The world has been enthralled with royal romances throughout history, but not all of them had happy endings. It was demonstrated that even kings and queens were not always able to manage their own hearts when some were ripped apart by duty, scandal, or unfortunate circumstance.
1. Princess Margaret & Peter Townsend
Despite her intense love for war hero Peter Townsend, Princess Margaret was compelled to give him up due to political pressure and royal procedure. She eventually wed Antony Armstrong-Jones after experiencing heartbreak, but their union too ended in divorce.
2. King Edward VIII & Wallis Simpson
In 1936, Edward VIII famously abdicated the British monarchy to wed Wallis Simpson, an American who had previously been divorced twice. They lived in exile and never really recovered public approval, although remaining together.
3. Prince Charles & Camilla Parker Bowles (Before Diana)
Despite his intense love for Camilla, Charles was forced by royal expectations to marry a more “suitable” woman, which ultimately resulted in his disastrous union with Princess Diana. After years of grief and scandal, they eventually got back together and got married decades later.
4. Princess Diana & Prince Charles
Infidelity and emotional upheaval marred Diana and Charles’s marriage, which ultimately resulted in a traumatic divorce. A year later, Diana tragically passed away in a vehicle accident, leaving behind her legacy as the “People’s Princess.”
5. Prince Joachim of Denmark & Princess Alexandra
Once seen to be the ideal pair, Prince Joachim and Alexandra of Denmark divorced due to cultural differences and the demands of royal life. For the benefit of their kids, they maintained their good relations in spite of everything.
6. Prince Andrew & Sarah Ferguson
Despite their brief romance, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson suffered from problems and public attention. Although they remained close friends and even continued to live together, their marriage ended in divorce.
7. Princess Caroline of Monaco & Stefano Casiraghi
Stefano Casiraghi tragically died in a speedboat accident, ending Princess Caroline’s intense and ardent love for him. Devastated, she remarried years later after withdrawing from public life.
8. Queen Victoria & Prince Albert
Despite having a strong and devoted marriage, Victoria and Albert’s journey took a tragic turn when Albert passed away unexpectedly at the age of 42. Victoria, who was devastated, spent the remainder of her life in mourning and wearing black.
9. Princess Anne & Captain Mark Phillips
Although Princess Anne and Mark Phillips had a lavish royal wedding, adultery and emotional detachment plagued their marriage. After their 1992 divorce, Anne became the first royal to get married again since Henry VIII.
10. King Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn
Henry VIII left the Catholic Church because he loved Anne Boleyn, but their marriage soon fell apart. Only three years after ascending to the throne, Anne was decapitated on charges of treason and adultery.
11. Tsar Nicholas II & Alexandra Feodorovna
Although Nicholas and Alexandra had a deep love, their terrible demise was caused by their political blunders and attachment to the mystic Rasputin. During the Russian Revolution, they and their children were put to death.
12. Princess Stéphanie of Monaco & Daniel Ducruet
Despite royal expectations, Princess Stéphanie married her bodyguard, Daniel Ducruet, after falling in love with him. However, Daniel’s involvement in a scandalous affair led to the dissolution of their marriage.
13. Marie Antoinette & Axel von Fersen
It is thought that Swedish nobility Axel von Fersen and Queen Marie Antoinette had a close relationship, possibly even a romantic one. Because she was put to death during the French Revolution, their romance was eventually ruined.
14. Prince Harry & Chelsy Davy
Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy had a sporadic relationship prior to Meghan Markle. She left for good since she couldn’t cope with the demands of royal life, even if they were in love.
15. Prince William & Jecca Craig
Prince William was close to his childhood buddy from Kenya, Jecca Craig, before he met Kate Middleton. She remained only a close friend, though, and their relationship never really took off.
16. Grand Duke Michael of Russia & Natalia Wulfert
Michael disobeyed royal regulations by secretly marrying Natalia, a commoner and divorcée. After being exiled as a result of his choice, he was killed during the Russian Revolution.
17. King Gustaf V of Sweden & Kurt Haijby
A significant scandal is said to have resulted from King Gustav V’s alleged covert liaison with a man named Kurt Haijby. Although the affair was concealed, the king had to live with the weight of the secret, and Kurt was later put in jail.
18. Princess Martha of Sweden & Crown Prince Olav of Norway
Despite their intense love, Martha’s precarious health presented difficulties for Olav and Martha. Sadly, she passed away before she could ascend to the throne of Norway.
19. Empress Elisabeth of Austria & Emperor Franz Joseph
Elisabeth spent a lot of time traveling and felt oppressed by royal life, despite the appearance of their beautiful marriage. Franz Joseph was devastated by her eventual assassination.
20. Prince Albert Victor & Princess Hélène of Orléans
Queen Victoria’s grandson Albert Victor desired to wed the Catholic princess Hélène, but religious resistance stood in their way. He never married and passed away young.
21. King Louis XIV & Louise de La Vallière
One of Louis XIV’s most adored mistresses, Louise was ultimately discarded in favor of another woman. She spent the remainder of her life in monastic seclusion after becoming a member of a convent after experiencing heartbreak.
22. Princess Margaret & Roddy Llewellyn
Princess Margaret found comfort in Roddy Llewellyn, a much younger man, after her marriage fell apart. However, their affair received harsh criticism, which sparked a scandal and ultimately resulted in their split.
23. Prince Carl Philip of Sweden & Emma Pernald
Many people thought Carl Philip and Emma would get married after dating for over ten years. They abruptly split up, though, and he later fell in love with model Sofia Hellqvist.
24. Catherine the Great & Grigory Potemkin
Despite their intense and complicated love that began in 1772, Catherine and Potemkin were never legally wed. Political obligations kept them apart, but their bond remained strong.
25. King Henry VIII & Catherine of Aragon
When Henry VIII divorced Catherine of Aragon to wed Anne Boleyn, his first marriage to her ended tragically. Catherine never saw her daughter again and lived her last years alone.
26. King Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette
Political battles and popular contempt characterized Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette’s complex marriage. Both were ultimately put to death during the French Revolution.
27. Princess Madeleine of Sweden & Jonas Bergström
After it was revealed that Jonas had cheated on Madeleine, their engagement was called off. She eventually found contentment with Christopher O’Neill, an American businessman.
28. Prince Frederik of Denmark & Katja Storkholm
Frederik had a romantic relationship with model Katja Storkholm before his marriage to Mary Donaldson. However, royal expectations and pressures caused their romance to dissolve.
29. Queen Isabella II of Spain & Francisco de Asís
Francisco’s alleged lack of interest in women was a major factor in Isabella and Francisco’s unhappy marriage. After a while, they split up and lived largely apart.
30. Prince Philip & Princess Elizabeth (Before Marriage)
Royal courtiers strongly opposed Philip prior to their marriage because they believed he was unfit for Elizabeth. Despite overcoming these challenges, their love nearly fell through.
