The Royal Touch: How a King’s Hand Became Evidence of Divine Rule

This episode explores the practice of the king’s touch – the medieval ritual where sovereigns placed their hands on afflicted necks, claiming to heal scrofula and reinforce their divine right to rule. It examines how monarchs used this gesture to shape political legitimacy, its spread across Britain, and why the custom faded with rising scientific skepticism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices