Queen Elizabeth was known for her patience and unflappable personality, and it took a great deal to rattle the late monarch. But in 1978, that changed when Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife, Elena, were invited for a state visit by the British government. Official photographs from the trip show stiff smiles and an awkward carriage ride through London with the late Queen, and behind the scenes, it was equally uncomfortable. Ceaușescu might've been treated with the pomp of a ceremonial royal welcome, but according to a new podcast, he was arguably the worst palace guest in modern royal history.
Historians Robert Hardman and Professor Kate Williams unveiled the story in the Daily Mail's "Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things" podcast. During the two-part episode—titled "Royal Houseguests From Hell"—the duo described past nightmare visits, including President Mobutu of Zaire, whose wife illegally brought a dog into the U.K. Ironically, canines came up again during the Ceaușescus' visit.
