Illustration of a couple

Sex and love

A painting depicts Frederica, the bride- to-be of Frederick, Duke of York, meeting in-laws George III and Queen Charlotte for the first time

The scandals that rocked Queen Charlotte's court

(l-r) Blanche, Marguerite and Jeanne of Burgundy, three sisters at the heart of a royal scandal and succession crisis in medieval France (Photos by The Picture Art Collection and ACTIVE MUSEUM / ACTIVE ART / Alamy Stock Photo)

Scandalous sisters: how three French princesses brought down the Capetian dynasty

Philip Augustus of France (left) and Richard I of England

Medieval masculinityWhat Richard I can tell us about male friendship in the Middle Ages. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Penrhyn Castle, Gwynedd, Wales. (Photo by Getty Images)

Tales of romanceThe historical love stories behind 5 British castles. This is a premium piece of content available to registered users.

The Love Letter, 1834.

How to write a love letter6 tips from the historical figures who did it best. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Sat in his Spitfire adorned with Figaro the Cat is decorated Second World War fighter pilot Ian Gleed, who had to hide his homosexuality (Photo by Royal Air Force Official Photographer/ Imperial War Museums via Getty Images)

Second World War

Hiding in plain sightThe prejudice and tolerance of homosexuality in WW2 armed forces

The queen – dressed in dark clothing – stands up from a table to deliver a speech

Annus HorribilisWhat happened in the Queen’s horrible year?

James VI of Scotland (later also James I of England and Ireland) and his young wife, Anna of Denmark

The honeymoon of James VI and Anna of Denmark. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Reverend Spencer Parsons, head of the Chicago branch of the Clergy Consultation Service (CCS), an interfaith group dedicated to helping women obtain abortions before 'Roe v Wade'

The American clergy who helped women get abortions before Roe v Wade. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Dakota Johnson stars as Anne Elliot in Netflix's 2022 adaptation of Persuasion, the final completed novel by Jane Austen

Persuasion“The essence and spirit of Austen’s work are fundamentally changed”

A portrait of King Henry VIII

Henry VIIIThe life and rule of the Tudor king, plus 5 surprising facts

A Maria Spilsbury painting of a group sat at a drawing room table

Regency romance and a real-life Anne Elliot. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù as Mr Malcolm and Freida Pinto as Selina Dalton in Mr Malcolm's List

What was on Mr. Malcolm’s List? The real history behind the Regency romance

Casanova: more than a serial seducer. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Diane de Poitiers. As the mistress of Henry II of France, she had incredible and indescribable influence over the French king.

The French royal mistresses who made it about more than sex. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Princess Elizabeth and Thomas Seymour (Photos by Getty and Alamy)

Did Thomas Seymour sexually abuse the teenage Princess Elizabeth?

Did Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville marry for love?

Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton and Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma in Bridgerton season 2

How to succeed in Regency courtship. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Bridgerton: behind the scenes of season 2. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Philip II, king of Spain from 1556, seated with Queen Mary I of England. They married in 1554

When Mary met Philip: a Tudor queen in love

Valentine's celebrations in historyFrom fertility festivals to the first cards

Lettice Knollys

A Tudor love triangle: Elizabeth I, Lettice Knollys and Robert Dudley

Charles and Camilla, 1979

Charles and CamillaA history of their romance

Claire Foy as the Duchess of Argyll in A Very British Scandal (left); Margaret Campbell, Duchess of Argyll (right)

The Argyll divorce: the society scandal that rocked 1960s Britain

HistoryExtra Masterclass: Tudor Royal Women with Tracy Borman

Tudor Royal Women with Tracy BormanThe Private Life of Elizabeth I. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Sex lives of medieval people. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Chaucer reading his work to the court of Richard II

Katherine Swynford: the scandalous duchess and ancestress of royal dynasties

Sex work: a brief history. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Sir Lancelot of the Lake and Queen Guinevere seen embracing by King Arthur in a medieval illustration

Tudors in love: what were the dynasty's romantic secrets?

(Illustration: Clair Rossiter for BBC History Magazine)

Beans, ale & 'windy meats': surprising 17th-century aphrodisiacs