Episode 13: The Enigmatic Monarch

1666 and All That

Who was King Charles II? As a controversial new drama-doc portrays him as a brutal avenger of his father's killers, Paul and Miranda go in search of the real Charles. With guest historians Linda Porter and Charlotte White as expert witnesses, we revisit Charles's childhood, his tumultuous experience of Civil War upheavals and years in exile, and his surprisingly conciliatory return to take the throne.

Charles II is a larger-than-life figure renowned for his loose living and numerous mistresses. But he was also a champion of the sciences and patron of the arts. Perhaps more than anything else, this most enigmatic of kings was a true political survivor.

Linda Porter has published many books on the period including ‘Royal Renegades’, about the children of Charles I, and ‘Mistresses’ about the women Charles II had relationships with.

Charlotte White is an author and podcast presenter who wrote the chapter on Charles II for Iain Dale’s recent ‘Kings and Queens’ book and is currently writing about Barbara Villiers, Charles II’s long-standing mistress.

'1666 and All That' is presented by Paul Lay and Miranda Malins. The producer is Hugh Costello. Original music is by George Taylor. The episode was mixed by Sam Gunn.