Royals around the world who have lost - or been stripped of - their titles
Just because you're born into royalty or marry into a monarchy doesn't mean you're guaranteed to keep your titles forever; just ask these many royals who have had to give up their status in royal families all over the world.
Some were stripped of their titles after public blunders, others forced to resign from royalty because of who they married, and others just got tired of royalty, but all have lost titles in one way or another.
Keep reading to learn which royals lost their titles and the sometimes scandalous reasons why.
In order for their love story to continue, they needed major intervention – that of the highest authority of all.
Prince Michael of Kent's 1978 marriage to Baroness Marie-Christine von Reibnitz was marred with controversy from the get-go.
The Baroness and Prince Michael (who is the late Queen Elizabeth's first cousin) had met not long after her first wedding to the banker Thomas Troubridge, who she married in 1971.
The couple separated in 1973, officially divorced 1977, and had their marriage annulled by the Catholic Church a year later, just weeks ahead of her wedding to Michael.
But that was not the only obstacle to their nuptials.
Princess Michael of Kent and Prince Michael of Kent.
Pope Paul VI had adamantly barred them from having a Catholic wedding at the time, which would have put Michael's royal status in jeopardy.
Under the Act of Settlement of 1701, the English and Irish crowns could only be passed on to Protestants, with a further provision saying anyone who became a Roman Catholic or got married to one would have to forfeit their place in the line of succession.
Still, they persisted, with the next Pope, John Paul II agreeing to the marriage and blessing it at a vow renewal ceremony held in 1983.
This immediately put Prince Michael, who was born seventh in line for the throne, out of the running. He unexpectedly gained his position back after the Succession Act of 2013 repealed the rule, though he is now 52nd in line.
The couple have been happily married for 46 years now, having welcomed two children - Lord Frederick Windsor, 45, and Lady Gabriella Kingston, 43.
Sayako, Princess Nori
There is no doubt there is a common thread in the Japanese Imperial family, with many of its members choosing to give up their royal titles for love.
One such royal was the former Sayako, Princess Nori, who became the first member of the Imperial family to marry a non-aristocratic commoner.
The youngest daughter of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, upon her 2005 marriage she took on her husband Yoshiki Kuroda's surname to become known as Mrs Sayako Kuroda.
They first met as childhood acquaintances but their romance began in 2003 at a tennis party thrown by one of Sayako's brothers, according to BBC news.
Sayako, Princess Nori
In preparation for her new life as a commoner, the former Princess had to undertake driving lessons and practice shopping at the supermarket by herself.
She also resigned from her job as an ornithologist to focus on her family life.
Though she lost her title and royal allowance, she was given a dowry by the state of $US1.2 million, which now amounts to $US1.9 million (approx. $2.9 million).
Sayako now acts as Supreme Priestess of the Ise Grand Shrine, a role she took on from her aunt in 2017.
She continues to appear with her husband at royal family events, now under the rule of her brother, Emperor Naruhito.
Princess Ayako of Japan
Another Japanese princess to marry a pauper was Princess Ayako
The youngest of three daughters born to Norihito, Prince Takamado, and Hisako, Princess Takamado, Ayako is the first cousin once removed of Emperor Akihito, who reigned until his abdication in 2019.
She studied at many prestigious academic institutions, but Ayako actually met her commoner husband when her own royal mother introduced them in 2017.
Princess Hisako was a friend of Japanese businessman Kei Moriya's parents and made the introduction that quickly led to a marriage proposal, with Ayako and Moriya announcing their engagement in 2018.
Princess Mako of Japan
The most recent Japanese Princess to give it up for love was Princess Mako.
She was born the eldest child of Crown Prince Fumihito and niece of Emperor Naruhito, but she gave up life as a royal in order to marry a commoner.
Born in 1991, she was the first of Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko's three children and was beloved by the Japanese public even before she came of age in 2011 and began attending official events as a member of the Japanese Imperial Family.
She studied at prestigious universities including the University of Edinburgh, the University of Leicester, and the International Christian University in Mitaka, Tokyo where she met Kei Komuro.
So began their unlikely romance, and Mako's path to ultimately giving up her royal titles.
In 2002, Märtha broke from tradition and announced she would be giving up her HRH title in order to pursue a more private life away from the monarchy, stepping back from royal duties to run her own business, though she retained her place in the line of succession.
It was the same year she married author Ari Behn, with whom she would have three daughters Maud Angelica, Leah Isadora, and Emma Tallulah. None received titles. Märtha and Behn divorced in 2017.
At first her step back fromt he monarchy was seen as a groundbreaking move, but she sparked public controversy when she began promoting alternative beliefs and medicine, and claiming she was clairvoyant while using the title of 'princess'.
Tensions only rose when she went public with her romance with conspiracy theorist and self-described shaman Durek Verrett in 2019 and started running seminars titled 'The Princess and the Shaman'.
The pair announced their engagement in 2022 and just a few months later, Märtha confirmed she would no longer carry out any royal duties but would retain her title of princess despite calls from critics for her to be stripped of the style permenantly.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
They were the golden couple of the British monarchy for a few years, the in 2020 Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle suddenly announced they were quitting.
"After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution," they said in a statement.
"We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen."
Though the pair wanted to keep their titles and continue serving the monarchy in some capacity, they were overruled and Queen Elizabeth II made the monumental decision to strip her grandson and his wife of their His/Her Royal Highness (HRH) titles.
Harry was also stripped of a number of honourary military titles, though he retained some honours he earned during his active service in the British military.
The couple were allowed to keep their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles, which Queen Elizabeth II gave them as a wedding gift when they married in May, 2018, and have been using those titles ever since.
Now they live in the US with their two young children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who inherited prince and princess titles when their grandfather King Charles III was crowned in 2023. They did not, however, inherit HRH titles.
Despite being stripped of their HRH status, Harry and his children are still recognised in the line of British succession behind Prince William and his three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Harry and Meghan have used their newfound royal freedom to pursue humanitarian and charitable work through their Archewell Foundation, released a Netflix docuseries, Harry wrote a memoir and Meghan launched a podcast and lifestyle brand.
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