Throughout history, there have been numerous instances where royals have renounced their titles or stepped back from their royal duties for personal reasons, romance, or scandal. One of the most famous instances was when King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom abdicated the throne in 1936 to marry American divorcée Wallis Simpson, which was seen as a momentous event in British history. Edward’s decision to prioritize love over duty led to his younger brother, George VI, becoming king. Following his abdication, Edward was given the title Duke of Windsor, while Simpson became the Duchess of Windsor. The couple’s marriage was not attended by the royal family, and although Edward wanted his wife to be granted the title of “Her Royal Highness,” this was denied.
Fast forward to the 21st century, where another royal couple, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, made headlines when they announced their decision to step back from their senior royal roles in January 2020. The couple moved to North America, first to Canada and later settling in California, away from the intense scrutiny of royal life. Despite their decision, Harry remains in line to the British throne, although no longer fulfilling royal duties.
In Japan, Princess Mako made the personal choice to marry Kei Komuro, a commoner, in 2021. This marriage meant she had to forfeit her royal title, a tradition in the Japanese Imperial family. Princess Mako’s decision came with immense media backlash, and she revealed that the public pressure had a lasting toll on her mental health. She and Komuro moved to New York City, where she found a job at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Similarly, Princess Märtha Louise of Norway took a significant step back in 2022, relinquishing her royal patronages and stepping away from her working role as a royal. She made this decision to create a clearer separation between her personal business endeavors, which included her work with her fiancé, Shaman Durek, and her royal status. Durek, an American spiritual guide, did not receive a title upon their marriage, adhering to the tradition of royal spouses not automatically receiving titles unless they were born into royalty.
Another example of a royal stepping away for personal reasons involves Princess Diana, who, after her divorce from Prince Charles in 1996, lost the title of Her Royal Highness. Despite this, she retained her royal privileges, including an allowance and the use of royal properties. Her decision to part from her royal role came amid the intense scrutiny and public interest in her personal life, particularly after her divorce.
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, also made a significant sacrifice when he renounced his Greek and Danish royal titles to marry Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II. As a foreign prince, he was required to become a British citizen and adopt the surname Mountbatten before marrying Elizabeth in 1947.
In more recent times, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark made the decision to step down in 2023, after 52 years on the throne, citing health concerns as a primary reason for her abdication. Her son, Crown Prince Frederik, ascended the throne, marking the beginning of a new era for the Danish monarchy.
Several other royals have made personal decisions to step back from their royal duties or renounce their titles, such as Princess Ayako of Japan, who married a commoner and gave up her princess title, and Prince Friso of the Netherlands, who lost his royal title when he married without permission from parliament. These decisions are often influenced by personal relationships or a desire to live life outside the constraints of royal expectations.
In the case of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, his stepping back from royal duties came in 2019 following allegations of sexual misconduct linked to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The controversy surrounding his association with Epstein led to public outcry, and Andrew was stripped of his military titles and patronages. He continued to hold the title of Duke of York but was no longer allowed to use “His Royal Highness” in any official capacity. In 2025, further allegations came to light, leading to a continued distancing from the royal family.
From Edward VIII’s dramatic abdication to Prince Andrew’s scandal-driven retreat, these royals have shown that stepping away from royal life is often a complex decision driven by personal, moral, or public considerations. Their choices have had lasting impacts on their families, their countries, and the public’s view of the monarchy, but they also reflect the growing desire for personal agency and autonomy in the face of royal expectations.
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