UNLESS you’ve been doing a serious digital detox last week, then you’ve undoubtedly heard that Meghan Markle and Harry Something chatted to Oprah (no last name required) in a ‘tell-all’ interview about ditching the royal family and the titles for a low-key life in America. 
And while this will, no doubt, be discussed for a while to come, this is certainly not the first time royalty has snubbed the institution for its archaic ways.
Here’s a look at seven other circumstances where royals yearned for the life us peasants endure daily!
1. Prince Philip
In a strange turn of events, the husband of Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, aka The Duke of Edinburgh, actually rejected his royal heritage for his place beside the queen. Prince Philip renounced his claim to two thrones, being the prince of both Denmark and Greece, when he married the queen, taking on his mother’s maiden name of ‘Mountbatten’.
2. Princess Mako
In 2017, the Japanese princess turned down her right to the throne when she decided to follow her heart and marry a ‘commoner’, Kei Komuro. His lack of an aristocratic title meant that, legally, she couldn’t claim her royal privilege if she pursued the relationship.
3. King Edward VIII
Back to the British monarchy (it’s a wonder they’ve lasted this long!) where, back in 1937, the king abdicated the throne, choosing instead to marry American divorcee, Wallis Simpson. At that time, the Church of England did not allow divorcees to marry, so he stepped down, making way for his brother, King George VI, to take to the throne, later passing the crown to Queen Elizabeth II.
4. Prince Friso
Over to The Netherlands, where in 2004 the Dutch royal, Mable Wisse Smit, opted to marry without the official blessing of the Dutch Parliament. Although he wasn’t first in line to the throne – he’d have to go through his brother first – he gave up this right, although he and his family were still members of the royal family, just not the Dutch Royal House.
5. Princess Ubolratana
This Thai princess also chose a life of ‘commonality’ rather than enjoying royal status in her home country. After meeting an America, Peter Jensen, at MIT, she was forced to give up her title. This continued, even after the pair divorced in 2001. She’s since found adoration as an actress, starring in a number of Thai films, and even attempting a career in politics.
6. Peter and Zara Phillips
Princess Anne – only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II – and then husband, Mark Phillips, had two children, Peter and Zara. As children of the queen’s daughter, they were offered courtesy titles which the parents refused, opting for a more ‘normal’ life for the pair.
7. Princess Diana
Her decision to finally divorce Charles saw Diana lose her rank as ‘Princess of Wales’ and the designation of ‘Her Royal Highness’, although this was surely a welcome change of pace for her. While she couldn’t enjoy certain royal privileges, she did retain her apartment at Kensington Palace, the ability to use St James’ Palace and the use of aircraft of the royal squadron.
With so many searching for a life of luxury and fame, it often seems unbelievable that royals would throw away the chance of natural-born privilege (although it’s not likely they suffered in too much discomfort thereafter!). However, it is wonderful to know that the main reason for dropping such honorifics was love… although sometimes love is blind!
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