Royal Bastards: Illegitimate Children of the British Royal Family

by Roger Powell, Peter Beauclerk-Dewar

Since 1066 when William the Conqueror took the throne, English and Scottish kings have sired at least 150 children out of wedlock. Many were acknowledged at court and founded dynasties of their own; several of today's dukedoms are descended from them. Others were only acknowledged grudgingly or not at all. In the 20th century this trend for Royals to father illegitimate children continued, but the parentage, while highly probable, has not been officially recognized.  This book is a genuinely fresh approach to British kings and queens, examining their lives and times through the unfamiliar perspective of their illegitimate children. Interviewees include many of their descendants. But beyond personal narratives it also sheds light on the perennially fascinating topic of sexual habits; the links between politics, power, and patronage; the class system, scandal, and celebrity; and the different expectations we have of men and women.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Royalty, Biography, Historical, British Literature, Audiobook

288 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2008

Reviews

[Zain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tedious at Times.

This book on royal bastards of Britain is full of information. Sometimes too much information.

The book covers just about every known member of the family who were born illegitimate. Even some that are unknown.

Most of the children died young or appear to have had no issue. Yet, there are some people today that are descendants of the British royal family.

Some are acknowledged. Many aren’t.

Things get a bit confusing when the author goes on a listing of the ancestors, spree. With so many grandparents and great grandparents listed, you are inclined to become disinterested in all the information.

I don’t feel a need to know every ancestor. Especially if they aren’t royal.

So, altogether, the author has written a book that is well researched and (though a bit dated), has a great biography in the back. I will definitely give it a 3.5 stars.

Four stars. ✨✨✨✨

[BAM doesn’t answer to her real name · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I’m not certain what I expected from this book, and I’m not sure what I will rate it, but the one feature I appreciate is that the author, a descendant to one of the great houses himself, gives the illegitimate children’s titles and at the end of that section the present royal representative is given, many traceable to today’s royal family.
It’s so easy for one to read historical fiction or nonfiction about a king, or a royal family and think you know a bit about these children, but no, one really doesn’t. (I’m sorry I just cannot use the B-word in the title. It’s all I can do to use ille- . Personal reasons

[Tina Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read and for me, a lot of fun. It's easy to get lost in the changing titles that come with mutilple remarriages. Several pages of black and whites, with reproductions of different coats of arms help the reader not only visualize the family trees, but see the adjustments of the coat of arms to signify one as a "natural" child of royalty. I apprecite the fact that the authors carried this forward t the time of Edward VII, instead of concentrating on Charles II, whose illegitimate offspring could, and have, filled entire books. Worth a re-read to pick up on any missed bits.

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s not entirely fair to describe this as boring but it was very dry - and I like dates and family trees!There was just too much genealogy and not enough narrative. There is little known to pad out the lives of medieval monarchs illegitimate offspring but from Charles 11 onwards there is much more biographical information available which somehow still didn’t lead to any engaging writing. I was disappointed and had to really force myself to finish the book.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but so, so dry.

[Nate · Rating 3 out of 5]

How interesting a book, about the generally glossed over parts of royal history, the bastards and the possible ones. Obviously the latter section is by far the most interesting as few biographers of the royal forebears will mention these "loose ends" for fear of seeming reliant on gossip and scandal. Pictures were cool to see, and the stories of the mothers of these bastards. I wish the publisher would republish this book, fixing all the little spelling and grammatical errors, such as calling someone the Princess of Wales and later using him referring to the same man, or spelling needed with an accent on the first e (every time for the latter).

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read! It was one that kicked around my house for a few months as it was easy to pick up, read for a bit, and put down again. The information was well researched and resources provided in most of the entries. I really enjoyed learning about Queen Victoria's views of her 10 illegitimate cousins! In all, a fun and interesting read.

[Leonie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whilst the information within is fascinating, it pains me to mark Royal Bastards down due to poor execution. Had the authors employed an experienced editor, or at the very least a sharp-eyed proofreader to give the text a thorough edit, this work would've got five stars from me. Typos, incorrect words, obvious use of "Find and Replace" in MS Word - every word that starts with "nee" has an accent over the second e.

For as long as I live, I will never forget that Mrs Jordan was a "well-known comic actress" after being told it eight or nine times.

It's more understandable in a self-published work but shame on DeBrett's for producing a second edition without having these issues addressed!

[Amber Ray · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not care greatly for this. I read it with the hope of it being a naughty, juicy read but it's at times like reading geneologies of various people. Good information if you're seriously researching royal history or the fate of various by-blows, but unexciting.
I also thought a portrait of the bastard and parents in question would have been good for each section--there are some nice portraits in the middle, but I thought seeing the person as they're being discussed would have enlivened things a bit.

[Deirdre E Siegel · Rating 3 out of 5]

For anyone who has studied English history this will be a recap of by blows and bed hopping with the added bonus of details as to where the results ended up.
It fascinating how through the centuries the shame behaviour was replaced with greed and access to easy street .
What a shame that after a couple a generations we are back to immorality in the big seat regardless of how they are relabelled and dressed, at least Edward VIII had the balls to step down for the woman he loved.
Thank you for your collection of words Peter Beauclerk-Dewar & Roger Powell, and your superb eloquence John Lee, thank you gentleman, very much appreciated. :-)

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the topic is intriguing the execution leaves much to be desired. There was practically no editing done and large sections read like Burke’s Peerage, a simple list of relations, titles and military ranking. I’m not sure if I would recommend this book to a fellow British history due to all these qualms.

[Deirdre · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book randomly picked off the shelf in the library. Goes through in detail each possible illegitimate child of British royalty from the 1300s onwards. Interesting historically, but also infuriating that the rich could get away with behaviour that would not have been tolerated by the lower classes.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing compilation of short biographies about English Royal illegitimate children. I loved the loose ends chapter the most. It made me want to read more about several people. Really glad I got this and a wonderful peak into this topic.

[Jacqueline · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not an easy read

[J. A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Several English people. Starts with older people, goes to more recent people.

[Tambra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story about the Royal family children learn a lot.

[Ken Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

[2008] An interesting and informative read.

[TRISHA · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an unexpected surprise & pretty good. I still couldn’t follow who was what, but an entertaining read.

[Vanore · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those of us who wondered what became of the royals born on the wrong side of the blanket and their descendants. It was really good - one of the authors is a direct descendant of Nell Gwyn and Charles II so we know that line continued.