Queer royals and aristocrats through the ages

Indian Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil became the the first openly gay prince in the world when he outed himself in 2006. His family, however, quickly disowned him. In 2013, he married his own Prince Charming in the US. Today, he is an outspoken LGBTQ+ rights activist and educates about HIV/AIDS prevention. He has even sheltered homeless LGBTQ+ people in his palace.

Philippe I was the younger brother of France's "Sun King," Louis XIV. He never shied away from the effeminate. The duke was famously fond of perfume, jewelry and extravagant lace and silk clothing. Philippe had many lovers, both male and female. His favorite companion was a French nobleman from the Ducal House of Lorraine; the pair reportedly remained lovers for decades.

Queen Anne ruled Great Britain from 1702 to 1714. She was married but there were suggestions she had an affair with childhood friend Sarah Churchill, an ancestor of Winston Churchill, as their affection for each other is well-documented in letters. The story of the pair inspired the 2018 film "The Favourite," starring Olivia Colman as the queen and Rachel Weisz as Churchill.

Emperor Hadrian might not be considered a royal in the modern sense, but he was Roman emperor from 117 to 138 AD. He made no attempt to hide his love for the Greek youth Antinous. Together, they went to official ceremonies and on imperial tours. When Antinous died, Hadrian insisted that Antinous be turned into a god, an honor usually reserved for the emperor's family.

Lord Alfred Douglas (right), the son of the Marquess of Queensberry, was Oscar Wilde's lover at the beginning of the 20th century. His father abhorred their relationship and accused Wilde of the then crime of sodomy, for which the Irish poet was later imprisoned. After these traumatic events, Douglas married a woman and publicly repudiated Wilde's homosexuality.

Prince Egon von Fürstenberg of Germany was a socialite, designer and a tabloid darling. The prince was always open about his bisexuality — he was married twice to women but also had male partners. Von Fürstenberg was openly fond of gay nightlife.

Luisa Isabel Alvarez de Toledo belonged to the house of Medina-Sidonia, one of the most prominent ducal houses in Spain. Unafraid to stand up for her beliefs, she publicly denounced religion and was a dedicated activist. The duchess was in a romantic relationship with her secretary for over 20 years — the pair officially married in 2008 while the duchess lay on her deathbed.

Lord Ivar Mountbatten (right) was the first member of Queen Elizabeth II's extended family to openly have a same-sex relationship. He was also the first to marry his partner, James Coyle, in 2018. His coming out was seemingly well-received by his family. Mountbatten's former wife walked him down the aisle and "gave him away," according to their children.