Lists about depictions of families and family relationships throughout film, TV, music, and more.

We Are Family

Weird History

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/sibling-rivalries-history/jim-rowley">Sibling rivalries can be intense</a> in any context, but especially in royal families. After all, royal rivalries between siblings often have geopolitical repercussions, with entire kingdoms at stake.If there's one thing royals have learned throughout history, it's the importance of having an “heir and a spare”: one child to inherit the throne and another on standby in case anything happens to the first. Although this theoretically makes sense, it has also fostered royal rivalry when soon-to-be kings and queens must contend with other siblings who have legitimate claims to the throne. How can a monarch consolidate his or her own authority -&nbsp;and how can younger siblings make a play for the throne?One solution is straightforward, if risky: eliminate the competition. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-patient-heirs/michael-muir">Unlike patient royal heirs</a>, some soon-to-be monarchs have killed their siblings to ensure that they never pose a threat. Conversely, queen or king siblings have schemed against their crowned family members to usurp their position and claim authority for themselves.&nbsp;At the same time, not all royal rivalries have ended in bloodshed. Some royals simply want their siblings’ support, and that can get complicated when a monarch has to juggle a number of competing responsibilities.From fratricide to smear campaigns and everything in between, these <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/bloody-historical-family-feuds/setareh-janda">rivalries and family feuds</a> demonstrate that there’s nothing inherently noble about royal families -&nbsp;they can be just as dysfunctional as the rest of us.

13 Of The Most Intense Royal Sibling Rivalries From History

Person

royal sibling rivalries history

Setareh Janda

Exploring the strange and fascinating lives of rulers, royals, and royalty all around the world and throughout history.

We Will Never Be Royals

Royalty

In a monarchy, the common refrain “long live the king!” isn’t always a sincere statement. If you’re next in line for the throne, you've got even less reason to wish for longevity for the king (or queen). The trouble with being the heir apparent is that there’s no apparent way of knowing just how long the wait will be. Sometimes it's <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/shortest-reigning-monarchs-from-history/setareh-janda">very little time</a>, but as this collection shows, the period can stretch for decades.These are some of the heirs who had the longest waits - and quite a few didn’t even get to rule at the end of it all. Some were outlived by the monarch, while others outlived the monarchy itself. From the seven decades <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/king-charles-iii-facts/melissa-sartore">Charles III had to endure</a>, to the Brazilian princess who likely destroyed her own chances of ascension for a good cause, this collection looks at history’s most patient heirs.

11 Of History's Most Patient Heirs

M. Muir

Get to know the fascinating family headed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and comprised of her four children, eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren—some of whom may someday become the King of England.

The Royal Family

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex

Prince Harry was the subject of global attention as soon as he entered the world. As the son of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/king-charles-iii-facts/melissa-sartore">future King of England</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-princess-diana-facts/mallory-weiler">a beloved princess</a>, the entire world watched his life unfold. But while his presence was well-documented, he was also born into a position and title that recognized him as being less important than his older sibling. While Prince William was the heir, Harry was regularly referred to as the “spare.”&nbsp;From his antics in boarding school and his love for partying to his marital union with the royal family's first biracial American woman, Harry's been a frequent subject of tabloid headlines. However, after a growing rift in the family resulted in he and his wife, Meghan Markle, deciding to part ways with the Crown, these wild tales became juicier and naughtier than ever before.And, according to Prince Harry, they are almost all completely untrue. In his memoir, Spare, the Duke of Sussex sets the record straight by sharing his moving perspective on how his life actually unfolded. While the narrative is often shocking, the fact that it has drawn unprecedented attention from fans and curious readers is anything but.&nbsp;Below are some of the juiciest stories and biggest revelations that Prince Harry divulged in his tell-all tale of his life in the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-do-the-royals-do/setareh-janda">British royal family</a>. Vote up the stories from Spare that had you on the edge of your seat.&nbsp;

The Biggest Revelations From Prince Harry's Memoir, 'Spare'

The Biggest Bombshell Moments From Prince Harry's Memoir, 'Spare'

Lauren Glen

Prince Harry's much-talked-about memoir, Spare, sheds light on his experience as the second son of a monarch (or in the case of the majority of Harry's life, the second son of a very patient heir: King Charles III). However, Prince Harry's tell-all book isn't the only insight we have into <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-patient-heirs/michael-muir">what royal spares actually did</a> with their lives.&nbsp;Throughout history, royal spares have carved their own name into the history books, sometimes even leading more interesting lives than their more famous siblings. From winning acclaim on battlefields to trying (and sometimes even succeeding) to steal their brothers' crowns <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-royal-titles-mean/garri-chaverst">and titles</a>, these royal spares made sure their lives were more than just a backup plan.

What Actually Happened To History's Royal Spares?

What Actually Happened To Royal Spares?

Garri Chaverst

British Monarchy

Living like a royal means working like a royal. Though they enjoy unimaginable privileges&nbsp;- like getting to live in <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/royal-family-homes-properties/jonathan-kantor" target="_blank">extravagant palaces</a> -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/members-of-the-british-royal-family/reference" target="_blank">members of the British royal family</a> have duties to perform. These various tasks and responsibilities keep&nbsp;Queen Elizabeth II&#39;s family busy.

Ever&nbsp;since she became queen in 1952, Elizabeth II has been a royal workhorse. Unlike <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-royals-in-history/danielle-ownbey" target="_blank">weird royals in history</a> who may have ignored their responsibilities,&nbsp;she completes all of the duties expected of a British monarch on a daily basis and takes her work seriously. The queen isn&#39;t the only working royal. Her husband Prince Philip shouldered some of her responsibilities for decades. <a href="https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a13051858/queen-elizabeth-ii-relationship-with-children/" target="_blank">Their children</a>&nbsp;- Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward - take on royal duties full-time, as have some of the royal&nbsp;grandchildren, including&nbsp;Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.

From attending events to conducting tours abroad, these various jobs show how members of the royal family see their work as a form of public service.

What Does The British Royal Family Actually Do?

General

What Do The Royals Actually Do?

Lifestyle

The royal family has no shortage of exquisite jewels. Due in part to the reach of the British Empire, monarchs have amassed caches of gemstones from around the world, along with <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/surprising-things-queen-elizabeth-ii-owns/mallory-weiler" target="_blank">other treasures</a>. Some are placed in ceremonial objects like the <a href="https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/history-and-stories/the-crown-jewels/#gs.h3lkhn" target="_blank">Crown Jewels</a>; others are worked into more wearable accessories. Tiaras may not be daily adornments for the princesses and duchesses of the various noble houses of England, but few objects are more intimately associated with <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-rules-royal-family-must-follow/eric-eidelstein" target="_blank">royalty</a>.

From <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/rare-princess-diana-photos/katejacobson" target="_blank">Princess Diana&#39;s</a> family heirloom to a treasured piece worn by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, here are some of the royal family&#39;s most memorable - and beautiful - tiaras.

The Most Beautiful Tiaras Belonging To The British Royal Family

Sarah Hatheway

History

Sure, many kings, queens, and other royal folks wear crowns, have fancy titles,&nbsp;and live in the lap of luxury and privilege. But examples of royals doing normal things reveal they can be&nbsp;more common than they appear.

Many royals throughout history have secretly slipped beyond their walls to rub&nbsp;shoulders with commoners. (Some contemporary British royals even have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/british-royal-family-jobs/bailey-benningfield" target="_blank">jobs outside the monarchy</a>, but that&#39;s another story.) Free from the constraints of courtly protocol, they&#39;ve been able to chat with their subjects to see how they were doing, or in more modern times, maybe take their kids to a fast food restaurant. Many have done these activities incognito to blend in and avoid detection.

No matter how diligently royals have tried to disguise themselves, however, the fact that history has recorded&nbsp;these clandestine outings proves they weren&#39;t as secret as they were probably meant to be. These not-so-secret trips also helped bolster the image of some royals as popular men&nbsp;and women of the people. And many more secret&nbsp;outings are likely lost to history.

12 Times Historical Royals Snuck Out In Secret To Do Totally Normal Things

12 Times Historical Royals Snuck Out To Do Normal Things

Culture

When it comes to the British peerage system, things can get confusing fast. Who can be a duke or duchess? What's a Princess Royal? Where do earls fit into it all? How are titles passed down? And how do they change when there's a new monarch?&nbsp;When diving into facts about <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-historical-royals-facts/garri-chaverst">historical royals</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-but-true-royal-family-facts/genevieve-carlton">the royal family</a>, you can uncover just how complex royal titles are. From the one dukedom only the monarch holds to the strict rules that dictate which members of the royal family can be a prince or princess and more, the facts below break down exactly how royal titles work.

How Royal Titles Actually Work

Performances

Who are the best actors who have played royals? One tried-and-true pathway to success for actors in Hollywood is by <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/actors-who-should-play-english-royals/quinn-armstrong" target="_blank">playing a royal</a>, since many actors who played royals have received critical acclaim and accolades for their performances. For example, several actresses who have played royalty - including&nbsp;Olivia Colman, Helen Mirren, and Judi Dench - have won Oscars, Golden Globes, and Emmys. Likewise, some of the best royals actors - like Colin Firth, among others - have earned award recognition&nbsp;for their work.

Each actor approaches his or her royal&nbsp;role differently. Some <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/martin-luther-king-jr-actors/ranker-film?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">actors who have played kings</a>, and actresses who have played queens, use their prep time to undertake extensive historical research, while others evaluate historical figures just like any other character. But all&nbsp;have the challenge of portraying historical figures in a unique way, since many royals have been played by several different actors over the years.

Vote up the actors who did the best job bringing historical royals to life.

The Best Actors Who Played Historical Royals On Film & Television

Actors Who Played Real Royals In Movies & TV, Ranked

Entertainment

Us common folk love discussing and learning about the lives of royalty. That is why there are so many movies about English queens. Our fascination with royalty varies from the roles a king or queen has played in history, to what their palace is like, what love interests they had, and what political differences they made during their reign. The news is constantly full of stories about the Royal Family and it&rsquo;s no wonder that so many great movies have been made the life of royalty! What are the best movies about queens? Vote up the best below and see where your favorite queen films rank.

The movies on this list discuss the life of queens in one way or another. Most of the flicks featured here are more literal and biographical in nature, though some are completely fictional stories about fictional queens. Perhaps the most famous queen featured in several of these movies is Queen Elizabeth of England. Cate Blanchett has played the queen multiple times.

This list features the best queen movies, including: Elizabeth, One Night with the King, The Princess Diaries, Anastasia, The Other Boleyn Girl, Mad Love, and The Young Victoria. Vote up the best films below or add a film about a queen that you love if it isn&#39;t already on the list. Then check out these other <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-movies-about-royalty/ranker-film" target="_blank">royal movies</a>.

Shakespeare in Love

The Best Movies About Queens

Film

The Best Queen Movies, Ranked By Fans

Ranker Film

Most of us are fascinated with the life of royalty. Which is why there are so many good movies about British royalty.&nbsp;We love to know all the little details of what living in a palace would be like, what it would be like to go from being a common person to marrying a royal, and we absolutely love the true stories about how kings and queens&nbsp;have affected the world around us in history. There are a ton of great films about royalty (and greatly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-inaccurate-movies-about-royals/setareh-janda" target="_blank">inaccurate films about royalty</a>)! What are the best movies about royalty? Vote up the best below and see where your favorites rank!

The movies on this list all have a royalty theme in them, whether completely fictional in nature, a romance, a rags to riches story, a true historic and biographical approach, or a story of how actual monarchy, nobility, kings, and queens&nbsp;impacted their countries. No matter what aspect of royalty you&#39;re interested in, there is sure to be a movie to satisfy your curiosity below.

This list features the best royalty movies including, The Lion King, The King&rsquo;s Speech, The Queen, Cinderella, Elizabeth, Ever After, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and The Princess Diaries. Vote up the best royalty movies below or add one you love that isn&#39;t already on the list.

The Best Movies About Royalty

The Best Movies About Royalty, Ranked By Film Fans

As one of the world&#39;s oldest government systems, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/notable-monarch_s)/reference" target="_blank">monarchies</a> have&nbsp;existed in some form for millennia. In all that time, historical royals have done some pretty unbelievable things. From a prince finding a creative way to get out of prison,&nbsp;to a queen who escaped the confines of court by living out her own fantasies, some facts about royals in history are hard to believe. Yet, while they all sound made up, they are absolutely true.

Interesting royal history and facts highlight the power and precarious privilege of&nbsp;kings, queens, princes, and princesses through the ages. After all, successions could be tricky, and&nbsp;royals didn&#39;t always represent the culture of their subjects. These wild facts reveal the disconnect between how people believe royals lived and acted, and how many of them actually lived, acted, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/historical-royalty-quotes-that-sound-fake-but-are-true/setareh-janda" target="_blank">and even spoke</a>.

Facts About Historical Royals That Sound Made Up But Aren’t

Interesting

For us plebians, it&#39;s hard to fully imagine what life as a royal is like. Because there are so few people who can even slightly relate to this lifestyle, it&#39;s been the center of much questioning over the years. What do their daily lives look like? How did they get their nicknames? Have they always been so well-known?&nbsp;

A lot of these royal family questions are a little superficial and can likely be answered by the common knowledge about the rules and regulations of royal families today. Others, however, take a little more finesse and understanding of historical events. That&#39;s where the Reddit channel AskHistorians&nbsp;comes in. This page consists of questions posed by curious people who just want answers to some of history&#39;s&nbsp;biggest questions - obvious or never been asked before. Then, actual historians and professionals answer those questions with well-sourced information.

Take a look at some of the history questions about royal people and families that we wish we had the answers to long ago.

Historians Answer Questions About Historical Royals We Should Have Asked Ages Ago

Historians Answer Questions About Historical Royals

Mallory Weiler

Historical Entertainment

What are the most inaccurate movies about royals? Whether depicting love affairs that never happened or covering up unsavory politics, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-movies-about-royalty/ranker-film" target="_blank">royal biopics</a>&nbsp;on this list don&#39;t tell the full - or even the real - story about kings and queens in history.

Historians evaluate the accuracy of films in two ways: by policing the nitty-gritty historical facts that the movie depicts,&nbsp;and by analyzing the overall truth that the film is communicating about a person, event, or era. Historical facts often get manipulated for the sake of narrative necessity. Worse, many films are inaccurate by omission, since they leave out crucial facts that might shape how a royal is remembered. In these cases, royal biopics completely misrepresent the past.

From Shakespeare&#39;s plays to Hollywood biopics, the lives of royals throughout history have always made for compelling drama. But good movies are rarely good history lessons.

The Least Accurate Movies About Historical Royals

The Most Inaccurate Movies About Royals

Whoa Facts

As most of us learned in history class, there have been a lot of really powerful kings and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-historical-queens/mallory-weiler" target="_blank">queens</a> throughout history. And while he often learn about the battles these historical kings won or the fates they ultimately came to, there is a lot of facts we didn&#39;t learned about these powerful men. <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/firsthand-descriptions-what-royals-really-looked-like/setareh-janda" target="_blank">Historical king facts</a> about some lesser known kings or simple facts about their abilities and time on the throne are often left for only <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-historical-queens/mallory-weiler" target="_blank">historians to learn.</a> But a lot of these facts about kings are topics many wished they&#39;d known earlier - do you agree with them?

Here is a selection of historical facts that will make you say, &quot;Today I learned...&quot; (TIL). Vote up the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-historical-royals-facts-2020/alby-thompson" target="_blank">facts about historical kings</a> that you wished you&#39;d known all along.

Facts We Just Learned About Historical Kings That Made Us Say 'Really?'

Lists about the most memorable fictional characters in film, TV, and literature that will stick in our minds forever.

Characters We'll Never Forget

Are you a fan of movies with kings in them? Browse through this list of the greatest fictional kings to find the ruler you are looking for. Ranked by the community in order from most popular to least popular, there are many fictional kings on this list to choose from. If you spy a favorite fictional king that you think is the greatest but who's on the bottom of the list, vote him up to see him rise to a higher spot on the list. If you don’t see your favorite fictional king on the list, go ahead and add him below. Some kings are portrayed in fiction as being kind, good and strong and efficient leaders. Others are weak and inefficient leaders of their country, causing disaster and chaos to reign supreme. If you are a fan of great fictional kings who make <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/female-role-models/ericascheidt?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">strong role models</a>, you are sure to find some on this list that you can relate to. Vote up your favorite kings below and add any fictional kings who aren't on the list.

King Richard

The Greatest Fictional Kings

Fictional Character

Greatest Fictional Kings | List of Kings from Fiction

Ranker Characters

Royalty lists at Ranker - The ultimate source for hundreds of royalty lists and rankings

Royalty lists on Ranker

Leia Organa

Wonder Woman

Princess Fiona

Belle

Mulan

Ariel

Maleficent

The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning

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Whether found in books, on the stage, or on the big screen, all of the princesses on this list share one characteristic: they&rsquo;re all instantly recognizable as the most amazing princesses fiction has to offer. From cartoon favorites such as She-Ra to film legends such as Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, you&rsquo;ll find them all here on this list of the greatest fictional princesses of all time.

Perhaps one of the most awesome princesses from the fictional realm is Leia Organa, the beautiful and noble princess introduced in Star Wars in the 1970s. The popularity of Star Wars never seems to fade and neither does fans&rsquo; love of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-princess-leia-quotes/movie-and-tv-quotes" target="_blank">Princess Leia</a>. She&rsquo;s inspired everything from Halloween costumes to wedding dresses. Her beauty, grace, and popularity have definitely made her one of the most amazing fictional princesses.

Of course, no list of fictional princesses would be complete without some of the most famous princesses - the Disney princesses. Although the Disney princesses are usually considered to be for children, adults love them, too. Who can deny the beauty and grace of Princess Ariel? She may be an animated character, but as a princess she&rsquo;s lovely and majestic, something even adults can appreciate.

This list contains all of the best fictional princesses, be they from books, movies, television shows, or theatrical productions. Some go on to become queens, while others retain the title of princess, but they&rsquo;re all memorable and have earned their places on this list of the greatest fictional princesses. Cast your votes below and see where the fictional princesses you think are the best rank.

&nbsp;

Kitana

The Greatest Fictional Princesses

Greatest Fictional Princesses | List of Princess Names

Lists about the $92 billion multi mass media entertainment conglomerate and its many, many properties.

The Wonderful World of Disney

A list of the best Disney Princess movies including all the Disney films with princesses. This list includes the top Disney Princess movies for audiences of all ages, and, while Disney Princess films tend to be geared toward 2 to 5 year old girls, they can be fun for parents as well (if you're looking to cater specifically to younger children, the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/children_s-movies-and-films/reference">best kids movies</a> is the place to be). These are the best animated films Disney has to offer (ok, not ALL the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/top-50-greatest-animated-films-of-all-time">best animated movies</a>, but all the best ones with Princesses).In the Disney Princess universe, royalty, glamour, regal behavior, and beautiful dresses are all present to make sure the Princess movies have something to offer for everyone. We believe we've thought of them all, but if your favorite Disney Princess film isn't on the list of the top Disney Princess films, please feel free to add it to the list yourself so that it can have a chance at being called the greatest Disney Princess movie ever.If you love these movies, you should check out Ranker's <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/disney-princess-halloween-costumes/fashionpassion" target="_blank">Disney Princess Halloween costumes</a> list so you can dress up like a real Disney princess.

Cinderella II: Dreams Come True

The Best Disney Princess Movies

Ranker Community

Fun facts, fan theories, and rankings of Disney's most memorable human and creature characters.

The Characters of Disney

Disney Princesses

Who are the best Disney princesses? For decades, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-disney-animated-movies/ranker-film?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Walt Disney films</a> have featured beautiful princesses. Some, like Rapunzel from Tangled,&nbsp;lived in ancient castles, tucked away from the world. Other princesses, like Ariel from The Little Mermaid,&nbsp;lived under the sea. Each of the animated young women on this list is considered a true Disney princess, but which one is your favorite? Vote for her, and vote down any princess you don't think deserves a place of royal honor on this list.The vast majority of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/disney-movies-you-probably-forgot-about/bailey-cavender?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">the Disney movie</a> princesses listed here are actually real royalty, born into their titles. Some, however, aren't actually princesses, though they are no doubt beautiful and, in some cases, heroic. Jane Porter, from Walt Disney's 'Tarzan,' is not true royalty. No, Jane is from Baltimore. No royal families in Maryland (that we know of). Cinderella is hidden away by her evil stepmother, but later meets the Prince, and becomes her royal highness. And Merida, from Disney and Pixar's 2012 hit movie Brave,&nbsp;is technically a princess—but she's far from helpless. Merida seems to be ushering in a whole new kind of Disney heroine: one who is beautiful, smart, and independent!Who are the oldest Disney princesses? Snow White was the first princess to be featured in a Walt Disney Picture film, in 1937's classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.&nbsp;The aforementioned Cinderella (from 1950's Cinderella) is the second oldest, followed by Princess Aurora, from Disney's 1959 animated movie Sleeping Beauty.&nbsp;Yes, they are fictional characters, but wow don't they age well?Take a look at&nbsp;the list of princesses below and vote up your top choices. If you still can't get enough, you can always find favorite Disney princess memorabilia.&nbsp;You&nbsp;can also check out&nbsp;and vote on these lists of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-and-worst-disney-animated-movies/disney-fangirl">best and worst Disney animated movies</a> and the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/greatest-animated-disney-villain">greatest animated Disney villain</a> of all time.