Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
What if your life depended on the King touching your neck? For centuries, people in medieval and early modern England and France believed their monarchs had a divine healing power, the ability to cure disease with a simple touch. In this royal history documentary from History Calling, we uncover the fascinating truth behind Touching for the King’s Evil, a ritual said to heal scrofula (a disease of the lymph nodes).
Was this the ultimate royal superpower? Why did people think the King’s touch worked (or the Queen's) and how did it become one of the most bizarre and enduring practices in monarchical history?
We trace the ritual’s origins from the ancient world to Robert II of France and Edward the Confessor and explore how it was used by rulers like Mary I of England. Discover whether it was ever called Touching for the Queen’s Evil, how William Shakespeare referenced it, and why special coins called Angels, or touch pieces, were given to those touched.
This wasn’t just about religion; it was political theatre reinforcing the divine right of kings and queens. You'll also find out who was the last monarch to perform the ceremony, and why Jacobite pretenders kept the tradition alive.
Featuring rare historical images, descriptions of ceremonial healing rituals, and eyewitness accounts, including one from a young Samuel Johnson, this video explores the strange intersection of faith, power, superstition, and royal propaganda.
If you’re fascinated by strange royal traditions, medieval medicine, or the mythology of monarchy, this is the video for you, as we examine if the royal touch has magical powers.
👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and explore the weird world of the royal touch.
BUY MY BOOK (Find Your Irish Ancestors Online): amzn.to/3Z2ChnG
Website (with 2 FREE DOWNLOADS): historycallingofficial.com
Patreon: patreon.com/historycalling
Amazon storefront: amazon.com/shop/historycalling
Instagram: instagram.com/historycalling
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
MEDICAL HISTORY PLAYLIST
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLSjVq5Qtb0E7oXrh07NVR_gi4CVgrSI1
MEDICAL TREATMENTS FROM HISTORY
youtu.be/q5iwUiVhwZs
THE STORY OF THE JACOBITES
youtu.be/rxz-PJIpETE
LEARN MORE
[FREE] Raymond Crawford, The king's evil (1911)
archive.org/details/39002010648369.med.yale.edu/page/144/mode/1up
[FREE] Noel Woolf, The Sovereign Remedy: touch pieces and the King’s Evil
britnumsoc.org/publications/Digital%20BNJ/pdfs/1979_BNJ_49_11.pdf
[FREE] Touching for the King’s Evil
rct.uk/collection/443148/charles-ii-admission-ticket-to-the-ceremony-for-touching-for-the-kings-evil
Want to watch/hear/read more about history (and a whole host of other topics)? Then you might benefit from a free Audible or Prime video trial. They are available from the following links:
AUDIBLE
amzn.to/44MvlMi
AUDIBLE PLUS & AUDIBLE PREMIUM PLUS
amzn.to/42rh3PF
PRIME VIDEO
amzn.to/3LW7ykg
GEAR USED
Apple MacBook Pro Laptop (for video editing): amzn.to/3S6IoRK
Blue Yeti Microphone: amzn.to/3FgEDYq
Go-Pro Hero 13 camera: amzn.to/41H4Xnt
GoPro 3-Way 2.0 (Tripod/Grip/Arm): amzn.to/3vaVxjU
Memory Card: amzn.to/3KeLZZs
DJI Drone: amzn.to/39hROZm
NB: Links above may be affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission. It in no way affects the price you pay.
Open Street Map copyright information
openstreetmap.org/copyright
Creative Commons licenses used see creativecommons.org/licenses
#TouchingForTheKingsEvil #CrampRings #HistoryOfMedicine #MedicalHistory
What if your life depended on the King touching your neck? For centuries, people in medieval and early modern England and France believed their monarchs had a divine healing power, the ability to cure disease with a simple touch. In this royal history documentary from History Calling, we uncover the fascinating truth behind Touching for the King’s Evil, a ritual said to heal scrofula (a disease of the lymph nodes).
Was this the ultimate royal superpower? Why did people think the King’s touch worked (or the Queen's) and how did it become one of the most bizarre and enduring practices in monarchical history?
We trace the ritual’s origins from the ancient world to Robert II of France and Edward the Confessor and explore how it was used by rulers like Mary I of England. Discover whether it was ever called Touching for the Queen’s Evil, how William Shakespeare referenced it, and why special coins called Angels, or touch pieces, were given to those touched.
This wasn’t just about religion; it was political theatre reinforcing the divine right of kings and queens. You'll also find out who was the last monarch to perform the ceremony, and why Jacobite pretenders kept the tradition alive.
Featuring rare historical images, descriptions of ceremonial healing rituals, and eyewitness accounts, including one from a young Samuel Johnson, this video explores the strange intersection of faith, power, superstition, and royal propaganda.
If you’re fascinated by strange royal traditions, medieval medicine, or the mythology of monarchy, this is the video for you, as we examine if the royal touch has magical powers.
👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and explore the weird world of the royal touch.
BUY MY BOOK (Find Your Irish Ancestors Online): amzn.to/3Z2ChnG
Website (with 2 FREE DOWNLOADS): historycallingofficial.com
Patreon: patreon.com/historycalling
Amazon storefront: amazon.com/shop/historycalling
Instagram: instagram.com/historycalling
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
MEDICAL HISTORY PLAYLIST
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLSjVq5Qtb0E7oXrh07NVR_gi4CVgrSI1
MEDICAL TREATMENTS FROM HISTORY
youtu.be/q5iwUiVhwZs
THE STORY OF THE JACOBITES
youtu.be/rxz-PJIpETE
LEARN MORE
[FREE] Raymond Crawford, The king's evil (1911)
archive.org/details/39002010648369.med.yale.edu/page/144/mode/1up
[FREE] Noel Woolf, The Sovereign Remedy: touch pieces and the King’s Evil
britnumsoc.org/publications/Digital%20BNJ/pdfs/1979_BNJ_49_11.pdf
[FREE] Touching for the King’s Evil
rct.uk/collection/443148/charles-ii-admission-ticket-to-the-ceremony-for-touching-for-the-kings-evil
Want to watch/hear/read more about history (and a whole host of other topics)? Then you might benefit from a free Audible or Prime video trial. They are available from the following links:
AUDIBLE
amzn.to/44MvlMi
AUDIBLE PLUS & AUDIBLE PREMIUM PLUS
amzn.to/42rh3PF
PRIME VIDEO
amzn.to/3LW7ykg
GEAR USED
Apple MacBook Pro Laptop (for video editing): amzn.to/3S6IoRK
Blue Yeti Microphone: amzn.to/3FgEDYq
Go-Pro Hero 13 camera: amzn.to/41H4Xnt
GoPro 3-Way 2.0 (Tripod/Grip/Arm): amzn.to/3vaVxjU
Memory Card: amzn.to/3KeLZZs
DJI Drone: amzn.to/39hROZm
NB: Links above may be affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission. It in no way affects the price you pay.
Open Street Map copyright information
openstreetmap.org/copyright
Creative Commons licenses used see creativecommons.org/licenses
#TouchingForTheKingsEvil #CrampRings #HistoryOfMedicine #MedicalHistory
