Asexual Royals from History

Asexual Royals from History

Author: Lindsay Holiday June 2, 2026 Duration: 29:45
Throughout history, across cultures and in every walk of life, there have always been people with varied sexual attractions, or lack there of. Asexuality, in particular, has only been identified and studied since the early 20th century. People in the past did not have the concepts, terminology or relative freedom we have today. So those who might now identify as asexual had a limited understanding of what they were experiencing. This makes it difficult for historians to identify people from the past who may have been asexual. Sexual attractions and relationships of every variety often left evidence, like steamy love letters and reports from others. But a lack of sexual desire was much less likely to be expressed. Sexuality, particularly among royals and especially among women, was often not a matter of choice. Princes and Princesses had to marry and reproduce with whoever their parents told them to. In many cases, particularly when young princesses were wed to much older kings, their own desires were invalid. So unless they risked their lives by having an affair, we can’t know if they were secretly lusting after the stable boy, the kitchen maid, or if they just wanted to be left alone to enjoy a slice of cake. As with all of my LGBTQIA+ videos, I am sensitive about outing people posthumously. These people are no longer able to tell us their own stories, and we must therefore rely on journals, letters and reports from others, which can’t give us a complete picture. But despite the gaps in our knowledge, these people deserve to have their stories told. I think it is incredibly important for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities to see themselves represented in history and to know that they are not alone in the world or in time. And I have had many requests to do a video about ace royals from the past. So today let’s meet 6 royals from history who’s experiences and actions indicate that they may have been asexual. Join me every Tuesday when I'm Spilling the Tea on History! Check out my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/lindsayholiday Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091781568503 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyteatimelindsayholiday/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@historyteatime Please consider supporting me at https://www.patreon.com/LindsayHoliday and help me make more fascinating episodes! Intro Music: Baroque Coffee House by Doug Maxwell Music: Brandenburg Concerto No4-1 BWV1049 - Classical Whimsical by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100303 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ #HistoryTeaTime #LindsayHoliday Please contact ⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every Tuesday, Lindsay Holiday pours a fresh cup and settles in to share the fascinating, often overlooked tales from our past. History Tea Time is built on the idea that history is best served with a generous helping of personality and a focus on the compelling narratives that textbooks tend to skip. Lindsay’s approach feels like a conversation with a knowledgeable friend who has a real knack for digging up the juiciest details. While you’ll often find episodes delving into the lives of queens and royalty from across the globe, there’s a consistent spotlight on women’s history, bringing forward the stories of figures who shaped the world from behind the throne or beyond the traditional spotlight. Listening to this podcast feels like uncovering a secret side of the past, one where the human drama, ambitions, and scandals are given center stage. Each episode is a deep dive into a specific story, told with clarity and a genuine enthusiasm that makes even the most complex historical moments accessible and utterly engaging. If you’ve ever wanted the real, unvarnished, and truly interesting stories behind the names and dates, this is your weekly invitation to listen in.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 218

History Tea Time
Podcast Episodes
Ghastly Tales of Tudor Ghosts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:16
The Tudors ruled over England from the unlikely battlefield victory of King Henry VII in 1485; through the 6 wives of heinous Henry VIII and his three children’s desperate fights over the throne; to the agonizing death o…
A History of Friday 13th - Mini episode [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:46
Just another day on the calendar. But to some the 13th day of the month occurring on a Friday is something to be weary of. Join me every Tuesday when I'm Spilling the Tea on History! Check out my Youtube Channel: https:/…
Is the Royal Family of Monaco Cursed in Love? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:21
The Grimaldi family has ruled over the tiny but beautiful and wealthy nation of Monaco since 1297. And for just as long they have been shockingly unlucky in love. Since the dynasty was supposedly cursed by a witch in the…
Bonus! 'Even the Royals' from Wondery+ – Marie Antoinette [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:28
Admit it: you’re obsessed with royal families – watching them, gossiping about them, wanting to be them. It’s the stuff of fantasy. But for real life royals, the crown jewels can be more like shiny handcuffs. There are e…
Maria Theresa, Holy Roman Empress [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:37
Maria Theresa, Holy Roman Empress was one of the most powerful women in history. Her husband and son got to hold the title of Emperor but she was the real power. She reformed and modernized her empire all while having 16…
Boudica, Iceni Queen of Celtic Britain [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:53
After the Queen, her daughters and her people were brutalized by the invading Roman army, Queen Boudica rose up to lead the Iceni and the neighboring Celtic tribes in rebellion. They burned three cities to the ground inc…
A History of Royal Funerals [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:05
1,000 of burying the Kings, Queen and other English royals. From Medieval monarchs who were rushed to their graves, and occasionally exploded, to The Tudors and Stuarts whose people lined up to see life-like wax effigies…
Royalty 101: Odd Facts about Royalty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:36
What’s up with the Royal “We”? Why is Purple the color of royalty? Why are royals and nobles called blue bloods? What is a Regnal Name? What is a Dynasty? Why are Queen Matilda and Queen Jane not counted as monarchs of E…
Queen Elizabeth II of The United Kingdom & Commonwealth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:20
On the anniversary of her death, let's look back at her remarkable life. Elizabeth was the longest reigning monarch in British history and lived near center of many of the significant events of the last century. Her life…
3 Queens of The Netherlands: Wilhelmina, Juliana & Beatrix [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:52
Male-preference primogeniture and salic law have meant that most European monarchs have been men. Queen regnants are exceedingly rare in history. But for 90 years from 1890 to 1980 The Netherlands was reigned over by thr…