Famous French Royal Family Members

Mary Tudor, Queen of France was an English princess who served as the Queen consort of France from 9 October 1514 to 1 January 1515. She was the third wife of Louis XII, who was 30 years her senior. After his death, Mary married Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk. Her life and career have inspired several historical fiction novels.

Philippe I, Duke of Orléans received the dukedoms of Chartres and Valois in 1661 as the younger son of Louis XIII of France. Unlike most royal persons of his generation, Philippe was open about his homosexuality and did not think twice before acting effeminately in public. However, he fathered several children and earned the nickname the grandfather of Europe.

Françoise d'Aubigné was a French noblewoman. She was secretly married to King Louis XIV and was one of his closest advisers. She was never considered the queen of France and served as the royal children's governess. She was born in an impoverished family and was previously married to poet Paul Scarron. She married Louis years after Scarron’s death.

Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, was the regent of the Kingdom of France from 1715 to 1723. He was the son of Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, and Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate. He was named the regent of France for Louis XV, who succeeded to the throne at the age of five. Philippe died months after Louis attained majority.

Daughter of Henry IV of France, Henrietta Maria, or Queen Mary, ruled England, Scotland, and Ireland as the queen after marrying King Charles I. Her open allegiance to Roman Catholicism prevented her from getting a formal coronation. She died of an overdose of laudanum to cure her of bronchitis.

Marie Thérèse of France was the daughter of Queen Marie Antoinette of France and King Louis XVI. She was married to Louis XIX of France and was technically the Queen consort of France for 20 minutes on 2 August 1830 when Charles X and Louis XIX of France signed the instrument of abdication. Marie-Thérèse has been depicted in many films.

The wife of French king Louis Philippe I, Marie-Amélie de Bourbon was the last queen of France. Least interested in politics, she spent most of her life raising her 8 children. She also shunned public life for fear of a new revolution after Louis Philippe became the king following the July Revolution.