If Prince Andrew’s recent arrest sounds like royal drama, that’s only because the modern monarchy exists in a very subdued, embellished version of history. In the long and extremely violent story of the European throne, the brief detention was hardly an inconvenience. By historical standards, it falls somewhere between “an awkward afternoon” and “a somewhat unfortunate diary.”Because for much of Europe’s past, the royal family’s “trouble” didn’t involve lawyers and press statements. It involved betrayal, imprisonment, mutilation and public executions. The crown is more than just a symbol of power. It was a flashing target.Britain alone reads like a warning manual to anyone tempted by hereditary privilege. In 1327 Edward II was overthrown and murdered in captivity. Richard II was deposed and died under mysterious circumstances in prison, almost certainly being eliminated to prevent a resurgence. Then came Charles I, whose fortunes remain one of the most shocking political reversals in history. After losing the civil war to his own parliament, he was tried for treason and publicly beheaded in 1649. A king who was believed to rule by divine right was overthrown by his own subjects in full view of the public.France elevated the royal family’s downfall into a national spectacle. During the Revolution, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were not only stripped of power. They were guillotined before cheering crowds. The atmosphere of the execution was more that of a grim carnival than a solemn act of state. Almost overnight, royalty went from sacred to disposable.Russia’s attitude was even harsher. In 1918, Tsar Nicholas II and his family were executed in the basement by the Bolsheviks. There is no exile. There is no retirement. There is no ceremony. A dynasty that had ruled for centuries was suddenly violently wiped out.Even when monarchs were not executed, their endings were rarely gentle. Napoleon Bonaparte spent his final years in exile on a remote island in the Atlantic Ocean, effectively sentencing him to a slow decline in isolation. After World War I, Kaiser Wilhelm II fled to the Netherlands and lived out the rest of his life as a bitter relic of a vanished world.Against this backdrop, modern royal scandals feel almost ridiculously benign. The most serious consequences today are reputational damage, media scrutiny, and perhaps a temporary decline in public support. The tools of accountability have shifted from swords to headlines.Interestingly, pop culture captures this contrast perfectly. The Red Wedding in Game of Thrones is one of the most shocking scenes on television, and it wasn’t a crazy fantasy invention. It is inspired by real historical events, specifically Scotland’s “Black Supper” of 1440 and the Glencoe Massacre of 1692. In both cases, guests who had been entertained were betrayed and killed after the banquet. Young nobles invited to the banquet were dragged outside and executed. Families sheltering soldiers were murdered in their sleep.
In other words, the fictional cruelty experienced by the audience is simply history dressed in slightly different costumes.This is the true transformation of monarchy. Once upon a time, kings lived in danger but wielded great power. Today’s royals live a secure life but have almost no power. Their power comes from symbolism, visibility and public goodwill, not military or divine claims.So if Prince Andrew’s arrest feels dramatic, history provides a rather dry punchline. His predecessors lost their thrones, kingdoms, and lives. Some members of the royal family disappeared overnight. Many people have never seen old age. At worst, he faces legal proceedings and a noisy news cycle. For the royals, this isn’t a scandal. It was the gentlest fate a monarchy ever had.
