, Lord Ivar and his wife James Coyle were married. They later shared that it was "an amazing day."

2. Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil

In 2006, Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil came out as gay when he turned 41. His decision to come forward was met with a lot backlash at the time, as homosexuality wasn't legal. His mother publicly disowned him. Prince Manvendra, who says his mother's opinion hasn't changed, claims that the public has become more accepting of him over the years.

He told Tatler that when he first came out, no one in his town supported him. However, over time things have changed. "People are proud of me for having achieved something not only for myself, but for the common good."

Prince Manvendra, in 2013, married DeAndre Richison. More recently, he has created a space for LGBTQ+ Indians at risk on the palace grounds.

3. Prince Egon von Furstenberg

Egon von Furstenberg, the German royal prince, was married two times in his lifetime. He first married designer Diane von Furstenberg. Then he later married a woman called Lynn Marshall. He did not identify his sexuality but it is believed that he is bisexual because he has been open about his experiences with men and women. In an interview from 1981, he said that he "had no regrets" for being sexually involved with a male.

I can't be with someone for a long time. He told People that he was bored sexually. "I am very happy. "I have no regrets."

4. Prince George, Duke Kent

Prince George, Duke Kent, was Queen Elizabeth's younger brother. George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth, was his older brother. Prince George was never outed as part of the LGBTQ+ Community during his lifetime, but there is widespread speculation that he may have been bisexual. Numerous historians claim that George had relationships with men and women. The Smithsonian Channel's docuseries, "Private Lives of the Windsors," claimed that George "didn’t recognize any limits to his sexual exploration."

He was sailing close to the wind because homosexuality was illegal at that time. Christopher Warwick, royal biographer and star of the series, said that homosexuality was illegal at that time.

5. Princess Isabella de Parma

Between 1741 and 1763, Princess Isabella of Parma was alive. It has been suggested that she may have been bisexual. It's believed that, although she married Archduke Josef of Austria when she was a teenager she had an affair with his sister Archduchess Maria Christina. Isabella and Maria Christina wrote hundreds of letters over the course of their friendship. Many of these were romantic. Isabella's correspondence can be found at the National Archives of Hungary.

Isabella wrote, "I love and worship you. My happiness is to be certain of you." In French. Isabella added in another letter, "It is possible that we will kiss each other until exhaustion."

6. King Umberto II, Italy

Early in the 20th century King Umberto was married to Queen Marie Josephine of Belgium. They had three children together. Umberto had a romantic relationship with another man during their marriage. Historians in "Who's Who in Contemporary Gay and Lesbian History" claim that he was exposed in the media in 1943. In 1946, he became king, but only 34 days after assuming the throne, the public voted for the abolition of the monarchy.

Umberto split from his wife later that year and lived the rest of his days in exile.

7. Philippe I, Duke of Orleans

Philippe I is believed to be gay or bisexual. He was the youngest son Louis XIII, King of France. Philippe, who lived in the 17th century is thought to have dressed as a woman and even had romantic relationships with males. According to "Homosexuality and Civilization", Philippe was often dressed in feminine clothing by his mother, which he continued throughout his life.

The court gossip also referred allegedly to his relationships with other men as "the Italian vice," which is a slang phrase for homosexuality in males. Philippe eventually married Princess Henrietta, who passed away under mysterious circumstances. He married Princess Palatine Elizabeth Charlotte, but it's believed that they slept separately.

8. Queen Anne

The late 17th-century Queen Anne is said to have been romantically involved with two women. This later inspired the film, "The Favourite." When Anne was a young girl, she became very close with Sarah Churchill, and then, as an adult, Sarah became her second lady in the bedchamber. While they were apart, it is said that the two wrote many letters to each other, some of them romantic.

In one letter, Anne wrote: "It is impossible for you to ever believe how much you love me unless you see my heart." Sarah's answers were also burned.

Anne began to show affection for Abigail Hill who worked as a woman in the bedchamber at Anne's court. Abigail's influence on Anne's politics was questioned over time and a rift developed between the three women. Sarah was said to be the one who started the rumors about Anne having a sexual relationship Abigail. Many believe that the letters between Anne, Sarah and Abigail seem to suggest a sexual relationship.

9. Archduke Ludwig Viktor von Austria

It is believed that Archduke Ludwig Viktor, younger brother of Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, was a member the LGBTQ+ Community. He refused to marry women throughout his life despite his family arranging numerous marriages. The scandal erupted after a shocking incident in a bathhouse, where he was accused of making a sexual advance on another man.

It appears that there was a fight, and an athletic middle-class young man knocked the Archduke down. The Chicago Tribune reported that witnesses said the young man was justified in his actions.

Franz Joseph prohibited Ludwig to stay in Vienna after the incident. After leaving Vienna, he moved to Salzburg where he worked as a charitable worker for the remainder of his life.

-----------------------------------

Title: 9 Royals Believed to Be Part Of The LGBTQ+ Community
Sourced From: www.toofab.com/2023/09/01/royals-believed-to-be-lgbtq/
Published Date: Fri, 01 Sep 2023 14:51:32 +0000

Read More