3: James II and his fake heir scandal!

On June 10 1688, Queen Mary of Modena, the Catholic wife of James II, gave birth to a son, James Francis Stewart.

Or did she?

Join Kate Williams and Robert Hardman as they dive into one of royal history’s juiciest, and often forgotten, scandals: an event that should have been a joyous moment (a male heir - hurrah!) but one that instead unleashed a chain of events that would lead to mother, father, and child being driven out of England to spend the rest of their lives in… exile.

Robert and Kate will explore whether Queen Mary really did give birth to a healthy son, or if – as many English Protestants, unwilling to see a Catholic heir on the throne, claimed – the pregnancy was all a ruse.

Hosted by Daily Mail columnist and royal biographer Robert Hardman and historian Professor Kate Williams, Queens, Kings, and Dastardly Things delves into the juiciest parts of royal history from eras past, and present... but mainly past.

New episodes out every Wednesday, wherever you get your podcasts.

Follow us on TikTok and Instagram @queenskingspod, and email us at @dastardlythings@mailonline.co.uk

Presenters: Robert Hardman and Professor Kate Williams

Producer: Rich Jarman

Production Manager: Victoria Cecchini

Executive Producer: Bella Soames

Thanks to Dr. Fern Riddell

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Hosts: Robert Hardman and Professor Kate Williams

Series Producer: Ben Devlin

Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini

Executive Producer: Bella Soames

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.

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