The Life of a Medieval Princess

In this episode, we go beyond the fairytale image to uncover the real expectations placed on royal daughters. Princesses were far more than ornaments of the court - they were political assets, diplomatic bridges, and the key to securing dynastic futures. As daughters, they forged alliances. As wives, they strengthened kingdoms. As mothers, they ensured survival.

But what happened when they stepped outside those expectations?

From Joan, the illegitimate daughter of King John and wife of Llywelyn the Great, whose scandal rocked Anglo-Welsh relations… to Eleanor de Montfort, a king’s sister caught up in rebellion… to Juliana, Henry I’s daughter, who allegedly tried to kill her own father - this episode explores the moments when royal duty clashed with personal ambition, loyalty, and survival.

Were these women simply reacting to impossible situations? Or were they exercising power in ways history has long misunderstood?

Join us as we explore the duties of a princess - and the consequences of defying them.

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Host: Rebecca Larson

Guest: Sharon Bennett Connolluy