Through most of history, monarchs selected wives for their royal blood and political significance. Women they actually liked and were attracted to were relegated to being mere mistresses. These women were usually local aristocrats or even commoners who would not be considered contenders to be consort. The majority of monarchs had mistresses and their wives usually looked the other way, safe in the knowledge that their place as Queen could never be usurped. But a number of royal courtesan did come to wield great power. In a past episode we met 8 royal mistresses who beat the odds and succeeded in become Queen. Today let’s meet another 8 lovely ladies who came so close, but because of ruined romances, royal family resentment, or early death, just barely missed out on the crown...

Krystyna Rokiczana, Almost Queen of Poland (1365)

Gabrielle d’Estrées Almost Queen of France (1573-1599)

Catherine Henriette de Balzac d’Entragues, Almost Queen of France (1579-1633)

Françoise d’Aubigné, Almost Queen of France (1634-1719)

Marie Emilie de Joly de Choin Almost Queen of France (1670-1732)

Rosa Vercellana, Almost Queen of Italy (1833-1885)

Catherine Dolgorukov, Almost Tsarina of Russia (1847-1922)

Wallis Simpson, Almost Queen of UK (1896-1986)

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Intro Music: Baroque Coffee House by Doug Maxwell

Music: Butterflies in Love by Sir Cubworth

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