Elegant palaces, dazzling power plays, secret affairs and scandalous marriages, royal romances have been the stuff of gossip and speculation for centuries. From the fascination with Charles II's mistresses to the spectacular fall out from Henry VIII's many marriages, royal romances have held a sway over popular culture to the mass adoration for Diana's tragic tale and the media frenzy surrounding Kate Middleton's every move. Leslie Carroll takes a look at five scandalous and seductive royal stories that will enchant and entertain royalists and lovers of history alike.