We speak to Jane Tippett on the fascinating story of Edward VIII's memoir, with Jane telling us about how and why the book was written and the wealth of new material that she has found giving us further insight into Edward's views on his childhood, time as Prince of Wales and the Abdication Crisis. You can find out more about Jane at her website ht…

After taking your messages on the first three Windsor consorts, today we deal respond to your messages about Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and Prince Philip - only two of them, but as the most recent and very much within living memory, they very much generated the most discussion! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

We tackle your messages about the Windsor consorts, but because we had so many messages and so much to talk about, we've had to cut the episode in half! So in Part 1, we respond to your messages about Alexandra of Denmark, Mary of Teck and Wallis Simpson, with messages on Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and Prince Philip to follow next week. Sign up for ad-fr…

It's the end of the series - with this episode, we finish our review of all the consorts from Ealhswith to Prince Philip. With the war, gaffes galore and a record-breaking stint as consort, there's plenty to discuss. The question is, will Prince Philip, consort to Elizabeth II, take the final place on the Rex Factor mountain? Sign up for ad-free ep…

We reach the end of the series, or nearly the end, as we embark on the first of two episodes for Prince Philip, the consort to Elizabeth II. No reviewing this time, but instead we take a look at his life and consortship, particularly a dramatic start to life which sees flight from revolution, family tragedy and the Second World War before things se…

In Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon's second episode, we review the consort of King George VI by all the factors and decide whether or not she had the Rex Factor. Subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor for ad-free episodes and hundreds of bonus episodes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

In the first of two episodes, we look at the life and queenship of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (AKA the Queen Mother), consort to King George VI. From growing up in a Scottish castle to the First World War, becoming the Duchess of York, helping the monarchy through the Abdication Crisis and the Second World to a half-century as the Queen Mother, Elizabeth…

This time we review Wallis Simpson, the wife-but-not-consort of Edward VIII. There's lots for us to get our teeth stuck into: an independent spirit but not able to become queen; myriad rumours of scandals across the world plus an unhealthy dose of Nazi associations. Famous, notorious and compelling - but does she have that certain something? Learn …

In the first two episodes, we tackle one of the most controversial women in English royal history, Wallis Simpson. Technically not a consort, but her role in the Abdication Crisis and marrying the (former) King Edward VIII makes hers a fascinating and pertinent part of the story. In this episode, we tell her full life story, from growing up in Balt…

Mary of Teck (or Queen Mary, as many would have known her) was the consort of George V, and the first proper Windsor consort. Together with George, she helped set a model for the modern monarchy, facing a remarkable succession of crises (including two world wars). It was quite the story to get there as well, with a disrupted childhood, a royal trag…

We are into our final mini-series of the series, with Alexandra of Denmark (or Alix, as she was known), consort to King Edward VII. Alix enjoyed a surprisingly modest upbringing and was not initially favoured as a bride by Queen Victoria, but her kindly character and natural beauty saw her win the day. However, she would have to deal with excessive…

Before we get started on the Windsor consorts, we read through various listener correspondence as well as sharing previews of our bonus content, including our new special episode on Geoffrey Chaucer. You can sign up to join the Privy Council and gain access to all our bonus content here: https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor And you can purchase the Ge…

We chat to the historian Professor Gretchen Gerzina about Black Britons in Georgian Britain. There is a widespread misconception that Britain's black history only begins with Windrush, but we discuss the sizeable black and mixed raced population in Georgian Britain, the differing experiences that these people faced and some of the fascinating chara…

We speak to the historian Gareth Russell about his book The Palace, which covers the history of Hampton Court Palace, from the Tudors to the Windsors. It's a fascinating book (and podcast!) covering lots of fascinating characters - from Henry VIII and George III to chocolatiers and the Romanovs. For more on Gareth, you can find him on Twitter (http…

We speak to the historian Professor Penelope Corfield about the Georgians in a wide-ranging discussion that takes us from epoch-shifting changes in technology and literacy to the beginnings of handshakes and the postal system. For more information on Penelope and her essays, check out her website: https://www.penelopejcorfield.com/ For additional r…

Having finished our mini-series on the Hanoverian consorts, we go through some of your messages, points of debate and more Max Boneyman! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesDoor Rex Factor

After a full biography episode last week, this time we review Prince Albert, scoring him on the factors and deciding whether or not he has the Rex Factor. Sign up for ad-free episodes and lots of bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

In the first of two episodes, we do a full episode just looking at the life and consortship of Prince Albert, husband to Queen Victoria, with a full review episode to come next time. One of the most famous names in British royal history, Albert has perhaps been overshadowed by the extensive memorialisation undertaken by Victoria after his death, so…

We are off for Easter for a couple of weeks before getting back to Prince Albert, so this week we're doing a feed swap with the History Daily Podcast, which releases c. 15 minute episodes every weekday covering an event in history. We are showcasing two of their episodes which should hopefully be of interest to Rex Factor Listeners: the jousting in…

We speak to the historian Dr Linda Porter about some of the most notable mistresses of Charles II (Lucy Walter, Barbara Villiers, Frances Stuart, Nell Gwynn, Hortense Mancini), discussing why we know so much about them, what they tell us about Charles and how this affected his wife and queen, Catherine of Braganza. Sign up for bonus content (includ…

Adelaide is probably one of the least famous of Britain's consorts, wife of William IV. A very different character to her predecessor, Queen Caroline, Adelaide was quiet and kind but faced the challenge of an eccentric and uncouth husband in William and a febrile political atmosphere with agitation for reform. Will slow and steady win the race? Lea…

If Ali still had his scandal bell, this episode might break it! It's Caroline of Brunswick this week, consort to George IV despite his spending their entire marriage trying to prevent that eventuality. A poorly matched couple, Caroline lived life according to her own rules, creating scandal in England and then in European exile before returning for…

This week we review Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the wife and consort of King George III. We look at how she came to be queen at all, what was her role as consort and how her life was turned up side down by the Regency Crisis of 1788-89 when George III suffered a total collapse in his mental health. We will see whether her reaction to t…

It's the first Hanoverian consort proper this week with Caroline of Ansbach, queen consort to George II. She's not so famous now, but Caroline was a highly influential consort, loved and respected by her husband and enjoying great influence through an alliance with Robert Walpole (the country's first Prime Minister). However, she also had to manage…

Sophia Dorothea of Celle was the wife of King George I but she was not, technically, a consort. We'll explain why this was the case, taking in dynastic politics, an unhappy marriage, a passionate romance, high drama and a new heroic character mostly invented by Ali. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…