Here are 10 embarrassing mistakes that even the most renowned figures in history managed to pull off. When you’re a prominent public figure, you live your whole life under a microscope. Every one of your actions is scrutinized—particularly your mistakes. Critics love to latch onto any slip‑up, turning it into a permanent footnote in the annals of time.

10 Embarrassing Mistakes Uncovered

10. Dionysius Lardner’s Railway Error

Dionysius Lardner was a 19th‑century Irish professor, mathematician, and popularizer of science. He championed Charles Babbage’s difference engine and frequently lectured on the early calculator. Besides his scholarly papers, Lardner’s crowning achievement was the Cabinet Cyclopedia, a 133‑volume series that brought science and history to the average reader, featuring contributions from luminaries like John Herschel, Mary Shelley, Walter Scott, and Thomas Moore.

Despite his many successes, Lardner’s career wasn’t free of hiccups. He made several wildly inaccurate predictions about technology, earning derision from fellow scientists. He once declared that steamships crossing the Atlantic were as impossible as a “voyage to the Moon.” Yet his most infamous blunder concerned railway travel. Though a mathematician, Lardner ventured into medicine with a claim that high‑speed rail travel would suffocate passengers, stating, “Rail travel at high speed is not possible because passengers, unable to breathe, would die of asphyxia.”

9. Finnur Magnusson’s Runes

Although the name probably isn’t very well known nowadays, Finnur Magnusson was a prolific Icelandic archaeologist of the 19th century. He had a great passion for Norse history and mythology, particularly for runes. Magnusson was often brought in to analyze and translate potential runes, and he became the first to claim to have deciphered part of the runes on the Runamo. Runamo is a dolerite dike in Sweden that supposedly bears runic inscriptions. According to Magnusson, the part he translated was a skaldic verse talking about the battle between the Danish king Harold Hildetand and the Swedish king Sigurd Hring.

Magnusson was not the first to discover the runes at Runamo. As early as the 12th century, the runes had been declared to be too worn down to be legible anymore. So Magnusson caused quite a stir when he claimed to have discerned an entire poem within the dike. Unfortunately for him, some geologists came to check the inscriptions, and in 1844, they concluded that the ancient runes were actually just natural cracks in the rock.

8. Christopher Columbus’s Mermaids

It’s not uncommon for your eyes to play tricks on you after a long time at sea. Even the most experienced sailors can be fooled, given the right circumstances. Take Christopher Columbus, for example. In 1493, while sailing near the Dominican Republic, Columbus thought he saw three mermaids. He didn’t, obviously, but mermaid sightings were quite common among sailors of that era. Nowadays, it is generally considered that Columbus actually saw manatees that, despite weighing up to 600 kilograms (1,300 lb), could probably be mistaken for a human from a very long distance. Other possible culprits included the dugong and the now‑extinct Steller’s sea cow, which was a common sight back then.

It’s probably just as well that Columbus didn’t see mermaids, though. According to him, they looked nothing like how they were depicted in paintings. Columbus claimed that the mermaids’ beauty had clearly been exaggerated since their faces looked very manly. Oddly enough, Columbus’s notion that mermaids aren’t as enchanting as we think was backed up by other prominent explorers such as Henry Hudson and Captain John Smith, who also reported seeing unsatisfying mermaids.

7. Richard Nixon’s Fashion Faux Pas

It didn’t take long for Nixon to commit his first blunder as president of the United States. He wasn’t very happy with the White House police uniforms. Nixon thought it made his men look “slovenly,” so he commissioned a new version. This one would be inspired by various traditional European uniforms that Nixon admired, such as the guards at Buckingham Palace. And what better occasion to unveil this new look than a visit from the British prime minister Harold Wilson?

What he saw when he arrived were police officers dressed in double‑breasted white tunics, complete with gold piping, starred epaulets, and some silly hats. It wasn’t long before the press got a hold of the story, and they were relentless. The Buffalo News said they looked like “old‑time movie ushers.” Even Nixon supporters like Walter Trohan of the Chicago Tribune criticized the look, stating that the uniforms were too reminiscent of European monarchies to be suitable for a democratic nation.

Most people simply thought they looked like marching band uniforms. Some modifications were attempted (like losing the silly hat), but after just two weeks, the whole thing was scrapped. In the end, the uniforms were put to good use by being donated—to a marching band, of course. The Southern Utah State College received the uniforms in almost mint condition and saved a cool $6,000 by not buying new ones. They even had to turn down an offer from rocker Alice Cooper, who wanted to buy some for his band.

6. Henry Fairfield Osborn’s Nebraska Man

Henry Fairfield Osborn is a big name in the world of paleontology, having served as president of the American Museum of Natural History for 25 years. However, a long and distinguished career such as his cannot be without its blemishes, and Nebraska Man was definitely his biggest.

Like Piltdown Man, Nebraska Man was touted as a new species of anthropoid primate and would turn out to be just as fake. Perhaps in a moment of hubris, Osborn proclaimed the existence of the species from just a single tooth he received in 1922 from an amateur Nebraska geologist named Harold Cook. The new species was named Hesperopithecus haroldcookii in honor of its discoverer, although Osborn jokingly suggested that it was named Bryopithecus to “honor” the “most distinguished primate” ever produced by the state of Nebraska. He was referring to rival William Jennings Bryan, the prominent anti‑evolution activist, who would act as a lawyer in the Scopes Trial just a few years later.

Pride comes before a fall, as Osborn was about to find out. His description of Nebraska Man didn’t satisfy the scientific community, and more digging was done on Harold Cook’s ranch. After a few years, more bones belonging to the species were found. As it turned out, Hesperopithecus haroldcookii was not one of our ancient ancestors. It wasn’t even a primate. The tooth belonged to an extinct species of peccary, an animal similar to the domestic pig.

5. Elvis Presley’s Catfish

Elvis Presley’s life is a well‑documented story of the rise and downfall of one of music’s most prominent figures. He soaring to unparalleled heights, but the last years of his career were marked by increasingly erratic behavior and sloppy shows from a bloated performer. One of Elvis’s low points was a remark during a 1975 Norfolk concert that made several of his backup singers leave the stage in disgust.

The event became known as the “catfish incident.” While on stage, Elvis said that he smelled green peppers and onions, which probably meant that the Sweet Inspirations had been eating catfish. The Sweet Inspirations, his gospel backup, were all black women, so the remark was immediately perceived as racist. Elvis continued his taunts until two of the Sweets, along with backup soprano Kathy Westmoreland, left the stage.

As it turned out, Westmoreland and Elvis had had a fling. Post‑breakup, Presley directed sexual references at her while onstage. This time, he’d switched it up and picked on the Sweet Inspirations because he “thought it was funny.” Elvis apologized to the singers, and the Sweets returned for next night’s show.

4. Johannes Stoffler’s Apocalypse

History has had more than its fair share of doomsayers warning us about the end of the world. Some of these apocalypses were the result of prophetic visions, others came from religious texts, and some had a pseudoscientific explanation behind them. Regardless of their nature, all doomsday predictions had one thing in common—they were all wrong.

One such prediction came from someone who really should have known better: the German priest‑turned‑professor Johannes Stoffler. This one blemish taints an otherwise impressive career. Stoffler was a mathematician and astronomer whose works were widely circulated throughout 16th‑century Europe, particularly a book on how to build and use an astrolabe. He even has a crater named after him on the Moon.

Unfortunately, Stoffler’s calculations in 1499 led him to believe that a giant flood would engulf the whole world 25 years later—specifically, on February 20, 1524. His reputation lent credence to the prediction, and over 100 pamphlets were published throughout Europe warning everyone of the impending doom.

One German nobleman named Count von Iggleheim even commissioned a giant ark for himself and his family. When the fateful day arrived, scores of people gathered around von Iggleheim’s ark on the Rhine out of curiosity. In an extreme case of bad timing, a light shower started pouring, enough to incite a panic. Over 100 people died in the stampede, and von Iggleheim was stoned to death when he refused to let anyone inside the ark.

3. William Henry Preece’s Telephone Prediction

Sir William Henry Preece was a Welsh inventor and engineer who worked on the first national communication systems for Great Britain using telegraph and telephone technology. He also served as president for the Institution of Civil Engineers and Institution of Electrical Engineers and retired as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.

Despite his success in this area, Preece was not always convinced about the potential of the telephone. In fact, his early remarks regarding this new invention still get mentioned today as one of the worst technological predictions in history—“The Americans have need of the telephone, but we do not. We have plenty of messenger boys.”

Despite Britain’s plentiful supply of “messenger boys,” it’s pretty clear today that Preece severely underestimated the usefulness of the telephone. His beliefs were probably the result of decades of working as an engineer for the General Post Office, time during which Preece contributed several inventions and improvements to the telegraph system. To his credit, Preece eventually realized his blunder. He quickly changed his tune and became a supporter of the telephone, even becoming one of the first to introduce the invention to Great Britain.

2. Kenneth Tynan’s Blind Blunder

A successful writer and an even more successful critic, Kenneth Tynan assured his place in the history books in 1965 when he supposedly became the first person to say the word “f—k” on television. Of course, this caused a huge hullabaloo. The BBC issued a formal apology, and the House of Commons passed four separate motions signed by 133 MPs from both parties to combat immorality and filth on TV. Some called the moment a genius move of self‑publicity.

A frequently overlooked faux pas of Tynan’s took place much earlier, when he was reviewing singer Frank Ifield’s debut at the Palladium. Tynan couldn’t help himself from bursting into cheers, gasps, and applause at odd moments during the performance. Afterward, Tynan gave Ifield a glowing review, praising his courage and gallantry at overcoming his handicap. This must have left many people confused, Ifield in particular. What handicap was Tynan talking about?

Tynan thought Frank Ifield was blind. He wasn’t. Tynan had mistaken Ifield for a blind singer with a similar name. So, when Tynan was giving out random gestures of approval during the performance, he was marveling at how gracefully Ifield was strolling around on the stage without fear. It was almost as if he could see where he was going.

1. Joseph Goebbels’s Nazi Poster Child

A lot of the credit for the Nazis’ initial success goes to Joseph Goebbels, the man in charge of the propaganda machine that twisted an entire nation. His relentless efforts to paint the Jewish people as responsible for all the world’s evil ensured that the Nazi party had enough support to take power.

In 1934, long before World War II, Goebbels was already working on planting the seeds of hatred. He was looking for the perfect poster child. If Hitler represented the current face of Nazism, this child would show everyone the future. To do this, Goebbels hosted a contest to find the most beautiful Aryan baby. The winner was a two‑month‑old girl whose now‑iconic face was used in all kinds of Nazi propaganda. Goebbels made just one tiny mistake—the girl was Hessy Levinsons Taft, and she was Jewish.

Obviously, Goebbels had no idea of this when he personally picked Hessy as the most beautiful Aryan baby in the world. In fact, her Jewish parents were quite shocked when they saw their infant daughter in a Nazi magazine. The photographer who took the original photo had been ordered to send in his 10 best pictures and included Hessy as a joke at the Nazis’ expense.

Celebrity fashion has served up its fair share of cringe‑worthy moments, and we’re counting down the 10 most embarrassing wardrobe mishaps that turned glittering events into instant meme material. From split seams that stole the spotlight to tags that refused to stay hidden, these slip‑ups prove that even the biggest stars can’t always keep their outfits in check. Buckle up for a wild ride through the highs, the lows, and the unexpected twists that made each blunder unforgettable.

10 Most Embarrassing Wardrobe Fails

10 Lil Nas X’s SNL Unplanned Encore

Did you catch Lil Nas X’s electrifying SNL set? He was absolutely killing it, dancing like a confetti cannon on fire, when his trousers decided they’d had enough of the limelight and ripped wide open. It was the kind of wardrobe disaster that makes every live‑performance fan’s heart skip a beat.

Mid‑song, the rip echoed around the studio, sounding almost like a second chorus. The best part? Lil Nas X didn’t miss a single beat—he kept grooving, turning the split‑pants incident into an impromptu fashion statement.

It’s a classic tale of performer versus wardrobe, and they both danced through it like pros. The internet exploded with memes faster than you could say “wardrobe whoopsie,” but honestly, isn’t that what makes live shows legendary? Props to Lil Nas X for flipping a ripped‑pants fiasco into a charisma‑filled flex—who needs perfect pants when you’ve got that much swagger?

9 Miley Cyrus’s NYE Sparkly Top Drama

Picture this: New Year’s Eve, the crowd buzzing, and Miley Cyrus rocking a blindingly sparkly top. Just as the countdown hit zero, the top decided it wanted its own spotlight and popped open, leaving a flash of glitter and gasps.

Instead of freaking out, Miley turned the mishap into a comedy moment, laughing it off and keeping the party vibes alive. She transformed a potentially cringe‑worthy wardrobe slip into a memorable NYE highlight that fans will talk about for years. It’s a reminder that even a button or seam can’t steal the show when you’ve got confidence on lock.

8 Harry Styles’s Impromptu Dance with Ripped Pants

Imagine Harry Styles on stage, the crowd roaring, when suddenly his pants split clean down the middle, as if they were auditioning for their own solo. The split happened right in the middle of a high‑energy performance, turning the moment into a surprise dance‑floor spectacle.

Never one to miss a beat, Harry grabbed a rainbow Pride flag, draped it over his shoulders like a cape, and kept the rhythm alive. The audience erupted, cheering louder than ever, as the ripped‑pants turned into an instant fashion statement.

Only a style icon like Harry could turn a wardrobe emergency into pure gold, proving that a little tear can become a memorable part of his legendary stage presence.

7 Taylor Swift’s Marilyn Monroe Moment

Flash back to 2011: Taylor Swift was commanding the stage, belting out hit after hit, when a sudden gust of wind gave her skirt an unexpected lift—think classic Marilyn Monroe. The breezy surprise turned a routine performance into a headline‑making moment.

Taylor handled the airy intrusion with poise, cracking a smile and continuing to sing, proving she could roll with any unexpected wind‑swept drama. Fans loved her quick wit and the way she turned a potential embarrassment into a light‑hearted, meme‑ready memory.

This breezy blunder cemented her reputation for keeping it real, showing that even pop royalty can have a little wind‑kissed mischief on stage.

6 Katy Perry’s American Idol Pants Split

During a high‑stakes episode of American Idol, Katy Perry took the judge’s seat in sleek skinny jeans—until the fabric gave way, creating a gaping split that ran the length of her backside. The split was so dramatic it could have been a canyon.

The studio fell silent for a heartbeat, then erupted as Katy laughed, asking for tape with a grin. She turned the awkward rip into a teachable moment, showing that even judges can have fashion faux pas.

Her quick‑witted recovery turned the split into a legendary Idol memory, reminding everyone that a little seam failure can become a celebrated slice of TV history.

5 Selena Gomez’s SAG Awards Oopsie

At the 2022 SAG Awards, Selena Gomez strutted the carpet in full glam, only to stumble unexpectedly. The slip wasn’t a full‑blown fall, but it was enough to catch every camera’s eye.

Thankfully, a nearby aide helped her regain her footing, and she later presented an award without her black pumps, opting for a safer shoe choice. The incident turned into a moment of relatable humanity, showing that even polished stars can have a wobble.

Selena’s graceful recovery added a touch of authenticity to the night, turning a brief stumble into a testament to poise under pressure.

4 Shaq’s Halftime Hijinks: When the Big Man Tripped

During a halftime broadcast, Shaquille O’Neal was navigating a maze of studio equipment when his foot caught, sending him sprawling in a scene straight out of a cartoon. The towering 7‑foot star’s shoes literally flew off, leaving him to perform an impromptu moonwalk.

Audience members were torn between concern and laughter as Shaq quickly regained his composure, reminding everyone that even giants can have clumsy moments. The slip turned an otherwise routine halftime segment into a memorable blend of sports analysis and slapstick comedy.

Shaq’s quick recovery added a new move to his repertoire—a comedic “accidental slip ’n slide”—proving that even the most imposing figures can stumble with style.

3 Paris Hilton’s Chic Clash of Nude Elegance and Sparkly Glamour

When Paris Hilton appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, she stepped onto the set in two mismatched high heels: one sleek nude stilettos and the other a glittering, party‑ready sparkler. The contrast was unmistakable, sparking a silent conversation between the shoes.

The nude heel whispered sophistication, while the sparkling counterpart shouted celebration. Halfway through the interview, Paris realized the mismatch and swapped to a matching pair after a commercial break, turning the moment into a playful fashion lesson.

Fans loved the candid slip‑up, highlighting how even seasoned style icons can have a moment of shoe confusion on live TV.

2 Megan Markle’s Red Dress Oops Moment Sparks a Fashion Frenzy

Megan Markle stepped off a plane in a stunning red dress that turned heads worldwide—until a loose tag fluttered in the wind, stealing the spotlight. The tag waved like a flag, unintentionally becoming the season’s hottest accessory.

She faced a quick decision: pretend the tag was intentional or own the accidental reveal. Megan chose the latter, laughing it off and turning the mishap into a viral fashion conversation.

Her poise turned a simple tag into a global talking point, proving that even royalty can own a wardrobe oops with grace.

1 Tara Reid’s Unforgettable 2004 Dress Slip Debacle

Back in 2004, Tara Reid attended a Hollywood soirée, dressed to impress, when her dress suddenly slipped, revealing more than intended. The unexpected peek‑a‑boo sent paparazzi into a frenzy, capturing the unplanned exposure.

The incident sparked debates about red‑carpet attire and the intense scrutiny celebrities endure. While the slip became a scandal, it also served as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of high‑profile events.

Conclusion

From ripped pants to runaway tags, these ten moments prove that even the most polished stars can have a wardrobe slip‑up. Whether it’s a live‑stage surprise or a red‑carpet mishap, each incident reminds us that fashion is as human as the people wearing it.

The Crusades were a series of religious wars that left a trail of heroic triumphs and spectacular blunders. In this roundup we highlight the 10 embarrassing flops that prove even medieval zealots could stumble spectacularly. From megaphone preachers fleeing the battlefield to cannibalistic sieges, these cringe-worthy moments still echo through history.

10 Embarrassing Flops Overview

10 Pastor Of The First Crusade Runs Away

In 1095, Pope Urban II convened the Council of Clermont in France and urged a holy war against the Turks. Peter the Hermit, a charismatic monk from Amiens, answered the call with fervor, eloquence, and a talent for rallying crowds. He quickly became the medieval equivalent of a megachurch preacher, amassing a massive following eager to join the First Crusade.

However, preaching prowess did not translate into battlefield competence. In 1096, Peter set out with his followers months before the main crusading armies, only to see his force decimated in Turkey. He was forced to linger in Constantinople, awaiting the arrival of the larger crusader contingents.

By 1098, the chaos of the First Crusade was evident. Realizing the danger, Peter attempted to abandon the campaign, but he was captured by his own comrades. He pleaded for forgiveness and was compelled to rejoin the crusade, highlighting the precarious nature of his leadership.

9 Lionheart’s Sister Rejects Saladin’s Brother

The Third Crusade (1189–1192) is famed for its two titanic personalities: England’s Richard the Lionheart and the Kurdish sultan Saladin. Their interactions were often portrayed as a model of chivalry and mutual respect.

In 1191, Richard concocted a diplomatic gambit: he offered his sister Joan in marriage to Saladin’s brother al‑Adil, but only if al‑Adil converted to Christianity. Saladin consented, yet the religious stipulation proved an insurmountable obstacle. Joan, unwilling to marry a Muslim, rejected the proposal outright.

Richard then considered substituting his niece for his sister, but Saladin dismissed the notion. The marriage scheme collapsed, and the crusade continued with the Muslims eventually retaking Jerusalem, while Richard negotiated a settlement that allowed limited Christian access.

8 The Crusade Of Frederick II

Frederick II, grandson of Frederick Barbarossa, wore many crowns: Holy Roman Emperor, King of Germany, King of Sicily, and Duke of Swabia. In 1229 he even claimed the title King of Jerusalem.

Despite his intellect, Frederick was notoriously unreliable—much like a friend who habitually breaks promises. The papacy repeatedly urged him to lead a crusade, and each time he pledged support only to delay or abandon the effort. Eventually, the Pope excommunicated him for his vacillations.

After his excommunication, Frederick finally launched a crusade in 1228‑29 without papal approval, reinforcing his ban. Rather than a battlefield campaign, he negotiated a treaty with Egypt’s Malik al‑Kamil, ceding Jaffa, Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Jerusalem to the Christians, while the Muslims retained the Temple and left Jerusalem undefended. This arrangement sparked a ten‑year truce between the faiths.

Frederick then proclaimed himself King of Jerusalem—a title rejected by both the Catholic Church and European nobility—leading to a second excommunication. When the treaty expired, Muslim forces swiftly reclaimed Jerusalem, which remained under Muslim control until 1917.

7 The Children’s Crusade

The Crusades were fueled not only by seasoned knights but also by fervent laypeople. Yet the Catholic Church withheld official sanction for the ill‑fated Children’s Crusade of 1212, fearing that untrained masses would jeopardize the cause.

Two charismatic leaders emerged: French peasant Stephen of Cloyes and German youth Nicholas of Cologne. Stephen rallied a peasant army of up to 30,000, hoping to petition the French king to embark on a crusade. The monarch’s lukewarm response—essentially “how cute”—meant Stephen’s group never reached the Holy Land.

Nicholas led his followers to Genoa, anticipating a miraculous sea crossing that never materialized. Many stayed in Genoa as cheap labor, while others trekked to Rome, where the Pope advised them to return home. Tragically, Nicholas’s father was executed by enraged parents for encouraging his son’s venture.

6 The Many Woes Of Byzantium

The Byzantine Empire, the premier Christian power of the Middle Ages, struggled to repel Muslim advances. When Alexius I sought aid from Pope Urban II, his plea helped ignite the First Crusade.

Upon the arrival of Western feudal lords in Constantinople, Alexius realized his request might have backfired. The Latin crusaders followed Roman Catholicism, while the Byzantines adhered to Greek Orthodoxy, fostering mutual distrust. Crusaders often kept reclaimed Byzantine lands, leaving the empire to fend for itself.

This tension peaked during the Fourth Crusade (1202‑04), led by Venetians, French, and Germans. To fund a Venetian fleet aimed at Egypt, the crusaders struck a deal with Byzantine prince Alexius IV, promising to install him after deposing his usurper uncle Alexius III. In exchange, Alexius IV pledged financial support.

The crusaders seized Constantinople with little resistance, crowning Isaac II and Alexius IV as co‑emperors. However, Alexius IV could not deliver the promised funds, prompting the crusaders to rationalize a full‑scale war: they argued that Constantinople should submit to the Catholic Church, labeling the Byzantines as heretics, thereby justifying a crusade against fellow Christians.

The resulting sack of Constantinople in 1204 was brutal and devastating, installing a Western European ruler and marking a catastrophic reversal of Alexius I’s original plea for help.

5 The French King Destroys The Knights Templar

The Knights Templar, a military order devoted to the Crusades, also pioneered early banking. They devised a system allowing pilgrims to deposit funds in Europe and retrieve them safely in the Holy Land, effectively protecting travelers from robbery.

Although individual Templars swore vows of poverty, the order amassed considerable wealth. French monarch Philip IV, hearing rumors of their treasure, coveted the riches for himself.

Philip persuaded Pope Clement V—who held jurisdiction over the Templars—that the order was heretical and corrupt. Lacking solid evidence, Clement yielded, leading to the mass arrest of Templars, seizure of their assets, and execution of knights across Europe.

Grand Master Jacques de Molay was burned at the stake in 1314. Ironically, both Clement and Philip died later that same year, underscoring the dramatic fallout of their actions.

4 The Eighth Crusade: Death By Dysentery

By the late 13th century, crusading zeal was waning, yet King Louis IX of France remained a steadfast believer. Renowned for his chivalry, generosity, and piety, Louis embodied the ideal medieval Christian monarch.

In 1248, Louis launched the Seventh Crusade, aiming to retake Jerusalem after its loss following Frederick II’s treaty expiration. He targeted Egypt, the heart of Muslim power, but the campaign faltered: Louis was captured, ransomed, and forced to retreat.

Undeterred, Louis embarked on the Eighth Crusade in 1270, this time focusing on Tunisia, hoping that securing its ports would ease future Egyptian campaigns.

Upon landing in North Africa, dysentery ravaged his army, claiming Louis’s life in August. Despite his devout commitment, the crusade ended in disaster. Louis was later canonized in 1297, cementing his legacy despite the failure.

3 Women’s Scorn Leads To The Crusade Of 1101

After the First Crusade’s success, many who had sworn the crusader’s oath in 1096 balked at actually marching east. Some veterans even deserted, fearing the campaign’s prospects. One such deserter was Stephen of Blois, whose wife Adela of Blois pressured him to fulfill his vow.

When Jerusalem fell, Pope Paschal II threatened excommunication for any crusader who had taken the vow but not proceeded. Embarrassed and shamed, families forced oath‑breakers back into the fray. Stephen’s wife, Adela, urged him to rejoin the effort.

Yielding to pressure, Stephen and other reluctant nobles joined the Crusade of 1101. The venture ended in disaster: Turkish forces defeated the crusaders at each engagement, and Stephen perished at Ramula in 1102.

2 Starving Crusaders Eat Saracen Buttocks

During the First Crusade in 1098, the crusaders besieged the Syrian city of Ma’arra. After a month, the Muslim defenders surrendered under the promise that the crusaders would spare the inhabitants. The crusaders broke their word, slaughtering the population.

With the city’s food stores exhausted, the starving crusaders turned to cannibalism. Historical accounts describe them cutting pieces from the victims’ buttocks, boiling adult flesh, and roasting children on spits. Some even ate raw human meat, driven by desperation.

Later medieval romance Richard Coer de Lyon fictionalized Richard the Lionheart as tasting Saracen flesh that surprisingly resembled pork. In the tale, Richard laughs upon discovering the truth and declares his army will never starve again.

1 The Inadvertent Slaughter Of Jews

The official Crusade targets were Muslim forces in the Holy Land and pagan groups in Europe. Yet the crusading movement inadvertently sparked waves of anti‑Semitic violence.

Crusaders rationalized that Jews were enemies of Christianity for rejecting Jesus, leading to attacks on Jewish communities despite papal admonitions for restraint. In 1096, crusaders assaulted three prosperous Rhineland towns, forcing Jews to convert or die; many chose death over conversion. After Jerusalem fell in 1099, its Jewish residents were enslaved and tasked with cleaning the city.

Anti‑Jewish violence persisted with each new crusade. In 1320, the Shepherd’s Crusade—a popular uprising in France—mobilized roughly 40,000 mostly teenage peasants to assault Jewish communities, destroying over 100 towns and killing thousands.

The Shepherd’s Crusade was condemned by clergy and nobility; the Pope excommunicated participants, and Christian authorities executed the ringleaders.

The British monarchy has endured its share of awkward moments, but few rival the sheer absurdity of the top 10 embarrassing incidents that have made headlines over the decades. From a drunken intruder waking the Queen to a prince donning a Nazi uniform, these stories prove that even royalty isn’t immune to cringe‑worthy slip‑ups.

Top 10 Embarrassing Royal Moments

10 A Man Sneaked Into Queen Elizabeth’s Bedroom

On the night of July 9, 1982, Queen Elizabeth II was jolted awake by an unexpected visitor standing at her bedside. The intruder, Michael Fagan, had scaled the palace’s exterior drainage system to slip into her private chambers. Initial reports suggested a brief ten‑minute chat that ended with him asking for a cigarette, though Fagan later insisted no conversation occurred; instead, the Queen allegedly fled to summon a footman, who escorted him to another room for a whisky.

This wasn’t Fagan’s first royal trespass. A month earlier he had broken into Prince Charles’s quarters, guzzled a bottle of wine, and even urinated into a dog‑food bin. During the second intrusion, he roamed the palace, tripping the alarm twice, and the police, assuming a malfunction, disabled it both times.

9 Edward VII Maintained A Special Room In A Brothel

The future King Edward VII, then the Duke of Wales, possessed a prodigious appetite for pleasure, which he satisfied by securing a private suite inside the famed French brothel Le Chabanais. This exclusive chamber bore his coat of arms and even featured a copper tub that he would fill with champagne for indulgent baths shared with his courtesans.

Equally notorious was the “siege d’amour,” a specially crafted love‑seat designed to accommodate simultaneous intimacy with two or more women. While the original piece now resides in a private collection, a replica can be admired at Prague’s Sex Museum.

8 Edward VIII And His Wife Ordered A Rescue Operation For A Swimsuit

King Edward VIII, later the Duke of Windsor, is best remembered for relinquishing the throne to marry Wallis Simpson. Yet during World War II, the couple’s primary concern in occupied France was not the advancing Nazis but the recovery of Wallis’s favorite swimsuit, which remained in their villa in the south.

The rescue mission was orchestrated by the U.S. ambassador to Portugal and the American embassy in France. Despite the region being overrun, diplomats managed to retrieve the garment. Simultaneously, the couple maintained communications with senior Nazi officials, pleading for the protection of their Parisian and southern French residences, fearing damage to their linens.

7 Edward VII’s Wild Sex Habit Caused Queen Victoria’s Husband Death

Edward VII, the first son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, was far from his father’s moralistic aspirations. While Albert sought to curb the monarchy’s notorious scandals, Edward indulged in a liaison with prostitute Nellie Clifden just months before his own wedding.

Albert, deeply displeased, took Edward on a rainy walk to convey his disappointment. Shortly after, Albert fell ill with fever and died, an event Victoria later blamed on Edward’s reckless behavior, believing his son’s debauchery contributed to the tragedy.

6 A 14‑Year‑Old Stole Queen Victoria’s Underwear

Edward “Thomas” Jones, a fourteen‑year‑old with an unhealthy fascination for Queen Victoria, repeatedly infiltrated Buckingham Palace. On his first arrest, authorities discovered the young thief had hidden the monarch’s undergarments inside his trousers. Subsequent arrests found him perched on the throne and even pilfering food from the royal kitchen.

Sentenced to three months in jail, Jones persisted in his stalker‑like behavior. The government eventually exiled him to Brazil, only for him to return, be recaptured, and imprisoned aboard a ship for six years. After release, he turned to burglary, was shipped to Australia, and continued his bizarre cat‑and‑mouse game with the Crown before finally being persuaded by his brother to settle abroad.

5 James III Was Rumored To Have Been Smuggled Into The Palace At Birth

In the late 17th century, royal births were public spectacles to thwart any foul play. When Mary of Modena gave birth to James III in 1688, skeptics claimed the infant was not her biological child.

To quash the rumors, the couple invited seventy dignitaries to witness the delivery at St. James’s Palace. Yet whispers persisted that the baby had been clandestinely introduced via a pan or secret passage, and that the genuine newborn had perished. These doubts fueled the Glorious Revolution of 1689, culminating in William of Orange and Mary II seizing the throne.

4 Queen Victoria Forced An Aristocrat To Have A Pregnancy Test

Lady Flora Hastings, an aristocrat serving as a lady‑in‑waiting, became entangled in a scandal that Queen Victoria later described as the worst of her reign. In January 1839, after arriving from Scotland alongside Sir John Conroy—whom Victoria despised—Flora fell ill, and her abdomen began to swell.

Rumors suggested she was pregnant by Conroy. Though Flora denied the claim, Victoria, convinced of the pregnancy, ordered a medical test as a condition for remaining at court. The test proved negative, prompting Flora’s family to demand an apology. Victoria refused, and the dispute spilled into the political arena, with Tories defending Flora and Whigs backing the Queen. Ultimately, Flora died on July 5, 1839; an autopsy revealed liver disease as the cause of her distended belly.

3 A 17‑Year‑Old Took A Pot Shot At Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria endured at least seven assassination attempts during her long reign. The most cringe‑inducing was executed by 17‑year‑old Arthur O’Connor on February 29, 1872. He shadowed the royal carriage into Buckingham Palace, closed to within a foot of the monarch, and raised an unloaded pistol to her head.

Victoria instinctively ducked, but the weapon never fired. O’Connor was swiftly apprehended, sentenced to a year in prison, and subjected to twenty strokes of the cane as punishment.

2 Edward VII’s Lust Caused A Divorce

Edward VII, already infamous for his brothel suite, found himself embroiled in a 1870 divorce case involving Sir Charles Mordaunt and his wife Lady Harriet. Lady Harriet confessed to multiple lovers, including the Prince of Wales, fearing her newborn might go blind.

Sir Mordaunt filed for divorce, compelling Edward to appear as a witness—marking the first instance a Prince of Wales testified in court. Though Edward feared the appearance would imply guilt, he attended, offering a letter that confirmed his planned visits. The trial lasted a week before concluding that Lady Harriet suffered from puerperal mania, a post‑natal mood disorder. She was institutionalised, and Edward returned to his palace, while the public hissed and booed him for his role.

1 Prince Harry Dressed As A Nazi

In 2005, the Sun newspaper unveiled a photograph of Prince Harry—then a future heir—clad in a replica of a German Afrika Korps uniform, complete with the infamous black‑white‑red armband and eagle insignia. He had worn the costume to a private party where guests were expected to dress in colonial attire.

The image sparked outrage, drawing condemnation from the Israeli foreign minister, Holocaust survivors, and British officials who demanded his expulsion from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. This incident joined a litany of missteps, including publicized drunkenness, cannabis use, and a leaked photo of him playing billiards in the nude.