When a family has been around for well, as long as anyone can remember — and they just so happen to be royalty — scandal, controversy, and conspiracy theories are bound to follow them … especially when that family has arguably become one of the most famous and recognizable in the entire world. People love to watch the British royal family, and we love to track their every move, we love to praise them and to criticize them. But, perhaps, most of all, we love find out more, even if that "more" isn't always proven to be true.
Needless to say, throughout the generations a number of conspiracy theories have been ascribed to the royals. Unusual theories regarding the royals go all the way back through the ages and have continued right up to present day. Royals from nearly every generation — from Queen Elizabeth I to Prince Charles — have been the subject of wacky conspiracy theories, and while some were eventually proven true, it's become clear that others were simply false and still the truth behind other theories remains unknown. Here we'll tackle royal conspiracy theories — some on the silly side and others that are a bit more controversial — that have yet to be solved. Keep reading to find out just how crazy some royal conspiracy theories actually are.
1. Doll Baby
In May 2019, when Meghan Markle first gave birth to her son with Prince Harry, Archie Harrison, rumors quickly began to swirl that the ever-private Duke and Duchess of Sussex subbed in a baby doll for the real Archie during their first family appearance together at Windsor Castle just days after Archie's birth.
2. Faking Pregnancy
There was also a really out-there theory that Meghan was never pregnant at all. There were rumors floating around on YouTube and Twitter at the end of Meghan's pregnancy, suggesting that she was wearing a fake baby bump, having fillers injected into her face to make her look pregnant, and that the baby would actually be born via surrogate.
3. US Takeover
Before Archie was even a twinkle in Meg and Harry's eye, there was a different conspiracy theory floating around involving the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Greg Pollowitz, an editor for Twitchy.com, suggested that Meghan and Harry's marriage was a calculated move to help the British position themselves to recolonize America.
Mixed Response
Lots of people on Twitter, where Greg originally posted his theory, thought it was good for a chuckle, but many also took it seriously. Some chose to point out that it would probably not be possible — or didn't make much sense — while others thought it might be a good thing. "Well, wouldn't that be great. I am sure theirs kid(s) will be well educated with manners, which would be a huge change from the current White House inhabitant," said Twitter user Ruth Armstrong.
4. Princess Diana Was Pregnant When She Died
The death of Princess Diana led to a number of conspiracy theories, although none have ever been proven. One of the major and enduring theories is Princess Diana was pregnant with then-boyfriend Dodi Al-Fayed's (he also died in the car crash) baby and planning to marry him … before the royal family orchestrated the crash to stop her. DNA later proved that she was not pregnant, but folks are still suspicious about royal involvement.
5. Someone Had Diana Killed
Queen Elizabeth herself has inadvertently fueled a theory that whether it was organized by the royal family or not, someone did indeed intentionally have Diana and Dodi killed. In her book, My Husband and I: The Inside Story of 70 Years of the Royal Marriage, author Ingrid Seward claims that when the Queen heard the news of Diana's death, her first response was, "Someone must have greased the brakes."
6. Nazi Connection
King Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne in 1936 to marry divorcee Wallis Simpson, was once embroiled in a controversy involving theories and allegations suggesting that he was a Nazi sympathizer as late as World War II. He and his wife were being surveilled by Scotland Yard and the FBI as a result.
Convincing Evidence
The royal family has well-documented German roots, and King Edward VIII was known to express pro-German sentiments. He even at one time said, "Dictators are very popular these days. We might want one in England before long," and according to reports, he and his wife, Wallis, visited Germany as Adolf Hitler's guests … against the wishes of the British government.
Plotting Germans
Even further, it's been alleged that the Nazis were plotting to restore King Edward VIII to the throne. Documents suggesting the plan were unearthed toward the end of World War II, and while that is fact, many conspiracy theorists believe that the former king was amenable to the plan.
7. Murder Cover-Up
Prince George, Edward VIII's brother, who was known for being something of a wild child was killed in an air crash in 1942, while serving in the Royal Navy during World War II. That may not seem all that unusual, but many people believe he was killed intentionally, and that his murder was covered up.
Proof?
Speculation that led to the various conspiracy theories surrounding Prince George's death is that all of the official papers regarding the flight he was on mysteriously disappeared … and the only survivor of the crash was made to sign an Official Secrets Act document forbidding him from publicly discussing events that occurred on the flight. Some theorists have suggested that British intelligence planned the crash to get rid of the prince in the wake of rumors that he was a Nazi sympathizer, and others say it was the Nazis themselves.
8. Jack the Ripper
The notoriously brutal serial killer, Jack the Ripper, wreaked havoc on the streets of London during the late 19th century, and despite the fact that Queen Victoria herself vowed to find and capture him, he was never officially identified. Many believe the queen's involvement may have actually been the reason why.
Royal Killer
Thomas Stowell, a surgeon who appeared to know details about the identity of Jack the Ripper, revealed information to The Sunday Times that led the paper to believe that Queen Victoria's grandson, Prince Albert Victor (Prince Eddy), was the killer. The surgeon would not explicitly identify the killer, but said, "His grandmother, who out lived him, was very much the stern Victorian matriarch, widely and deeply respected," and went on to describe how he came to know the serial killer's identity. The newspaper then deduced that he was speaking of Prince Eddy — so, in theory, it's possible Jack the Ripper was never captured, because he was protected by a cover-up led by the queen.
9. Imposter Queen
While Queen Elizabeth I is best known for defeating the Spanish Armada, and her lengthy reign, there are a number of other notable things about her. One enduring theory that the real Queen Elizabeth I died as a child due to an illness caused by a plague and that the person who sat on the throne was an imposter.
Quietly Replaced
In his book Famous Imposters, author Bram Stoker suggests that when the young Princess Elizabeth died, she was quietly replaced to avoid the wrath of her father, the king. Because the governess of the school where she died could not find a girl of the same age that resembled Elizabeth, she used a boy. Some believe this is the real reason for the vow of celibacy that resulted in her being referred to as the "virgin queen."
