Epstein Files: From beheadings to murder – why former prince Andrew arrest is mild by Europe’s bloody history of royal treatment

Former prince Andrew’s legal troubles linked to the Epstein Files may seem dramatic in today’s news cycle, but European history tells a far darker story of how disgraced royals were once treated. From English kings who were imprisoned and executed, to French monarchs guillotined before cheering crowds, and Russian tsars wiped out along with their families, royal downfall traditionally meant violent ends rather than court cases. The contrast highlights how monarchy has transformed over centuries — from an institution sustained by power and fear to one constrained by law, public opinion, and media scrutiny, where scandal now leads to reputational damage instead of bloodshed.