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The 18th century saw the rise of a gay subculture of men called “mollies.” These men embraced effeminate mannerisms and clothes that reflected their sexual preferences. These men would meet in Molly Houses, which became popular in London.
There was also a rumored relationship with Frederick, Prince of Wales, but there is no compelling evidence to confirm this theory. The two were, however, close.
Sources: (Historic Royal Palaces)
English courtier John Hervey, 2nd Baron Hervey was supposedly one of these men. He was criticized for his effeminate manners and was called a number of pejorative names, including “amphibious thing.”
John Hervey married Molly Lepell in 1720, but he is known to have had relationships with both women and men, including a 14-year relationship with nobleman Stephen Fox.
Their marriage was eventually annulled because two women could not legally marry each other. Amy Poulter died shortly after, and Hunt never married again.
Arabella Hunt was a musician and vocalist. She played the lute and sang beautifully. Her voice was once described as being “like the pipe of a bullfinch.” Hunt served at the court of Queen Mary II and actually taught Queen Anne to sing.
The two lived together in Italy. In a letter, John Hervey said about Fox: “He makes our lives a delight, Laughing, chatting, singing and scaring boredom away.”
Queen Anne’s love for Sarah is evident in a letter she wrote to her that reads: “If I could tell how to hinder myself from writing to you every day I would…but really I cannot... when I am from you I cannot be at ease without enquiring after you.”
Arabella Hunt accused Amy Poulter of being a woman of “double gender.” However, a team of midwives appointed by the court determined that Poulter was a “perfect woman in all her parts.”
In 1708, Sarah Churchill’s secretary, Arthur Mainwaring, circulated political pamphlets against Queen Anne. The pamphlets mentioned the “sweet service” and “dark deeds at night” between the Queen and Abigail. The relationship between Queen Anne and Sarah came to an end in 1710.
Slowly but surely, Queen Anne began to drift apart from Sarah Churchill and grew close to Sarah’s cousin, Abigail Masham.
In 1680, Arabella Hunt married James Howard. It later transpired that James was actually a woman named Amy Poulter, who dressed in male clothes. Hunt left Poulter and took her to court.
When Anne became queen in 1702, she gave Sarah Churchill a number of influential roles, including Mistress of the Robes, Groom of the Stole, Keeper of the Privy Purse, and Ranger of Windsor Park.
The king’s affection for Villiers was described in a letter to him, which reads: “There is this difference betwixt that noble hand and heart, one may surfeit by the one, but not the other, and sooner by yours than his own; therefore give me leave to stop, with mine, that hand which hath been too ready to execute the motions and affections of that kind of obliging heart to me.”
James was 13 when he met Esmé Stewart, who became his mentor and indeed his first favorite.
The king then met Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset, at a joust in 1607 and fell for him.
Bishop Godfrey Goodman described George Villiers as “the handsomest bodied man of England…and so sweet of disposition.”
Then in 1614, James VI and I met George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham and he became the king’s favorite.
Queen Anne met Sarah Churchill when she was still a child. Churchill, five years older, went on to become her close friend.
The rumored homosexuality of Edward II has been explored over the years. Examples include Christopher Marlowe’s 1592 play ‘Edward II,’ George Benjamin’s opera ‘Lessons in Love and Violence,’ as well as Derek Jarman's 1991 movie ‘Edward II.’
King Edward II is said to have given more attention to Gaveston than to his queen during his wedding banquet. He also never had a mistress.
Piers Gaveston, 1st Earl of Cornwall was a clear favorite of Edward II and indeed became a powerful man in the court. This, however, made him quite unpopular among noblemen. Gaveston ended up being executed on June 19, 1312.
Their bond was extensively recorded by medieval chroniclers, but it was mostly described in fraternal terms.
‘A Chronicle of the Civil Wars of Edward II’ describes the moment Edward II and Piers Gaveston first met: “When the king’s son gazed upon him, he straightaway felt so much love for him that he entered into a covenant of brotherhood with him and chose and firmly resolved to bind himself to him, before all mortals, in an unbreakable bond of love.”
This king never showed interest in women. James VI and I always preferred the company of men, having had a number of favorites over the years.
George Villiers’ power lasted until the reign of king James’ son, Charles I. The two are depicted in the 1628 painting by Gerard van Honthorst, ‘Apollo and Diana.’ In this detail it’s possible to see the two men looking at each other, ignoring everything around them.
The king and his close friend Piers Gaveston were rumored lovers. The two first met in 1297, and became inseparable ever since.
Same-sex relationships and non-binary gender identities have always existed throughout history. And that's true for the British royals as well. What exactly went down among British royals behind palace doors no one will be able to know for sure, but there are many stories, and indeed evidence, that some of these royals were attracted to people of the same sex and even expressed themselves outside of the gender binary.
In this gallery, we take you back in time and explore the queer history of British royals. Click on to discover more.
Historical figures from British royalty you didn't know were LGBTQ+
What really went down behind palace doors?
LIFESTYLE Lgbtq+
Same-sex relationships and non-binary gender identities have always existed throughout history. And that's true for the British royals as well. What exactly went down among British royals behind palace doors no one will be able to know for sure, but there are many stories, and indeed evidence, that some of these royals were attracted to people of the same sex and even expressed themselves outside of the gender binary.
In this gallery, we take you back in time and explore the queer history of British royals. Click on to discover more.