‘Henry VIII is a serial killer and abuser’: why is Britain still so obsessed with the Tudors?
England has long adopted the version of events informed by the Victorians’ biases and neuroses. But what is behind the flood of 21st-century retellings, including the new TV series The Mirror and the Light?
Zoe Williams
Tuesday 12 November 2024
The TV adaptation of the third of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall novels – The Mirror and the Light – arrived on Sunday on BBC One to rave reviews. “Six hours of magic” was the Guardian’s verdict. The series had been eagerly awaited, but nothing like as eagerly as the book itself. Mantel’s legions of fans waited eight years from the publication of Bring Up the Bodies for the finale to arrive in 2020.
Queen Camilla, King Charles, and the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, on Dec. 5, 2023, at Buckingham Palace.CHRIS JACKSON (AFP)
BRITISH ROYALS
King Charles and Prince William pocket millions in rent from schools, hospitals and military facilities
A media investigation finally reveals the source of the British royal family’s private fortune after decades demanding transparency
RAFA DE MIGUEL
London - NOV 04, 2024 - 10:33 COT
The British royal family has amassed one of the largest fortunes in the country. That is an undisputed fact. But the sources from which the Windsors generate millions in income each year have been largely opaque, obscured by complex financial structures and favorable tax deals agreed between the British state and Buckingham Palace.
Queen Elizabeth II arrives in Mustique, Saint Vincent and is welcomed by Princess Margaret in 1977.ANWAR HUSSEIN
Princess Margaret’s wild final years on the island of Mustique
Elizabeth II’s sister fell in love with the paradisiacal place as soon as she visited it for the first time in 1960. Not only did she have a house built for her there, but while still married, the destination was also the scene of her relationship with the young Roddy Llewellyn
Sergio del Amo
September 20, 2022
When aristocrat Colin Tennant, the 3rd Baron Glenconner, bought an exotic Caribbean island north of Venezuela for £45,000 in 1958, his wife Anne thought he had lost his mind. On this four-square-mile islet that he named Mustique, because it was infested with mosquitoes, barely a few cotton fields were visible. There was neither drinking water nor electricity. But despite this, he set himself a goal: to turn the piece of land into the favorite residence for the wealthy. After building a primitive airport a year after their arrival, as well as their own house, the Tennants laid the foundations for what would end up being one of the most successful real estate businesses of recent decades.
What seemed to the press an impenetrable bohemian paradise immediately caught the attention of Princess Margaret. She fell in love with it in 1960, the year in which Elizabeth II’s younger sister starred in the first televised royal wedding in history. After saying “I do” to photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones (who was given the title of Lord Snowdon), the couple embarked on a six-week trip to the Caribbean on the yacht Britannia. Anne Tennant was not just Margaret’s friend and confidante but also her lady-in-waiting at Westminster Abbey, and she suggested the newlywed couple stop at Mustique. As soon as the ship was anchored, they went for a swim.
Princess Margaret and Colin Tennant, in February 1989.SLIM AARONS (GETTY IMAGES)
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During their days on the island, they had no choice but to shower with buckets of water hanging from some trees. And they were not exactly received with an opulent banquet: there was only fish and the occasional can of preserves. Against all odds, the princess was fascinated by the experience. On their last night of that honeymoon, when Colin himself asked her “do you want something in a little box, or would you prefer a piece of land?”, Margaret replied, “Oh, I think a piece of land would be wonderful.” Antony was not amused by the proposal at all. Moreover, it is known that he referred to the island as “Mustake.” He never set foot there again.
Not until years later, at the beginning of 1968, did Margaret call Colin to demand her belated wedding gift: “Were you really serious about the land?” “Yes,” he replied. “And does it come with a house?” she retorted. The baron complied with her wishes. A few months after that call, she returned to Mustique. Accompanied by Colin and Anne, and dressed in simple pajamas, she was shown around Gelliceaux Point, the highest and most inaccessible point on the islet. The construction of Les Jolies Eaux, a neo-Georgian villa with five bedrooms, two swimming pools and austere white furniture, was concluded on the point in 1972. After that, the princess began to visit the mansion twice a year, in the months of October or November and in February. The wayward princess, thousands of miles from London, had finally found that longed-for home where she could feel free.
Princess Margaret with a friend on a beach in Mustique on February 1, 1976.ANWAR HUSSEIN (GETTY IMAGES)
In the early 1970s, just over a dozen families resided in Mustique. Every afternoon, without exception, the owners took turns hosting the best parties of the time in their homes. They played cards until the wee hours of the morning and danced like there was no tomorrow. Alcohol also ran freely. Those who shared those evenings with Margaret affirm that a good bottle of Famous Grouse, her favorite brand of whiskey, and two packs of tobacco were never missing from the table.
How did the princess behave in an intimate gathering? She “could be very wild and unrestrained. And she could be very difficult. She liked to be spoiled and taken care of. If she felt well cared for, she was fun,” several sources say. They also say that, above all, she “was a royal person.” In fact, even with people she trusted most, no one dared to give her a kiss or a hug. Likewise, she had to be addressed as “her royal highness.” Even on the beach collecting shells, she had to be greeted with a bow. (Only the British were obliged to the latter; the Americans, if they wanted, could skip the protocol.) Everyone agrees that Margaret loved being surrounded by men, the younger the better.
Roddy Llewellyn, Princess Margaret's lover, in an image from February 1976, the year their relationship was discovered.ANWAR HUSSEIN (GETTY IMAGES)
In 1973, while she was still married, the Tennants introduced her to a landscape gardener named Roddy Llewellyn at their Scottish estate. He was 26 years old; she, 43. Previously, the British press had already speculated on the possibility that Margaret had been unfaithful to Lord Snowdon with personalities as varied as Mick Jagger, Peter Sellers, Warren Beatty and the actor John Bindon. But Roddy was different.
The couple did their best to hide their love, but in 1976 the now-defunct News of The World published some exclusive photographs of the two sharing more than a swim on one of the island’s paradisiacal beaches. The scandal was immediate. Antony Armstrong-Jones also had a mistress, Lucy Lindsay-Hogg, the ex-wife of filmmaker Michael Lindsay-Hogg. But unlike Margaret, nobody caught him red-handed. Although everyone knew that their marriage was not as idyllic as they made it look, those snapshots were the trigger for their divorce in 1978, the first by a member of British royalty since Henry VIII did the same in 1533. Margaret, no longer tied down, had free rein to continue her relationship with Roddy. However, she did not count on her young conquest confessing in 1981 that he was seeing Tatiana Soskin, the wife of film producer Paul Soskin. Said confession also occurred in Mustique.
Princess Margaret enjoying a bath with Roddy.ANWAR HUSSEIN (GETTY IMAGES)
In 1976, the paradisiacal island ceased to be a secret for most mortals for another more hedonistic reason. That year, on the occasion of Colin Tennant’s 50th birthday, the elite destination held the most notorious party to date. Besides spraying faux gold on Macaroni Beach, the Baron hired burly locals from the area, dressed in little more than a coconut shell as a loincloth, to entertain his exclusive diners. The photographs of that night, in which Margaret could be seen having a great time, soon reached the British newspapers. Thus was born the legend of Mustique, the place where the most extravagant would always be well received. The shindig was a marketing ploy orchestrated by Tennant to attract other rich and famous people. It worked. Mick Jagger and David Bowie rushed to build their own mansions on that untamed piece of land. Many others followed in their footsteps.
Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall on Mustique on February 18, 1987.GEORGES DE KEERLE (GETTY IMAGES)
Even Queen Elizabeth II fell for Mustique’s charms. In 1977 she, along with her husband, settled for a few days at Les Jolies Eaux. She wanted to see with her own eyes that paradise that her sister had told her so much about. According to the testimony of Anne Tennant, the Duke of Edinburgh upon arrival told Colin “I see you have ruined the island.” When he left, his opinion had changed radically: “I really like your island. I loved the time I spent here,” he informed him.
Princess Margaret and a group of her friends welcome Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to the island.PA IMAGES (PA IMAGES VIA GETTY IMAGES)
Margaret was happier than ever during the long seasons that she spent in Mustique. There she found her haven of peace, an escape from the frigid streets of London. What she did not imagine was that her dream would unexpectedly be cut short in 1999: she accidentally burned her feet in the bathtub at her island house. At first, she refused to be seen by a doctor and leave Les Jolies Eaux, but given the seriousness of her injuries, Anne herself called Buckingham Palace so that the queen would make her see reason. After a long talk between them, the princess agreed and took a flight to the British capital. Given her deteriorating health, she never got the chance to say goodbye to her beloved villa the way she would have wanted. With her passing in 2002, Mustique was no longer the same.
Portrait of Carlos II of Spain, painted around 1680 by Juan Carreño de Miranda.MUSEO DEL PRADO
Research confirms that intermarrying caused the ‘Habsburg jaw’ in Spanish royals
After analyzing portraits, a team of geneticists and surgeons has confirmed the link between the diplomatic strategy adopted by the dynasty and their prevalent overbite
Manuel Ansede
4 December 2019
According to historian Jaime Contreras, the birth of Charles II of Spain on November 6, 1661, was used as an excuse to organize a huge party in Madrid, complete with extravagant costumes in the shape of animals and demons. “Hundreds of astrologers made predictions,” he wrote in his book Charles II, The Bewitched. “The best known predicted that the prince would become king. Most of the astrological charts supported it: Saturn was the planet that sent the strongest message, a star was found on the horizon of the Spanish court without a malicious aspect.” All too soon, however, the predictions would be proven wrong.
Emeritus king, Juan Carlos I January 2020Photo by JOSÉ OLIVA
Spain’s emeritus king Juan Carlos I to leave country amid tax haven scandal
The former monarch has told Felipe VI of his "well-considered decision" to move away from Spain after Swiss and Spanish prosecutors opened an investigation into allegations of financial irregularities
Spain’s emeritus king Juan Carlos I has informed his son, King Felipe VI, of his “well-considered decision to leave Spain,” and his residence at Zarzuela Palace, where he has lived for the last 58 years. The decision comes after Swiss and Spanish prosecutors opened an investigation into bank accounts allegedly held by Juan Carlos in tax havens.
In a letter to his son released by the Royal Household, Juan Carlos writes that due to the “public impact” of the investigation, he has decided to leave Spain in order to enable Felipe VI to act as head of state from a place of “peace and tranquility.”
Portrait of Carlos II of Spain, painted around 1680 by Juan Carreño de Miranda.MUSEO DEL PRADO
Research confirms that intermarrying caused the ‘Habsburg jaw’ in Spanish royals
After analyzing portraits, a team of geneticists and surgeons has confirmed the link between the diplomatic strategy adopted by the dynasty and their prevalent overbite
Manuel Ansede
4 December, 2019
According to historian Jaime Contreras, the birth of Charles II of Spain on November 6, 1661, was used as an excuse to organize a huge party in Madrid, complete with extravagant costumes in the shape of animals and demons. “Hundreds of astrologers made predictions,” he wrote in his book Charles II, The Bewitched. “The best known predicted that the prince would become king. Most of the astrological charts supported it: Saturn was the planet that sent the strongest message, a star was found on the horizon of the Spanish court without a malicious aspect.” All too soon, however, the predictions would be proven wrong.
Corinna Larsen in New York in 2016Photo by ANDREW TOTH
Close friend of Spain’s emeritus king transferred $39 million from “donation” to a US bank
A request for judicial cooperation sent by Swiss prosecutors to a Spanish judge reveals multiple payments to Corinna Larsen, who used part of the money to purchase real estate
English version by Susana Urra
José María Irujo
Madrid, 25 de marzo de 2020
An information exchange between a Spanish judge and a Swiss prosecutor has shed new light on an ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities involving emeritus king Juan Carlos I, the father of Spain’s reigning monarch Felipe VI.
Spain’s High Court, the Audiencia Nacional, has been waiting for the Swiss justice system to relay information about an alleged bank account that was opened at the Swiss bank Mirabaud and the $100 million (€88 million) that was reportedly deposited in it as a payment from Saudi Arabia.
Swiss prosecutors are already investigating this account, opened in the name of Lucum Foundation, whose first beneficiary was Juan Carlos I, on suspicion of kickback payments for the contract to build the AVE high-speed rail link to Mecca, which was awarded to a Spanish consortium, as EL PAÍS recently revealed.
King Felipe VI recently announced he is relinquishing any inheritance from his father, after news emerged that he himself was a beneficiary of Lucum and another foundation named in the investigation.
The $65 million gift
In 2012, around $65 million (€57 million) was allegedly transferred from this account to Corinna Larsen, a Monaco-based businesswoman described as a close friend of Juan Carlos. Larsen has told investigators that the money was a donation from the former Spanish monarch, whom Swiss prosecutors name as the first beneficiary of the Mirabaud bank account. In Spain, High Court Judge Manuel García Castellón and anti-corruption prosecutors are investigating these alleged payments.
Of the $65 million that Juan Carlos allegedly donated to Corinna Larsen, €39 million was later transferred by the latter to one of her personal accounts at a US bank in late 2016 and 2017. This money ended up at Fieldpoint Private Bank, according to a request for judicial assistance sent by Swiss prosecutor Yves Bertossa to Judge Castellón, to which EL PAÍS has had access.
Part of the money, according to this document, was used by Larsen to purchase and refurbish two apartments at the exclusive Swiss ski resort of Villars-sur-Ollon, and to acquire a mansion in north London worth £5 million (€5.4 million).
The request for judicial cooperation sent by the Geneva prosecutor on August 16 describes the main findings of the Swiss investigation following a raid on the offices of the lawyer Dante Canonica and the fund manager Arturo Fasana, who were the administrators of the Lucum Foundation, whose first beneficiary was Juan Carlos I. The Mirabaud bank account was in the name of this foundation. On August 8, 2008 a deposit was made worth $100 million, as a donation from the Saudi royal house.
Part of the money was allegedly used by Larsen to purchase and refurbish two apartments at the exclusive Swiss ski resort of Villars-sur-Ollon
Bertossa is investigating alleged money laundering and kickback payments for the contract to build the AVE high-speed rail link to Mecca, a project that was awarded to a Spanish consortium headed by the construction giant OHL. According to the prosecutor, the winning companies had included in their offer “a 30% discount.” In his judicial request, Bertossa ties this project to the deposit that was made in the Lucum account, and to the later transfer of the money to an account held by Corinna Larsen in the Bahamas.
Robin Rathmell, Larsen’s lawyer, says that the money was “an unsolicited gift” and denies any commission payments. This legal representative says the timeline “clearly shows” that the money was received before the railway contract was awarded, and notes that kickbacks are paid by the winning companies, not by the country where the project takes place.
A file photo of King Felipe and his father, Juan Carlos.PAOLO BLOCCO / WIREIMAGE
Loans
Judicial sources say that the request for information focuses on the discovery of the Lucum Foundation, whose beneficiary is the retired king, and on the money transfers that this foundation made to an entity called Siam Partner, held by Corinna Larsen. The transfers were described as loans, and Siam Partner was allegedly created by Larsen, according to the Swiss prosecutor’s document, in order to secure the loans from Juan Carlos I with the aim of purchasing two apartments at the Villar-sur-Ollon ski resort.
The first loan was made on May 28, 2009. The Lucum Foundation transferred €1,242,356 to an account held by Siam Partner at Switzerland’s Mirabaud bank, via an intermediary account that is also mentioned in the document. On October 15 of that same year, Larsen received a further €324,000 from Lucum at her HSBC account in Monaco. And on November 3 she received another transfer worth €150,000. Bertossa writes that these payments were tied to refurbishments made in both apartments.
Larsen described herself to investigators as “as a person who puts people in touch who want to create companies in the Middle East”
The document also notes that, under questioning as part of the Swiss investigation, Larsen described herself as “as a person who puts people in touch who want to create companies in the Middle East.” She also explained that she returned the loans in 2010 because she had received a $5 million (€4.6 million) payment from the State of Kuwait for services rendered. Bertossa notes that this money was paid a few days after Juan Carlos I visited the emir of Kuwait.
The Swiss prosecutor further notes that between October 27, 2011 and January 24 and 25, 2012, the Lucum Foundation’s Geneva-based account transferred a total of £1,596,000 (€1,732,587) to another account in the name of Riverhouse Partner, benefiting Larsen. Riverhouse Partner is a real estate company, and Bertossa writes that Larsen claimed Juan Carlos I had donated this amount so she could purchase an apartment in Eaton Square worth £5 million (€5,426,121).
Account closed
The prosecutor’s document notes that Juan Carlos I’s Swiss bank account was closed in June 2012 “due to new Swiss fiscal legislation” and that the monarch, who was still on the throne at the time, “signed an order to transfer the remainder of the money to Corinna Larsen at her account held in the name of the company Solare Investors Corporation at Gonet & Cie bank in Nassau (Bahamas). Among the transfers received by the Lucum account while it remained open, Bertossa mentions $1,895,250 (€1.7 million) by the sultan of Bahrein.
Bertossa writes that according to the individuals under investigation – Larsen, Canonica and Fasana – the $64.8 million transfer to Larsen was “an irrevocable donation by the former king of Spain to his close friend.” Larsen told investigators that the money paid for the refurbishment work at the Eaton Square apartment. These refurbishments cost around £4 million pounds (€4,340,055).
Larsen created a company named Mountain Lion Inc. with the alleged goal of receiving an unbuilt plot of land from the king of Morocco
The Swiss prosecutor also writes that in 2015 Larsen bought a mansion in the north of London worth £6 million (€6.4 million) thanks to a loan from Solare Investors in favor of a trust named Honeybird Group Corporation. In late 2016 and 2017, according to the Swiss investigation, Larsen transferred $42 million (€39.33 million) to her personal account at the US lender Fieldpoint Private Bank.
Bertossa also indicates in the request for information that Larsen created a company named Mountain Lion Inc., of which she was the beneficiary, with the purpose of receiving an unbuilt plot of land in Marrakesh “from the king of Morocco.” This property was worth 18 million dirhams (€1,712,865).
Bertossa’s document also mentions the Zagatka Foundation, and its beneficiary Álvaro de Orleans, a distant cousin of Juan Carlos I. The prosecutor notes that this foundation’s funds paid for many of the retired monarch’s private trips for a total of €3 million. Regarding the origin of these funds, Álvaro de Orleans told investigators that it was part of his father’s inheritance. The Zagatka Foundation’s Swiss account transferred €150,000 to Larsen’s HSBC account in Monaco on July 6, 2010.
Bertossa’s request for information also describes how the Lucum Foundation’s account was opened. According to this document, the lawyer Dante Canonica and the Geneva-based fund manager Arturo Fasana “were contacted by Juan Carlos I in order to create a structure to receive a donation.” The document states that Fasana met with the Saudi ambassador in Washington, and that the latter said the sum was “a simple, free donation” from the king of Saudi Arabia. In 2008 the king was Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who passed away in 2015.
On May 27, 2019 Juan Carlos dropped all official activities and retired from public life. He abdicated the throne in 2014, in the wake of waning popularity fueled in part by a corruption scandal involving his son-in-law and by a hunting trip during which his relationship with Corinna Larsen emerged.
Juan Carlos, who served on the throne for 39 years and is widely credited with helping stop the February 23, 1981 coup attempt in Spain, has hired a former anti-corruption prosecutor, Javier Sánchez-Junco Mans, to represent him if he ultimately faces a judicial investigation.
