Queens Podcast

Before she became Mary I of England, the queen history remembers as “Bloody Mary,” Mary Tudor was Henry VIII’s beloved only daughter. Born to Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon in 1516, Mary grew up ridiculously educated, wildly privileged, and fully expecting to become a queen. Then came the King’s Great Matter. As Henry fought to end his marriage to Catherine and marry Anne Boleyn, Mary’s world collapsed. She was separated from her mother, stripped of the title Princess, declared illegitimate, removed from the succession, and sent to serve in the household of her new baby sister, Elizabeth. And when Henry demanded Mary accept his new marriage and authority over the Church of England? Absolutely not. In Part 1, we follow Mary from spoiled Tudor princess to the family crisis that would shape England’s future queen. Timestamps: 00:06:00 — Meet Mary Tudor: Henry VIII’s beloved little princess00:16:00 — Royal engagements, first cousins & Mary’s queen-in-training era00:30:00 — The King’s Great Matter & Anne Boleyn enters the chat00:46:00 — Princess Mary becomes Lady Mary00:54:00 — The Act of Supremacy & Mary refuses to submit Resources: - The Myth of Bloody Mary by Linda Porter - HIstorical Royal palaces: Mary I - Princess Mary, Henry VIII and Tudor history’s greatest battle of wills Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please get in touch with [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the Season 9 finale of Queens, we're back in Russia with Alexandra Feodorovna, the last Tsarina of the Russian Empire. When we last left Alexandra, she had married Tsar Nicholas II and stepped into one of the most powerful—and unforgiving—courts in Europe. Now, the pressure to produce an heir, her son Alexei's devastating hemophilia diagnosis, and the arrival of Grigori Rasputin will change the course of Russian history forever. As Russia faces war, political unrest, and revolution, Alexandra becomes one of the most controversial women of her era. But was she truly the villain history remembers, or a devoted wife and mother caught in an impossible situation? Join us as we explore Rasputin, the Romanovs, the Russian Revolution, and the tragic final chapter of the last Empress of Russia. Time stamps: 00:00 Intro & Patreon shout outs! 03:37 All Daughters No Heir 05:32 Stress and Phantom Pregnancy 08:52 Faith Healer Philippe de Lyon 09:53 IT'S A BOY! Then... uh oh 13:59 Rasputin Enters 21:05 Russo Japanese War 23:43 Bloody Sunday 29:25 War Sparks Suspicion 31:15 Alexandra as Regent 36:02 Rasputin's Murdered... probably not as dramatic as you've heard 38:55 Russia Collapses Into Revolution 41:14 Pulling up to the Abdication Station 44:13 House Arrest 49:53 Execution Night 52:59 Legacy and Remains Found 55:06 Final Toast and Farewell Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please get in touch with [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re back with a completely reworked and expanded 2026 version of one of our most requested redo episodes: Alexandra Feodorovna, the last empress of Russia. Originally covered way back in 2018, we realized there was so much more to unpack about the woman who would become the tragic final tsarina of Imperial Russia. So this time, we’re slowing down, diving deeper, and fully embracing the gaudy, dramatic chaos of the Romanov court. In part one, we explore Alexandra’s early life as Princess Alix of Hesse, Queen Victoria’s favorite granddaughter, whose happy childhood was shattered by tragedy, illness, and loss. We talk about the spread of hemophilia through Europe’s royal families, Alexandra’s intense religious beliefs, and the deeply romantic (and deeply codependent) love story between Alix and the future Tsar Nicholas II. From doomed romance to catastrophic public relations disasters, this is the beginning of the end for the Romanovs. Timestamps: 00:00 Return to Imperial Russia & Alexandra Feodorovna Redo02:39 The Revised “Rasputin” Cocktail Recipe03:40 Alexandra Feodorovna’s Birth, Family & Triple Gemini Chaos05:24 Queen Victoria, Royal Upbringing & Life in Hesse10:12 Hemophilia in Europe’s Royal Families Explained16:22 Alexandra’s Religion & the Divine Right of Kings21:42 Alexandra Feodorovna’s First Trip to Russia22:22 Young Nicholas II Meets Alexandra for the First Time27:14 Nicholas and Alexandra’s Romantic Letters & Courtship34:26 Nicholas II Proposes & Alexandra’s Religion Crisis38:03 Alexandra Arrives in Russia as the Tsar Dies45:40 Alexandra Feodorovna’s First Impressions at Court47:35 Nicholas II’s Coronation & the Khodynka Field Disaster53:06 “She Came to Russia Behind a Coffin” — Bad Omens Begin Sources: Queens of Misfortune The History Chicks Ambivalent Offenders Check out our Dagmar of Denmark series Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please get in touch with [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re back for part 2 in our Caroline of Brunswick series—and the drama only escalates. After her disastrous marriage to George IV, Caroline becomes Britain’s ultimate “people’s princess” while her husband doubles down on being the worst. In this episode, we cover the birth of Princess Charlotte, George IV’s infamous will, and how Regency-era tabloids fueled Caroline’s rise in public support. From palace spying and a toxic court to her separation and new independent life, Caroline refuses to stay quiet. It’s messy, dramatic, and completely unfair—and somehow, the public never stops rooting for her. Time stamps: 00:00 Cold Open Banter 01:21 Caroline of Brunswick & George IV Marriage Recap 02:11 Birth of Princess Charlotte of Wales 03:37 George IV’s Infamous Will & Treatment of Caroline 10:03 Caroline & George IV Separation Explained 11:29 Caroline’s Independent Life & Affair Rumors 14:22 Who Was William Austin? Royal Baby Scandal 14:57 Lady Douglas Feud & Royal Gossip Escalates 20:26 The Delicate Investigation Explained 23:27 Regency Era Begins: George IV Takes Power 27:18 Death of Princess Charlotte (1817 Tragedy) 28:22 Adultery Trial Fallout 31:55 George IV Coronation Drama & Caroline Snub 38:47 Caroline of Brunswick Death & Final Days 41:50 Funeral Riots Legacy 44:08 George IV Reputation Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please get in touch with [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Queens Podcast, we dive into the chaotic early life of Caroline of Brunswick, the future Princess of Wales and one of the most controversial royal figures of the Regency era. Raised in isolation in the Duchy of Brunswick, Caroline’s childhood was anything but typical—marked by family dysfunction, social restriction, and a deep craving for attention that would follow her into adulthood. But everything changes when she’s chosen to marry her cousin, George IV, the scandal-prone Prince of Wales. From a disastrous first meeting to a wedding day filled with drunken chaos, this royal marriage starts off on the worst possible foot. If you love royal history, scandals, and messy marriages, this is just the beginning. Time stamps: Sources: For this one, I'm taking stories and research from Ann Foster's book Rebel of the Regency I also really enjoyed Even The Royals 2 episodes on Caroline Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please get in touch with [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Never miss a Queens Podcast happening! Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://eepurl.com/gZ-nYf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices