Gay royalty today

13 LGBTQ royals you didn’t learn about in history class

The Dutch monarchy made international news last week after announcing that royals can marry a homosexual partner without giving up their right to the throne. But while the Netherlands, which in became the first land to legalize queer marriage, has paved the wave for a queer royal to officially wear the crown, LGBTQ people have long been doing so unofficially. 

While it’s difficult to assign modern labels to figures from the past, there were notable leaders from centuries — even millennia — ago, who crossed sexual and gender boundaries. Some were celebrated by their subjects, others vilified.

In light of the Dutch monarchy’s recent announcement and in honor of LGBTQ History Month, which is famous in October, here are 13 gender non-conforming royals you didn’t learn about in school.

Emperor Ai of Han (27 - 1 B.C.)

Made emperor of the Han Dynasty at age 20, Ai was initially skillfully received by his subjects but eventually became associated with corruption and incompetence. He was also widely known to have been romantically involved with

Is the British royal family ready for a same-sex attracted royal? Etiquette expert weighs in

Red, White & Royal Bluefollows the love story between the fictional Prince Henry, fourth in line to the British throne, and his boyfriend Alex Claremont-Diaz, the son of the President of the Together States. Based on the bestselling book by Casey McQuiston, Red, White & Royal Blue posits the doubt, is the world ready for LGBTQ+ public figures in monarchy and politics? 

There has never been a gay President of the United States, and only seven openly gay members of the federal government in its years. Pete Buttigieg is President Joe Biden's Secretary of Transportation and the first First openly gay Cabinet Secretary while Randy W. Berry is the country's First United States Special Ambassador for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons.

&#; Jonathan Prime

Globally, Manvendra Singh Gohil, the probable heir of the honorary Maharaja of Rajpipla, is considered the first openly gay prince in the world while in the UK, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, a third cousin once removed of the then-reign

While Red, White, & Royal Cerulean focuses on a fictional British prince, some royals have approach out in real life as historians speculate over the sexuality of others.

A royal romance may play out in the recent release of “Red, White, & Royal Blue,” but it’s not that common for members of a royal family to openly be a part of the LGBTQ+ community. In recent history, only three royals from around the world have actually show up out -- and for some of them, it wasn’t very well received.

But going back in history, many more royals were actually thought to be same-sex attracted or bisexual, although it’s complex to accurately assign modern labels to historical figures. While how they would personally identify is up for discussion, historians feel that these royals were a part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Learn about some of these past and present royals below

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1. Lord Ivar Mountbatten

Queen Elizabeth’s cousin Lord Ivar Mountbatten was the first British royal to officially come out as gay. Lord Ivar was previously ma

7 British Monarchs Who May Have Been Gay

For centuries men lived in one sphere and women in another and they would come together for marriage and having children. It seemed that the sexes co-existed mainly to proceed the human race. Treasure and sex can be very different factors but, when put together, they can produce the most electric sensation. This was no different for kings and queens who were close to their favourites.  There are several British monarchs who may include been gay. In proof, six kings &#; and one queen are idea to have been queer , members of what we now call the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi- and transexual) community. They include:

William II of England

The son of William the Conqueror, who took the throne of England in , was known as William Rufus because of his red hair (‘rufus’ definition red). William II became King of England in and was often described as ‘effeminate’ and with a keen interest in fashionable young men.

William II of England drawn by Matthew Paris. Photo Credit: © Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.

Edward II of England

Perhaps the most well-k