You're Dead to Me · BBC Radio 4
Philippe, Duc d’Orléans: in the shadow of the Sun King
February 13, 2026·58 min·5 clips
Philippe deliberately got his wife pregnant to keep her from attending winter balls and outshining him at court.
As heard by us
A lively look at Philippe d'Orleans, court marriage, and the pressure of rank under Louis XIV.
The episode gives Philippe d'Orleans a brisk, courtly treatment, tracing the pressure around a second son who is pushed into the role of Duke of Orleans and caught in the hard logic of Louis XIV's court.
Why you'd press play
A glittering court story with comedy, rivalry, and one very ambitious second son.
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