Queens, Kings, and Dastardly Things

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

The Great Windsor Fire

How did a builder's lamp, a velvet curtain and a tea break nearly destroy 900 years of royal history? On 20 November 1992, fire broke out at Windsor Castle, turning one

Oct 26
32 min

Victoria: Death of an Empress

Queen Victoria: Scandal, and a Funeral Fiasco. What happens when the most powerful Queen in the world dies and even her funeral doesn't go according to plan? Robert Har

Oct 19
25 min

Victoria's Secrets

Did Queen Victoria find love again and become more powerful than ever? Robert Hardman and Professor Kate Williams explore the extraordinary second act of Victoria’s reig

Oct 12
28 min

Victoria in Love

A passionate marriage. Nine children. Assassination attempts, and the monarchy is threatened with a scandal. In the second part of our deep dive into Queen Victoria, Rob

Oct 5
26 min

Victoria: The Girl Who Became Queen

Queen Victoria would give her name to an age, but she was never really supposed to be Queen at all. Robert Hardman and Professor Kate Williams go back to the chaotic roy

Sep 24
28 min

The Countess at Nuremberg

An unusual Royal connection to the Nuremberg Trials that prosecuted members of the Nazi leadership. Eighty years after the trials, we know the names of the Nazi leaders

Sep 21
32 min

Grace Kelly: Hollywood Princess

Grace Kelly had it all: beauty, an Oscar, Hollywood stardom and a glittering career ahead of her. Then she married a prince. Robert Hardman and Professor Kate Williams r

Sep 7
33 min

The Bayeux Mysteries!

The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the most famous works of art in the world: nearly 70 metres of kings, battles, betrayals and bloodshed. But how much of the story it tells c

Aug 31
28 min

The Aragon Girls

We’ve had the Boleyn girls. Now meet the Aragon girls: two sisters born into perhaps the most powerful royal family in Europe, whose lives would take very different but e

Aug 23
24 min

Tudor Season: The Bloody End

Wives, bloodshed, war: the end is approaching for Henry VIII, but England’s most notorious king is not going quietly. In the final part of our epic journey through Henry

Aug 17
32 min

Tudor Season: Monstrous Henry

Henry VIII finally has his longed-for son. So why isn't he happy? Continuing our Tudor season, Robert Hardman and Professor Kate Williams explore one of the most dramati

Aug 9
27 min

Tudor Season: The Queen Killer

He broke with Rome. He defied the Pope. He turned England upside down to marry Anne Boleyn. Just three years later... he sent her to the executioner's block. In this gri

Aug 2
27 min

Tudor Season: Anne Boleyn

One king. One controversial romance. One decision that would change England forever. In the second episode of our Henry VIII series, Robert Hardman and Professor Kate Wi

Jul 26
30 min

Tudor Season: Rise of a Tyrant

Six wives. Beheadings. A tyrant on the throne. You think you know Henry VIII... but that's not where this story begins. In the first episode of our Tudor season, Robert

Jul 19
27 min

Rebel Princess: The Patty Hearst Story

Kidnapped, blindfolded, locked in a cupboard for weeks and then caught on camera during a bank robbery. In the second part of our look at America's closest thing to a r

Jul 11
21 min

The Real Citizen Kane: Inside America's Most Scandalous Castle

America's newspaper magnate who built himself a palace worthy of a king! In this episode of Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things, Robert Hardman and Professor Kate William

Jul 5
33 min

America & the Monarchy

What do Royals and hot dogs have in common? Both are part of the most remarkable diplomatic relationships in modern history. In this special Independence Day episode of

Jun 28
35 min

The Royal X-Files

A wonderfully strange-but-true episode of Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things with Robert Hardman and Professor Kate Williams. From a mysterious sighting over Lord Mountb

Jun 21
30 min

Secrets of a Stately Home

Secrets hidden behind the walls of one of England's greatest country houses! In this special episode, Robert Hardman and Professor Kate Williams step inside Badminton Ho

Jun 14
28 min

The Death of Queen Cleopatra

Love and death: Queen Cleopatra, Mark Antony, and the truth about that asp. In this second episode on Cleopatra, Robert Hardman and Professor Kate Williams follow the Eg

Jun 7
26 min

Chart trend

Position in the History chart (US), last 90 days.

#1#100#198AugOct

#52

all-time peak

days in the top 100 since Apr 2025

Chart positions

Where Queens, Kings, and Dastardly Things ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 27, 2026).

#197 NEW History US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

I’ve really enjoyed this podcast, especially the juxtaposition of hosts. Royal biographer Robert Hardman lends real life insights into the events as they happened, many of which he covered first hand, while Royal correspondent Natasha Livingston offers us actual locations of events and deep dives into even the most minute of fact checking. I like the different generational perspectives of these events, although they never veer too far off the focus of the show. Great synergy between these two host and wonderful conversations on the events as portrayed. I would love for you to go back to season 1 and break down the last 5 seasons for us. Well done on putting out such an insightful podcast!

Whatnow23 · Jan 2024

Very interesting podcast giving insight into the real stories behind the show. Found myself binging all episodes after finishing the Crown’s final season.

video diary chickk · Jan 2024

We hear so much about the royal family from so-called "" royal experts "". On this podcast, we are listening to Robert and Richard who were there at the time (in professional capacities) of these events. Their authority makes this podcast stand out. They share my respect for the late Queen and her family and through this lens they are able to discern some of the license (and bias) that the creators of this series have taken in portraying the royal family. Well done!

Lady Southcorner · Dec 2023

If you love Diana & the RF this podcast is a must! It is not only entertaining but the hosts & their guests tell you what really happened & correct all the inaccuracies in The Crown. If you like hearing the inside scoop — you definitely need to listen!

margom26 · Dec 2023

This podcast got off to such a great start. However, in the last few episodes, I have to wonder if the hosts are having audio problems where they can’t hear one another. Robert is constantly talking over Kate, cutting her off, and not allowing her to complete a thought. Kate occasionally does this to Robert, which is why I’m wondering if the hosts can’t hear each other. But it’s mostly Robert cutting off Kate and it’s infuriating! You both have so much that we *want* to hear. You don’t need to step on each other to say it!

June29936 · Aug 2025

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.