Blind Item - Which Member of the Royal Family is Gay?

The only one of the main family who was once married is Andrew, and he was an infamous ladies man.

Without reading the BI, my guess would be David Armstrong-Jones, Margaret's son. The UK gossip site, Digital Spy, always used to put the kibosh on posts about him.

He's better known as Viscount (or is it Lord?) Linley. This actually isn't so BI-ish. The stories have been out there, but forbidden from published or even mentioned in the UK press, at least.

Wasn't his father Snowden also famously bi (at least for Margaret's sake)?

Then there's this, which managed to get published in Australia.

October 31, 2007 - 8:38AM Viscount Linley, son of the late Princess Margaret, has been named as the royal at the centre of a gay sex videotape scandal in Britain.

The 45-year-old, who can't be named in Britain because of court restrictions, was outed on US television.

Ian Strachan, 30, and Sean McGuigan, 40, are being held in custody until they appear at London's Central Criminal Court on December 20 on blackmail charges, prosecutors said.

The allegations became public over the weekend with a report in The Sunday Times.

The paper said the two suspects had approached the royal family member in August and demanded £50,000 ($112,000) not to publicise a video allegedly showing the royal engaged in a sex act with a male aide.

The blackmailers also claimed to have evidence suggesting the royal had supplied an aide with an envelope containing cocaine, the newspaper said.

Buckingham Palace has refused to comment on the report, saying it had nothing to say about what it described as "a police matter."

London police have only said that two men appeared in court on September 13 and were charged with blackmail.

The appearance was held in private and a court order has banned identifying the victim or any potential witnesses in the case.

The preliminary hearing on December 20 will allow a judge and lawyers to discuss future dates in the court case, prosecutors said.

The BBC, without citing sources, said the blackmail target was not a senior member of the royal family.

The Sunday Times said the blackmailers' target contacted police and the two suspects were arrested at a London hotel on September 11 during an undercover police operation.

An undercover police detective posing as a royal aide reportedly contacted the alleged blackmailers and arranged the meeting at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

Strachan is a property developer in London who grew up in a wealthy area of Aberdeen, Scotland, where he attended a private school and ran a clothes shop before moving to Britain's capital.

Giovanni di Stefano, Strachan's legal adviser, said the suspect owns a home in the wealthy London area of Chelsea and regularly socialised with people on the fringes of Britain's royal family.

Mr di Stefano, a high-profile lawyer whose previous clients include executed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, said of reports that a sex act was captured on video: "There is no tape in existence.

"What there is in existence are tapes both audio and visual of an assistant to a member of the royal family boasting of how he received a sex act from this royal family member.

"Whether that act took place I do not know.

"At no time did my client call the royal household. He in fact called the private business office of the individual concerned.

"My client denies that he asked for any money and that it was in fact the office of the individual concerned who first offered money."

No background information was immediately available about McGuigan.

Princess Edward

I don’t envy the guy. Being a British gay royal must be a special kind of hell. Mostly because of the homophobic and sadistic tabloids over there.

This is fabulous news! Whomever it is, I'm taking them shopping with me!

All of them!

I thought the DL consensus was Edward and Lindley were gay, Andrew and Charles bi, with Andrew being an ephebephile at best.

Well, we know at least one is a queen!

If Andrew is an ephebephile at best, R8, what is he supposed to be at worst? This is not a sarcastic question - I'm genuinely trying to imagine what the alternatives might be. Surely you don't mean to imply that he's suspected of paedophilia?

Edward

Weren't there rumors about Lord Freddie Windsor?

khfkfhwefi

r2

Yes

R3 - spilling the tea on Viscount Linley.

It was interesting how Prince Andrew took over the mother-of-the-bride role at Eugenie's wedding.

Viscount Linley is a furniture designer and interior decorator. So there's that.

It's Edward and we've all know for years.

Back in the day, when he was doing something in the West End, it's rumoured that he was fucking Michael Ball.

Said to have a big willy too.

Although, can you imagine that face looking above you, contorted with sexual gratification? Shudder!

R18 - if you read the blind item it said "once married" and Edward is STILL married, so I'm afraid you are wrong. Run along and work on reading comprehension before you comment incorrectly again.

No.No.No. It's Andrew. All that ladies man bs was just that - bs. Come on - all those days and nights away at sea? IN THE ROYAL NAVY? Fergie complained that she saw him for only 30 or so days out of the year, and he was just A-OKAY with that, right? Remember how Andrew was parodied on E!'s "The Royals?"

ANDREW!!

All of them went to boarding schools hence all of them are gay.

Kidding. But if I were to guess I'd say Edward and Margaret's kid.

The youngest one is the gayest

[quote]All of them went to boarding schools hence all of them are gay.

What weird shit it this?

I went to boarding school, hardly anyone I knew turned out to be gay.

There have been rumors about Edward for decades including an alleged affair with actor/singer Michael Ball.

Little Prince Louis of Cambridge will never not look like a tiny Louie Anderson to me.

Sick and tired of hearing about these pointless people. Why can't they have their own "lounge" someplace else?

I don't get the point of this blind. If it's the most obvious candidate, he's always led a very private life, never tried to thrust himself into the limelight, and it's his own private business. Most of the world would never even have realised he existed if it weren't for Phillip's funeral. Just leave him alone.

[quote] He's better known as Viscount (or is it Lord?) Linley. This actually isn't so BI-ish. The stories have been out there, but forbidden from published or even mentioned in the UK press, at least.

He went to court and spent about 50,000 pounds to get an injunction forbidding the press from reporting/naming him

If you live in England and you are rich enough, you can actually get a court order that forbids the press from reporting on your exploits/crimes / whatever. Child molesters can get an injunction so the press doesn't report on their crimes

Elton John's husband has gotten an injunction before

R23, he said he was kidding.

I wonder if Harry or Williams ever fucked around with guys.

R23 exactly.

You want a grammar school for rampant homosexuality.

R30 until recent years, I had rather thought Harry was bisexual with a preference for men. The way he is with his peers....hmmm.

Why should the tabloids be reporting on his private life, r28?

Well, there's this...

Harry has ZERO chemistry with his wife...

... and this

... and this cookie smeller

OK, how about most of the men are bisexual to some degree? Can you blame them, look at how unattractive most of the elite and royal women are. all that interbreeding over centuries have cancelled out the good-looking genes

Maybe the headline should've read "Which Member of the BRF *Isn't Gay?"

R35 had me going. Thought that article was on about Ash Cole the footballer....

What's Edward like behind the scenes, anyway? The general consensus seems to be that Andrew is rude and boorish, Charles is pampered and fussy, and Anne is pretty decent and down-to-earth. You never hear about Edward.

I met Edward once many years at an exhibition he was opening. He came up and started talking to me and a colleague - the three of us were by some margin the youngest there, which may explain why be broke away from the bigwigs and joined us. He was cheerful and friendly and had beautiful skin as I remember. He wasn't hitting on us, even slightly (I've always been hideous).

^^ I don’t suppose you are at all hideous and you sound charming - the kind of person a prince would cross the room to meet

He's artistic, like my Sheridan

Young Prince Edward was not too hard on the eyes.

There are better pictures than that one, r45, but like others in his family he ages like milk in the hot August sun.

The more interesting person in this thread is the one with the teapot in R18’s photo, wonder who he is.

Edward was known as "Dockside Doris" but he is still married so not the subject of the blind.

Too much naivety on this thread (Americans?). It's not one of the Queen's sons.

Going back many years, I remember watching this miniseries on NBC called KINGS—bit heavy-handed and allegorically-religious for my taste, but I enjoyed the excellent cinematography and the music, so I stuck with it.

After finishing it, I went and read a bit of press about it, and iirc one of the writer-creators mentioned fashioning the lary partybody soldier-Prince gay character (played by a pre-MCU Sebastian Stan) on a member of the British Royal family. At that point in time, the only party animal English Prince of the right age in the military was Haz.

Likely wishful-thinking and fanfiction on the part of the writers, and just trying to drum up press for their show. Still an interesting comment.

The man you refer to as Viscount Linley is now Earl Snowden. His son is now Viscount Linley.

"There are better pictures than that one, [R45], but like others in his family he ages like milk in the hot August sun"

And yet, you failed to post a better picture.

[quote]In October and November 2007, rumours circulated on the internet suggesting that a member of the British royal family was the victim of blackmail. The first confirmation that the royal in the extortion attempt was indeed Viscount Linley, as Snowdon was known at the time, came from the journalist Nicholas Davies. Ian Strachan and Sean McGuigan tried to extort £50,000 from Snowdon in September by threatening to release video footage showing sex acts and cocaine use (allegedly by Snowdon and a male royal aide) on a mobile phone. Snowdon contacted the police. Strachan and McGuigan were arrested after showing their video footage to an undercover detective, and at trial were sentenced to five years in prison.

[quote]And yet, you failed to post a better picture.

I'm not your fucking research assistant, Diane.

R3 is correct. It's the second earl of Snowden who prefers cock to pussy.

"Whomever it is"

Oh, dear!

Prince Charles is also rumored to have had it on with male palace workers.

R56 it’s “had it off”, luv.

Many years ago I was told that Edward was gay and had once been involved with Michael Ball. This was before his marriage. He and his wife seem to be a happy partnership and they have a daughter. Some years ago there was a minor scandal about Edward making money off of documentaries on Britain and the RF. They were great and you can still see them online. After that he has stayed completely out of trouble. His wife helped. Charles had many gay staff - including his private secretary - but I have never seen any rumors about him doing it with male staff members. On the other hand, Diana did....

"[R3] is correct. It's the second earl of Snowden who prefers cock to pussy. "

Of course Ma'am Darling and her randy bisexual husband would have a Gay son

[quote]Charles had many gay staff - including his private secretary - but I have never seen any rumors about him doing it with male staff members.

There was a story that came to light about 20 years. ago. It was quickly buried.

^ Yes, see r36 and r34

It's probably Princess Margaret's son, David , Earl Snowdon. However, but I've also been suspicious of Edward the Duke of Kent. He's divorced from his wife Katherine and they had three children.

R62, do you just dream stuff up? The Duke of Kent is not divorced.

It's funny how no one considers the recently separated Peter Phillips. He oozes heterosexuality.

I remember when there was an undercover investigation of Royals selling access.

There was a video with one of Edward's staff and the undercover reporter commented on rumors of Edward being gay.

A male staff member responded: "Where there is smoke, there is fire."

[quote]If Andrew is an ephebephile at best, [R8], what is he supposed to be at worst?

[quote]Surely you don't mean to imply that he's suspected of paedophilia?

Met some friends after I'd watched Prince Philip's funeral, they'd been out and not seen it. Asked how it was, I said, 'Really excellent in every way, totally compelling.' Next question, 'Was the paedophile there?'

Like it or not, this is the routine way the Queen's second son is now seen. Even if the fool were to blurt, 'But they were all legal!' it would make little difference. Stick that fork in him, he's done.

Edward.

BF is singer Michael Ball.

"And yet, you failed to post a better picture." "I'm not your fucking research assistant, Diane."

But I did my research and posted a picture. You criticized it and claimed that there were better photos. Not knowing your dubious taste, I would be unable to surmise what you consider a "better picture" of said royal. You probably fantasize about children a lot, so here is a picture of the prince just for you.

I know for certain one royal and two non-royal but family members have had gay flings. All are now happily married. You can't look at it throught an American perspective: most British upper class and working class men can have sex with mates, and while it can be meaningful and bring happy memories, it can also mean diddly squat in the scheme of things. There's infinitely more fluidity and experimentation than happens in America.

R68 I was not the person you got snippy with. I was just joking.

You sound beyond tedious.

R63 - My apologies. I thought they separated and were divorced after Katharine became a Roman Catholic. She's a music teacher and I don't think they live together.

R69 is adorable. Bless his heart.

And to add: you can see that puritan hang reflected on DL: the obsession who is a top and who is a bottom, and hygiene. In England: eh? Spit on it mate, and jam it in! Things are easier. And do I know what I know? Knew someone who used to lunch with one of the family, and also went to lots of functions. They used to give me the goss. As for Linley: another friend told me they were in an East End pub when his father's engagement to Marg was announced on the telly, and the barmaid turned to the punters watching it, and said: "Question is luvs: who's gonna fuck who?" So beyond the precincts of the middle class, gossip about the future Snowden was rife even then.

r65 Ooh do you have a link please?

[quote] Why should the tabloids be reporting on his private life, R28

Are you high? I feel like you are high

They are newspapers/tabloids. They report about everyone who is newsworthy. They publish it and people buy it or real it. It's how they stay in business

Do you think he's someone so important that no one in the world should report on? You know that, there's no such thing as that?

Uk newspapers cannot report the identity of blackmail victims royal or not royal.

r69 Any further hints and details please?

Hmm, I wonder who?

R73 is exactly what my script would sound like if I wanted every character to be a lower-class British cliche.

It would be fucking weird for a Brit upper class male NOT to have had some gay sex in their salad days, or at least in school. Jesus Christ. It's a right of passage. No one thinks twice about lads snogging at Oxford/Cambridge parties: everyone's pissed. England isn't America.

R80 You are showing your age. Younger people in both countries are much more open to experimentation now.

[quote]. Wasn't his father Snowden also famously bi (at least for Margaret's sake)?

Yes. I remember reading in a book where during one of their rows Princess Margaret screamed at her husband "I slept with Lord Such-and-Such!" and her husband would shout back "So did I!"

[quote]Yes. I remember reading in a book where during one of their rows Princess Margaret screamed at her husband "I slept with Lord Such-and-Such!" and her husband would shout back "So did I!"

SNOWDEN: "Fuck Maximillian!"

MARGARET: "I did."

SNOWDEN: "So did I."

R75, this is nothing to do with the tabloids, it's a blind item. It might come as a shock to you, but the British tabloids don't really care about people's private lives unless it impinges on public life in some way. They already know who's gay. And, yes, I do think that the tabloids shouldn't report on anybody's private life if it is of no public significance.

My ex-boyfriend used to mix in more posh circles and basically the consensus is that:

Tony Armstrong-Jones, husband of Princess Margaret, was bisexual and definitely had affairs with men before, during and after Margaret.

David Armstrong-Jones, son of Princess Margaret, gay (mmmmaybe bi) enjoyed a lot of casual sex with men

James Ogilvy, son of Princess Alexandra, bisexual (probably gay) married very young has allegedly carried on relationships with men before the birth of his children.

RE: Prince Edward rumours started after he dropped out of the Royal Marines and began working for Andrew Llyod Webber. Edward had a reputation as being something of a huge snob when he was younger and all this coupled with his "prissy" attitude sparked the rumours but there is no creditable evidence of it. If he did date men, it was done very, very down low and nothing has happened since he married Sophie over twenty years ago.

I think Edward was backward and introspective like Charles, raised without especial attention as the fourth arrival and branded by the military mistake he made. Snobby was a misinterpretation (to a degree), and "prissy" means he's never been comfortable in his skin and needs to be told what to do.

[quote]If Edward did date men, it was done very, very down low...

There was a major headline 30 years ago in one of the US tabloids where a hotel employee claimed he secured male prostitutes for Edward when he came to NY and even observed one of them exiting Eddie's room with a kiss from a scantily clad HRH.

r87 Can you remember which tabloid please?

r88, a "named" and "reputable" one like The Star or Enquirer. It was right out in front of God and e'rybody at the Piggly Wiggly check out line where I read it.

This is a lot of fuss about nothing.

Statistically, one or two of them must be gay, and since they’re all old and hideous and irrelevant, no-one with an actual life ought to be arsed about which.

Here in England we aren’t this bothered by homosexuality, either negatively or positively. It’s a non-story. Harry could come out tomorrow, and we’d just go “yeah?...alright.”

Several years ago I read this biography on Edward by Wendy Leigh. Leigh was notorious for getting dirty on celebrities. In this book she addresses the rumours saying that despite everything she could not find one serious piece of fact substantiating it. She did speak to two of Edward's ex-girlfriends one being Ruthie Henshall (a well-known west end actress) who went into vivid detail about her sex life including a story about Edward eating her out in the throne room at Buckingham Palace and tripping the security alarm in the process.

r91, that's called "inning" and fag hags have been doing for fun, duty or $ for a thousand years.

It doesn't matter whether Edward had sexual experiences with guys. He has done an excellent job being a royal and I like him and Sophie very much now. I had a different opinion of him 20 years ago. I have always wondered where Charles's love of gardens, art and antiques came from. He is the only one in the family who does. Anne and Andrew are boorish cretins. Perhaps he got this from the Queen Mother who he was very close too throughout his life.

"Once married" need not imply "but isn't now."

The phrasing could equally mean "Once (and only once)." You know, like with "twice-married," the former absent hyphen's being a gossip trick.

Well, it's NOT Edward. And on that Sophie is unanimous.

oh, r95... timely!

[QUOTE] It was interesting how Prince Andrew took over the mother-of-the-bride role at Eugenie's wedding.

that’s because Sarah was stoned on valium or xanax, she had to face Prince Philip and she was a wreck. There was clearly something wrong with her.

My take was that Fergie was drunk - as usual - at the wedding. Mummy had a few too many glasses of free fizz before setting off in the free limo.

If she was on Valium or Xanax she wouldn’t have sweated through her way-too-tight ugly green dress (see below).

And r95's link is proof that Meghan was treated with kid gloves when she first turned up in the UK in comparison with what other - now much loved - royals have had to put up with.

I am definitely leaning towards the conclusion that Prince Edward is bisexual not gay.

I was involved in the Canadian Chapter of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme for a few years and met Prince Edward and Sophie three times. Sophie is absolutely wonderful and I'm hoping with Meghan and Harry gone, she'll finally become higher profile. Edward is actually kind of handsome in person, charming, but speaks really fast which I think might just be nerves and I didn't get any kind of "vibe" from him.

And he is pretty dishy too young Charles grandson of Princess Margaret. 🤩

I don't have to guess.

r103 Really?Charles??

r103 Question at r104 is even more urgent now!!!