From Queen Elizabeth's astrologer to Norway's clairvoyant princess: Royals drawn to the supernatural

From astrology and alchemy to spirit communication and angelic visions, the supernatural has fascinated royalty for centuries. Kings, queens and emperors have consulted astrologers, sought guidance from mystics and pursued extraordinary claims that promised healing, hidden knowledge or even immortality. While some of these practices were once regarded as legitimate sciences, others belonged to the realm of spiritual and occult traditions. The fascination has not been confined to the distant past. Even in the modern era, members of royal families have publicly embraced clairvoyance, spiritual healing and other unconventional beliefs. From Queen Elizabeth I's trusted astrologer John Dee to Norway's Princess Märtha Louise and her angel school, history is filled with royals who looked beyond conventional wisdom in search of answers.

Queen Elizabeth I and the astrologer who guided a queen

Queen Elizabeth I of England relied on the advice of John Dee, one of the most influential scholars of the Tudor era. A mathematician, astronomer and astrologer, Dee selected the date of Elizabeth's coronation in 1559 using astrological calculations that he believed would bring good fortune to her reign.

Dee's relationship with the future queen began years earlier. In 1555, during the reign of Elizabeth's half-sister Mary I, he was arrested and accused of casting dangerous horoscopes about the royal family. Although he was eventually cleared, the episode demonstrated how seriously astrology was taken in Tudor England. Once Elizabeth became queen, Dee's fortunes changed dramatically and he became a trusted adviser.

His interests extended beyond astrology. Together with a medium named Edward Kelley, Dee conducted elaborate sessions in which he claimed angels communicated through crystal objects and mirrors. Dee carefully recorded these conversations, believing they contained divine knowledge that could reveal the secrets of the universe. Although Elizabeth never publicly embraced these more mystical pursuits, she continued to value Dee's counsel for decades.

Queen Victoria and rumours of contact with the dead

The nineteenth century saw a surge in spiritualism, a movement centred on communicating with departed souls. Following the death of Prince Albert in 1861, rumours emerged that Queen Victoria attended gatherings where mediums attempted to contact her late husband.

One of the most persistent stories involved a teenage medium named Robert James Lees. According to later accounts, Lees entered a trance during a gathering and claimed to channel Albert's spirit. Some versions of the tale suggest Victoria was so impressed that she invited him to participate in further sessions. Historians have never found conclusive evidence that these encounters occurred, but the story became part of Victorian folklore.

Another enduring legend surrounded John Brown, Victoria's devoted Scottish servant and companion. Rumours circulated that Brown acted as a spiritual intermediary through whom the queen could feel closer to her deceased husband. Whether true or not, the stories reflected Victoria's profound grief and the era's fascination with spirit communication.

Empress Alexandra and the mystic Rasputin

Few royal associations with the supernatural are as famous as that of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and Grigori Rasputin. Desperate to help her son Alexei, who suffered from haemophilia, Alexandra came to believe that Rasputin possessed extraordinary spiritual abilities.

One of the most famous incidents occurred in 1912 when Alexei suffered a severe bleeding episode that doctors feared would be fatal. Rasputin, who was hundreds of miles away, reportedly sent a message urging the family to remain calm and avoid disturbing the boy with excessive medical treatment. To the astonishment of the royal family, Alexei's condition improved shortly afterwards.

The event cemented Alexandra's faith in Rasputin. Critics at court saw him as a manipulative charlatan exploiting the family's fears, while Alexandra viewed him as a divinely guided healer. The controversy surrounding Rasputin's influence became so intense that it damaged the Romanovs' reputation and contributed to growing public dissatisfaction with the monarchy.

Rudolf II's quest for hidden knowledge

Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II transformed Prague into a centre of alchemy, astrology and esoteric learning. Scholars and mystics from across Europe gathered at his court, attracted by the emperor's fascination with secret knowledge.

Among the visitors were John Dee and Edward Kelley, who arrived in Prague promising expertise in alchemy and mystical sciences. Rudolf funded experiments aimed at discovering the philosopher's stone, the legendary substance believed capable of transforming base metals into gold and granting immortality.

The emperor's fascination with the occult extended to collecting rare manuscripts and mysterious artefacts. He is often cited as the earliest known owner of the Voynich manuscript, one of the world's most famous undeciphered texts. The book's strange illustrations and unknown language only deepened Rudolf's reputation as a ruler captivated by hidden mysteries.

Catherine de' Medici and the prophecies of Nostradamus

French queen Catherine de' Medici became one of history's most controversial royal figures, with political enemies frequently accusing her of witchcraft. While there is little evidence supporting such claims, her interest in astrology is well documented.

Her fascination with prophecy led her to invite Nostradamus to the French court after reading his famous collection of predictions. She reportedly asked him to prepare horoscopes for her children, several of whom would later become kings of France.

One story often associated with Catherine concerns a prophecy that her husband, King Henry II, would die in a duel. In 1559, Henry was fatally wounded when a lance splintered during a tournament and pierced his eye. Although the details remain debated, the incident dramatically boosted Nostradamus's reputation and strengthened Catherine's belief in astrological predictions.

The emperor who sought immortality

Chinese Emperor Yongzheng pursued one of humanity's oldest dreams: eternal life. Like many rulers before him, he consumed alchemical elixirs believed to grant immortality.

The emperor developed close ties with Daoist practitioners who claimed to possess secret knowledge about extending life. Court records show that he ordered ingredients and remedies associated with alchemical traditions and actively sought formulas promising longevity.

Ironically, the substances intended to preserve his life likely ended it. Historians now believe that mercury-based compounds found in many of these elixirs caused fatal poisoning. His death in 1735 stands as one of history's most striking examples of a ruler being undone by the very quest for immortality he hoped would save him.

Crown Princess Hwi and a royal sorcery scandal

During Korea's Joseon dynasty, Crown Princess Hwi became embroiled in a scandal involving alleged magical rituals designed to win the affection of her husband, Crown Prince Munjong.

According to historical records, the princess turned to a lady-in-waiting named Hocho for advice. Hocho allegedly instructed her to burn the shoes of romantic rivals and mix the ashes into the prince's wine in an attempt to influence his feelings. Another ritual reportedly involved wearing cloth treated with snake-related ingredients believed to inspire affection.

When suspicious items were discovered in the palace, an investigation followed. Hwi eventually confessed to participating in the rituals. The consequences were severe: Hocho was executed, and the princess was stripped of her title and expelled from the royal court.

Frederick William II and ghostly guidance

King Frederick William II of Prussia developed a strong interest in Rosicrucianism, an esoteric movement that combined mysticism, spirituality and secret teachings.

His fascination deepened after meeting Johann Rudolf von Bischoffswerder, an army officer who claimed knowledge of mystical practices and occult wisdom. Frederick William became convinced that secret spiritual forces could guide political and personal decisions.

One famous story describes a séance held at Charlottenburg Palace during which a mechanical device supposedly helped summon the spirit of Frederick William's ancestor, the Great Elector. Witnesses claimed the apparition advised the king on matters of conduct and morality. Whether genuine belief or elaborate theatre, such stories contributed to his image as one of Europe's most occult-minded monarchs.

Norway's clairvoyant princess

Princess Märtha Louise of Norway represents a modern example of royal interest in the supernatural. After stepping back from many official royal responsibilities, she built a public career around claims of clairvoyance and spiritual communication.

In 2007, she co-founded an institution known as an "angel school", where participants paid to learn techniques for communicating with angels and receiving spiritual messages. The project attracted widespread media attention and criticism from sceptics who questioned its claims.

The controversy intensified after she began a relationship with Durek Verrett, a self-described shaman who has made a number of unconventional statements about healing and spirituality. The couple's activities sparked debate across Norway about the role of royalty in promoting spiritual beliefs, making Märtha Louise one of the most talked-about modern royals associated with the supernatural.