Delphine is not your typical princess. She wasn’t born into royalty, nor did she marry a prince. For most of her life, she was known simply as Delphine Boël, a Belgian artist living in London.

When Delphine was around 18 years old her Mum told her her father wasn’t the man her mum was married to.

Her father was the King. 

Albert II, King of the Belgians, had a near 20-year affair with Delphine's mum while he was prince and heir to the throne.

For nearly 20 years Delphine fought for the truth and eventually won a legal battle to prove with DNA that she was the daughter of a king.

A few weeks ago she invited It's Reigning Men into her home to explain her story.

This is part 2 of that interview.

Our email is: [email protected]

Hosted by Daniel Rosney

------------------

Thanks for listening to It’s Reigning Men - a brand new podcast about royalty, royal families, and monarchs of the world.

If you enjoyed it, please tell your friends who also might be interested in Kings, Queens, power and palaces.

It would be great if you could subscribe so more episodes appear in your feed as soon as they’re ready.

Find us on social media to Direct Message us on all the usual apps. Just search ‘It’s Reigning Men’.

We're more than happy to take suggestions for a topic to be explored or to answer any questions about monarchies or specific members of royal families.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Delphine is not your typical princess. She wasn’t born into royalty, nor did she marry a prince. For most of her life, she was known simply as Delphine Boël, a Belgian artist living in London.

When Delphine was around 18 years old her Mum told her her father wasn’t the man her mum was married to.

Her father was the King. 

Albert II, King of the Belgians, had a near 20-year affair with Delphine's mum while he was prince and heir to the throne.

For nearly 20 years Delphine fought for the truth and eventually won a legal battle to prove with DNA that she was the daughter of a king.

A few weeks ago she invited It's Reigning Men into her home to explain her story.

This is part 1 of that interview.

Our email is: [email protected]

Hosted by Daniel Rosney

------------------

Thanks for listening to It’s Reigning Men - a brand new podcast about royalty, royal families, and monarchs of the world.

If you enjoyed it, please tell your friends who also might be interested in Kings, Queens, power and palaces.

It would be great if you could subscribe so more episodes appear in your feed as soon as they’re ready.

Find us on social media to Direct Message us on all the usual apps. Just search ‘It’s Reigning Men’.

We're more than happy to take suggestions for a topic to be explored or to answer any questions about monarchies or specific members of royal families.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Vatican has announced Pope Francis has died, aged 88.

This episode of It's Reigning Men was first published in February 2025 and contains some discussion around sexual abuse in the second half of the episode, which may not be appropriate for all.

As head of state of The Vatican City, Pope Francis was also a monarch.

The Pope is one of a handful of elected monarchs in the world, which also include Cambodia, Malayisa and United Arab Emirates.

In this episode we look at the the Pope's role as a monarch, as well as leader of the Catholic church, and discuss the influence he has with other world leaders.

We look at how a Pope is elected in a conclave and explore the changes he's brought to the church.

This episode was recorded while Pope Francis was in hospital.

Guests:

Colleen Dulle, Inside the Vatican podcast host

Charles Collins, Managing Editor at Crux

'Inside The Vatican' podcast can be listened to here: https://www.americamagazine.org/voices/inside-vatican

Hosted by Daniel Rosney

Our email is: [email protected]

------------------

Thanks for listening to It’s Reigning Men - a brand new podcast about royalty, royal families, and monarchs of the world.

If you enjoyed it, please tell your friends who also might be interested in Kings, Queens, power and palaces.

It would be great if you could subscribe so more episodes appear in your feed as soon as they’re ready.

Find us on social media to Direct Message us on all the usual apps. Just search ‘It’s Reigning Men’.

We're more than happy to take suggestions for a topic to be explored or to answer any questions about monarchies or specific members of royal families.

Speak soon.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The newest country in Western Europe has its seventh king on the throne, after he took over from his father Albert II in 2013.

King Philippe of the Belgians became head of state at a time when controversy was circling the royal family because of a daughter Albert had fathered during an affair.

In the past 12 years Philippe has steadied the ship and become a figure of stability in the country, often representing the nation abroad.

One of the most notable visits during his reign was to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2022, a former colony of Belgium.

Between 1885 - 1908 King Leopold II of the Belgians colonised the Congo and it's estimated around 10 million people were killed.

Historians describe it as one of the worst examples of colonisation.

Now, more than 100 yeas later, discussions are happening in Belgium whether institutions - like the monarchy and government - are willing to apologise for the barbaric acts the monarchy and the state carried out.

Guests:

Wim Dehandschutter, Royalty Journalist and Author

Pauline Malenga Mwanga, Royal Museum for Central Africa

Hosted by Daniel Rosney

'Achter de muren van het paleis/ Behind the palace doors': https://www.borgerhoff-lamberigts.be/shop/boeken/achter-de-muren-van-het-paleis

Our email is: [email protected]

------------------

Thanks for listening to It’s Reigning Men - a brand new podcast about royalty, royal families, and monarchs of the world.

If you enjoyed it, please tell your friends who also might be interested in Kings, Queens, power and palaces.

It would be great if you could subscribe so more episodes appear in your feed as soon as they’re ready.

Find us on social media to Direct Message us on all the usual apps. Just search ‘It’s Reigning Men’.

We're more than happy to take suggestions for a topic to be explored or to answer any questions about monarchies or specific members of royal families.

There’s also a weekly newsletter on Substack too: https://itsreigningmen.substack.com/

Speak soon.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As well as being King of the United Kingdom, Charles III is also monarch of 14 other realms - including Canada.

Since he inherited the throne in 2022 there has been much discussion around the King's relationship with the other realms and territories where he's head of state.

In recent weeks that conversation has been happening in Canada as the president of its neighbour, the United States, has expressed his wish for Canada to become 'the 51st state' of the USA.

Up until now it's been the Canadian government responding to the White House but there have been calls for King Charles III to do more and defend the country he's head of state.

All of this at a time when the King, on the advice of the British Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer, has invited President Donald Trump to a state visit in the UK.

Can Charles reflect his role as King of Canada to Trump in any way? Or should he leave it to the new Canadian PM Mark Carney?

Guests:

Carolyn Harris, Historian and Author

Philippe Lagassé, Associate Professor at Carleton University

Hosted by Daniel Rosney

Our email is: [email protected]

------------------

Thanks for listening to It’s Reigning Men - a brand new podcast about royalty, royal families, and monarchs of the world.

If you enjoyed it, please tell your friends who also might be interested in Kings, Queens, power and palaces.

It would be great if you could subscribe so more episodes appear in your feed as soon as they’re ready.

Find us on social media to Direct Message us on all the usual apps. Just search ‘It’s Reigning Men’.

We're more than happy to take suggestions for a topic to be explored or to answer any questions about monarchies or specific members of royal families.

There’s also a weekly newsletter on Substack too: https://itsreigningmen.substack.com/

Speak soon.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nestled in between India and China is the Kingdom of Bhutan, one of the world’s newest monarchies.

Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is the country’s fifth king and when he became head of state in 2006 he was the world’s youngest monarch.

The King oversees a nation that measures its success with happiness of a population and is being credited with innovative ways to ensure younger people don’t emigrate.

Guests:

Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan

Hosted by Daniel Rosney

Our email is: [email protected]

------------------

Thanks for listening to It’s Reigning Men - a brand new podcast about royalty, royal families, and monarchs of the world.

If you enjoyed it, please tell your friends who also might be interested in Kings, Queens, power and palaces.

It would be great if you could subscribe so more episodes appear in your feed as soon as they’re ready.

Find us on social media to Direct Message us on all the usual apps. Just search ‘It’s Reigning Men’.

We're more than happy to take suggestions for a topic to be explored or to answer any questions about monarchies or specific members of royal families.

There’s also a weekly newsletter on Substack too: https://itsreigningmen.substack.com/

Speak soon.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Japan claims to have the oldest continuing monarchy in the world with an unbroken line from the same family for more than 2600 years.

But there's a succession problem in the current Japanese imperial family as Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako only have one child, Princess Aiko, and Japan forbids women from inheriting the throne.

The United Nations has suggested officials look at changing the law to make it more equal.

Up until 1947 the Emperor of Japan was seen as a divine figure on Earth and worshipped by many, but a constitution change formally declared the emperor to be human.

After Japan surrendered in World War II the role of the head of state was changed and the image the imperial household presents to the country is still struggling with traditional values versus a modern society.

Guests:

Alice Tseng, Professor of Japanese Art & Architecture at the University of Boston

Hirohito Tsuji, Specialist in the Imperial Family of Japan

Hosted by Daniel Rosney

Our email is: [email protected]

------------------

Thanks for listening to It’s Reigning Men - a brand new podcast about royalty, royal families, and monarchs of the world.

If you enjoyed it, please tell your friends who also might be interested in Kings, Queens, power and palaces.

It would be great if you could subscribe so more episodes appear in your feed as soon as they’re ready.

Find us on social media to Direct Message us on all the usual apps. Just search ‘It’s Reigning Men’.

We're more than happy to take suggestions for a topic to be explored or to answer any questions about monarchies or specific members of royal families.

There’s also a weekly newsletter on Substack too: https://itsreigningmen.substack.com/

Speak soon.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode contains some discussion around sexual abuse in the second half of the episode, which may not be appropriate for all.

As head of state of The Vatican City, Pope Francis is also a monarch.

He is one of a handful of elected monarchs in the world, which also include Cambodia, Malayisa and United Arab Emirates.

In this episode we look at the the Pope's role as a monarch, as well as leader of the Catholic church, and discuss the influence he has with other world leaders.

We look at how a Pope is elected in a conclave and explore the changes he's brought to the church.

This episode was recorded while Pope Francis is in hospital.

Guests:

Colleen Dulle, Inside the Vatican podcast host

Charles Collins, Managing Editor at Crux

'Inside The Vatican' podcast can be listened to here: https://www.americamagazine.org/voices/inside-vatican

Hosted by Daniel Rosney

Our email is: [email protected]

------------------

Thanks for listening to It’s Reigning Men - a brand new podcast about royalty, royal families, and monarchs of the world.

If you enjoyed it, please tell your friends who also might be interested in Kings, Queens, power and palaces.

It would be great if you could subscribe so more episodes appear in your feed as soon as they’re ready.

Find us on social media to Direct Message us on all the usual apps. Just search ‘It’s Reigning Men’.

We're more than happy to take suggestions for a topic to be explored or to answer any questions about monarchies or specific members of royal families.

There’s also a weekly newsletter on Substack too: https://itsreigningmen.substack.com/

Speak soon.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode contains some discussion around sexual assault allegations in the second half of the episode, which may not be appropriate for all.

The King of Norway is one of the most-popular figures in the country but recent scandals surrounding the royal family suggest support is weakening.

His daughter, Princess Märtha Louise, controversially married a self-styled shaman last year who has peddled conspiracy theories and faced a string of criminal accusations, which he denies.

Late last year Marius Borg Høiby, the step-son of Crown Prince Haakon through his wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit, was arrested following an allegation of rape, which he denies.

In this episode we look at the impact those two huge stories in Norway have had on the monarchy, and discuss a 2016 speech King Harald gave that made headlines around the world.

Plus we look at Norway's answer to The Crown, as Harold and Sonja - or The Commoner - is released on Amazon Prime, telling the story of how the now King and Queen were prevented from marrying for nearly a decade.

Guests:

Sindre Strand Offerdal, actor playing Crown Prince Harold

Ole-Jorgen Schulsrud-Hansen, historian and TV2 royal commentator

Hosted by Daniel Rosney

Our email is: [email protected]

The trailer for Harald and Sonja is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdvp1uKk114

------------------

Thanks for listening to It’s Reigning Men - a brand new podcast about royalty, royal families, and monarchs of the world.

If you enjoyed it, please tell your friends who also might be interested in Kings, Queens, power and palaces.

It would be great if you could subscribe so more episodes appear in your feed as soon as they’re ready.

Find us on social media to Direct Message us on all the usual apps. Just search ‘It’s Reigning Men’.

We're more than happy to take suggestions for a topic to be explored or to answer any questions about monarchies or specific members of royal families.

There’s also a weekly newsletter on Substack too: https://itsreigningmen.substack.com/

Speak soon.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This year Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg should be marking 25 years on the throne but he's announced his intention to abdicate just one day before that milestone in October.

In this episode we look at how one of the smallest, and richest, countries in the world views its monarchy and royal family.

There have been two big tests for him as head of state.

The first caused a constitutional crisis when he attempted to use his veto powers in 2008 against a euthanasia bill passed by parliament.

The second was only five years ago when a government commissioned report said the monarchy's functioning must be reformed, in terms of staff management at the Palace.

Much was made in Luxembourg of Henri's wife, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, who was responsible for much of the hiring and firing in the palace.

Has Henri managed to keep the monarchy relevant to hand down to his son Prince Guillaume in October 2025?

Guests:

Sonja Kmec, Associate professor at University of Luxembourg

Ines Kurschat, Editor-in-chief of Luxemburger Wort

Hosted by Daniel Rosney

Our email is: [email protected]

------------------

Thanks for listening to It’s Reigning Men - a brand new podcast about royalty, royal families, and monarchs of the world.

If you enjoyed it, please tell your friends who also might be interested in Kings, Queens, power and palaces.

It would be great if you could subscribe so more episodes appear in your feed as soon as they’re ready.

Find us on social media to Direct Message us on all the usual apps. Just search ‘It’s Reigning Men’.

We're more than happy to take suggestions for a topic to be explored or to answer any questions about monarchies or specific members of royal families.

There’s also a weekly newsletter on Substack too: https://itsreigningmen.substack.com/

Speak soon.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.