The most unflattering royal portraits of all time -

Before photographers came around, the only way we knew how some royals looked was through portraits. These, of course, being creative works, are rarely a true depiction of reality, including the features of many a king and queen throughout history.

In this gallery, we bring you a selection of some of those unfortunate portraits where the subjects are not very flatteringly depicted. Click on!

© Getty Images

James V -

James V (1512–1542) was the father of Mary, Queen of Scots. Sorry, you won't be able to unsee his eyes now!

© Public Domain

Henry V -

Henry V was King of England from 1413 until 1422, when he died. Some of his facial features, including his nose and ears, were exaggerated, and one could even argue that Henry V looks somewhat androgynous.

© Getty Images

Margaret, Countess of Tyrol -

Okay, this is a pretty grotesque portrait of Margaret of Carinthia and Tyrol (1300-1366). Its author was Flemish artist Quentin Matsys, who painted it in 1515. The Countess of Tyrol wasn't probably this ugly, but her horrific depiction certainly deserves a spot on this list.

© Public Domain

Catherine of Aragon -

The first wife of King Henry VIII, and Queen of England, was known to have an oval face shape. This portrait circa 1496 by Flemish painter Juan de Flandes really accentuates this feature, to the point of her face looking really bloated.

© Getty Images

Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz -

Where are the arms of Charlotte, Queen Consort of King George III of Great Britain? Charlotte surely had them though, as she had to use them to carry her 15 children!

© Getty Images

Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz -

This portrait brings back Queen Charlotte's arms, but her torso seems to be in the opposite direction (as if she has her head turned 180 degrees). As for the Queen's eyes, well, we don't know, maybe she did have a lazy eye. Or not.

© Getty Images

Catherine de' Medici -

Catherine de' Medici, Queen of France, looks a bit mean in this portrait, right?

© Getty Images

Henry VIII -

King Henry VIII was not quite a Hollywood heartthrob, but this portrait by Peter Isselburg and Cornelis Metsys really makes him look like a squared-face man with a hat that would definitely look much better on Boy George.

© Getty Images

Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor -

Leopold I definitely looks glamorous and exuberant, as an emperor should. The way his eyes were painted is a bit distracting though.

© Public Domain

Queen Elizabeth I -

This portrait by by William Rogers made the Queen of England look a bit like a zombie.

© Public Domain

Queen Elizabeth I -

Queen Elizabeth I reigned for 45 years, so it's natural that by the end she looked a bit rough. But fear not: there's always white powder to make one look more like a ghost!

© Public Domain

Ferdinand II -

Ferdinand II of Spain looks somewhat unwell in this portrait. Even his eyes are a bit red, right?

© Public Domain

Prince Sergei Golitsyn of Russia -

If there is such thing as a werewolf with jaundice, then this portrait by Italian painter Ortolani Damon Gio Battista is a great example.

© Public Domain

Ferdinand VII -

Ferdinand VII of Spain could just as well be the King of Caterpillar Eyebrows.

© Public Domain

Prince Eugene -

"What are you looking at?" Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663-1736) in a bit of an arrogant pose, perhaps used to flex his power as a military commander.

© Getty Images

King James II of Scotland -

Something is just not quite right with the King of Scots. Is it the air? Or perhaps it's the facial expression? What do you think?

© Public Domain

James I -

King James I of England as a child, looking a bit like a weird circus performer wearing a corset.

© Public Domain

George III -

We're not quite sure where the head of King George III of Great Britain ends and his torso begins.

© Public Domain

King Philip IV of Spain -

Who said quiff hairstyles were not a thing in the 1600s?

© Public Domain

Caroline of Ansbach -

The Queen Consort of the United Kingdom and Hanover's choice of headgear for this portrait is questionable.

© Public Domain

Caroline of Ansbach -

And it looks like this portrait from 1795 didn't do Queen Caroline any favors either. Those are some seriously dilated pupils, right?

© Public Domain

Queen Elizabeth I -

Now, that's one scary portrait. We bet the Queen wasn't too pleased with this painting...

© Public Domain

Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor -

Emperor Maximilian I may have ruled the Holy Roman Empire, but judging by this portrait, his power couldn't buy him good looks.

© Public Domain

Maria Anna of Bavaria -

The Archduchess of Austria had other, more flattering, portraits done. On this on, she looks incredibly dark—in every sense of the word.

© Public Domain

King Louis XVI -

This portrait by Antoine-François Callet from 1788 makes the king look a bit bloated and blushed.

© Public Domain

King Frederik VII of Denmark -

Frederik VII was King of Denmark from 1848 to 1863. The hair, the chin, and the moustache all look rather comical.

© Public Domain

Philip IV of Spain -

The House of Habsburg is known for intermarriage. Some family members, including Philip IV, had a genetic trait known as mandibular prognathism (pronounced jaw) as a result.

© Public Domain

Charles II of Spain -

Charles II of Spain was another member of  the Habsburg royal family afflicted with numerous maladies due to inbreeding.

© Public Domain

Charles II of Spain -

Here is another unflattering portrait of Charles II. Fun fact: his mother, Mariana of Austria, was also the niece of his father, Philip IV of Spain.

Sources: (History Collection) (Ranker)

See also: The Hapsburgs: Europe's most powerful family

© Public Domain