PODCAST

Rex Factor

Rex Factor is a fun podcast reviewing all the kings & queens of England & Scotland.

history

All Episodes

70:52

S3.67 Wallis Simpson: Review

Rex Factor ·

2024/09/13

This time we review Wallis Simpson, the wife-but-not-consort of Edward VIII. There's lots for us to get our teeth stuck into: an independent spirit but not able to become queen; myriad rumours of scandals across the world plus an unhealthy dose of Nazi associations. Famous, notorious and compelling - but does she have that certain something?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

73:47

S3.66 Wallis Simpson: Biography

Rex Factor ·

2024/08/30

In the first two episodes, we tackle one of the most controversial women in English royal history, Wallis Simpson. Technically not a consort, but her role in the Abdication Crisis and marrying the (former) King Edward VIII makes hers a fascinating and pertinent part of the story. In this episode, we tell her full life story, from growing up in Baltimore to marrying the king and having tea with Hitler.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

71:08

S3.65 Mary of Teck

Rex Factor ·

2024/08/02

Mary of Teck (or Queen Mary, as many would have known her) was the consort of George V, and the first proper Windsor consort. Together with George, she helped set a model for the modern monarchy, facing a remarkable succession of crises (including two world wars). It was quite the story to get there as well, with a disrupted childhood, a royal tragedy and much more besides. Mary of Teck was there for it all, but will that be enough for the Rex Factor?Sign up for bonus content at

69:19

S3.64 Alexandra of Denmark

Rex Factor ·

2024/07/19

We are into our final mini-series of the series, with Alexandra of Denmark (or Alix, as she was known), consort to King Edward VII. Alix enjoyed a surprisingly modest upbringing and was not initially favoured as a bride by Queen Victoria, but her kindly character and natural beauty saw her win the day. However, she would have to deal with excessive nagging from her mother-in-law and serial infidelity from her husband as well as the pressures of ill health and international diplomacy. It would be a

67:41

Messages and Previews 7

Rex Factor ·

2024/07/05

Before we get started on the Windsor consorts, we read through various listener correspondence as well as sharing previews of our bonus content, including our new special episode on Geoffrey Chaucer.You can sign up to join the Privy Council and gain access to all our bonus content here: https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor And you can purchase the Geoffrey Chaucer special episode (as well as all our other specials) here: https://payhip.com/RexFactorPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

75:54

Gretchen Gerzina (Britain's Black Georgian History)

Rex Factor ·

2024/06/21

We chat to the historian Professor Gretchen Gerzina about Black Britons in Georgian Britain. There is a widespread misconception that Britain's black history only begins with Windrush, but we discuss the sizeable black and mixed raced population in Georgian Britain, the differing experiences that these people faced and some of the fascinating characters of the time.For more information on Gretchen, check out her website https://gretchengerzina.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

79:37

Gareth Russell (Hampton Court Palace)

Rex Factor ·

2024/06/06

We speak to the historian Gareth Russell about his book The Palace, which covers the history of Hampton Court Palace, from the Tudors to the Windsors. It's a fascinating book (and podcast!) covering lots of fascinating characters - from Henry VIII and George III to chocolatiers and the Romanovs.For more on Gareth, you can find him on Twitter (https://x.com/garethrussell1) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/_garethrussell) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

83:27

Penelope Corfield (The Georgians)

Rex Factor ·

2024/05/24

We speak to the historian Professor Penelope Corfield about the Georgians in a wide-ranging discussion that takes us from epoch-shifting changes in technology and literacy to the beginnings of handshakes and the postal system.For more information on Penelope and her essays, check out her website: https://www.penelopejcorfield.com/ For additional resources on the Georgians: https://www.thegeorgiansdeedsandmisdeeds.com/ Plus you can buy her excellent book on the subject, The Georgians: The Deeds and

79:29

Right to Reply: Hanoverian Consorts

Rex Factor ·

2024/05/10

Having finished our mini-series on the Hanoverian consorts, we go through some of your messages, points of debate and more Max Boneyman! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

68:35

S3.63 Prince Albert: Review

Rex Factor ·

2024/04/26

After a full biography episode last week, this time we review Prince Albert, scoring him on the factors and deciding whether or not he has the Rex Factor.Sign up for ad-free episodes and lots of bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

62:04

S3.62 Prince Albert: Biography

Rex Factor ·

2024/04/19

In the first of two episodes, we do a full episode just looking at the life and consortship of Prince Albert, husband to Queen Victoria, with a full review episode to come next time. One of the most famous names in British royal history, Albert has perhaps been overshadowed by the extensive memorialisation undertaken by Victoria after his death, so we put the realm man centre stage: how did he come to marry Victoria, what was his role as consort and was it really such a great romance?Head to

41:11

Feed Swap: History Daily

Rex Factor ·

2024/04/16

We are off for Easter for a couple of weeks before getting back to Prince Albert, so this week we're doing a feed swap with the History Daily Podcast, which releases c. 15 minute episodes every weekday covering an event in history. We are showcasing two of their episodes which should hopefully be of interest to Rex Factor Listeners: the jousting injury that changed the course of Henry VIII's life and reign, and the death of Elizabeth I and the end of the Tudor dynasty. (Apologies, this episode

78:26

Linda Porter: Mistresses of Charles II

Rex Factor ·

2024/03/22

We speak to the historian Dr Linda Porter about some of the most notable mistresses of Charles II (Lucy Walter, Barbara Villiers, Frances Stuart, Nell Gwynn, Hortense Mancini), discussing why we know so much about them, what they tell us about Charles and how this affected his wife and queen, Catherine of Braganza.Sign up for bonus content (including ad-free episodes and hundreds of Patreon-exclusive bonus episodes) at https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor For all our links and more information, go to

64:31

S3.61 Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen

Rex Factor ·

2024/03/08

Adelaide is probably one of the least famous of Britain's consorts, wife of William IV. A very different character to her predecessor, Queen Caroline, Adelaide was quiet and kind but faced the challenge of an eccentric and uncouth husband in William and a febrile political atmosphere with agitation for reform. Will slow and steady win the race?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

70:31

S3.60 Caroline of Brunswick

Rex Factor ·

2024/02/23

If Ali still had his scandal bell, this episode might break it! It's Caroline of Brunswick this week, consort to George IV despite his spending their entire marriage trying to prevent that eventuality. A poorly matched couple, Caroline lived life according to her own rules, creating scandal in England and then in European exile before returning for a grand battle as George tried to deny her her position as Queen. It certainly made an impression, but will it deserve the Rex Factor?Learn more about

63:44

S3.59 Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Rex Factor ·

2024/02/09

This week we review Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the wife and consort of King George III. We look at how she came to be queen at all, what was her role as consort and how her life was turned up side down by the Regency Crisis of 1788-89 when George III suffered a total collapse in his mental health. We will see whether her reaction to this, alongside her output as consort over a significant period of time, will be enough for the coveted Rex Factor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

66:27

S3.58 Caroline of Ansbach

Rex Factor ·

2024/01/26

It's the first Hanoverian consort proper this week with Caroline of Ansbach, queen consort to George II. She's not so famous now, but Caroline was a highly influential consort, loved and respected by her husband and enjoying great influence through an alliance with Robert Walpole (the country's first Prime Minister). However, she also had to manage the usual Hanoverian family conflicts, with each generation hating each other, as well as her own husband's foibles and mistresses. So will Caroline

67:24

S3.57 Sophia Dorothea of Celle

Rex Factor ·

2024/01/12

Sophia Dorothea of Celle was the wife of King George I but she was not, technically, a consort. We'll explain why this was the case, taking in dynastic politics, an unhappy marriage, a passionate romance, high drama and a new heroic character mostly invented by Ali. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

67:36

Royals at War: We Have Ways Fest 2022 (Live)

Rex Factor ·

2023/12/29

A little bonus to finish 2023, we've dipped into the archives and pulled out this recording of a live show we did at the We Have Ways of Making You Talk Festival in July 2022. We Have Ways of Making You Talk is a Second World War podcast, so we were talking about the royals during the war, specifically focusing on the former king (Edward VIII) and the actual king (George VI), looking at their different experiences of the war and some of their relationship during it. The episode was not recorded

74:22

Messages and Previews 6

Rex Factor ·

2023/12/15

Before we get started on the Hanoverian consorts, we read through various listener correspondence as well as sharing previews of our bonus content, including our new special episode on Edgar the Ætheling. You can sign up to join the Privy Council and gain access to all our bonus content here: https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor And you can purchase the Edgar the Ætheling special episode (as well as all our other specials) here: https://payhip.com/RexFactorPodcast Learn more about your ad choices

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