Philosophers Works A royal mistress is the historical position and sometimes unofficial title of the extramarital lover of a monarch or an heir apparent, who was expected to provide certain services, such as sexual or romantic intimacy,[1] companionship, and advice in return for security, titles, money, honours, and an influential place at the royal court.
[2] The institution partly owes its prevalence to the fact that royal marriages used to be conducted solely on the basis of political and dynastic considerations, leaving little space for the monarch's personal preferences in the choice of a partner.
[3] From the 15th century onward and most importantly in France, chief mistresses gained a semi-official title (French: maîtresse-en-titre, literally "official mistress"), which came with its own assigned apartments in the palace.
An unacknowledged, less important royal lover was known as a petite maîtresse ("little mistress").
[4] In Europe, the children of mistresses were typically not included in the line of succession, except when secret marriages were alleged.