Not just Prince Andrew or Meghan-Harry: 5 shocking controversies and scandals that shook the British Royal family

The British Royal family is one of the most popular royalties across the world. However, just like any family, they too aren't perfect. Apart from their luxurious and graceful lives, the UK Royal family too has had its fair share of controversies that have not only rocked the Palace but also shocked the world. Be it Meghan and Prince Harry's exit from the Royal family back in 2020 or more recently Prince Andrew, who is King Charles III's younger brother, giving up his royal title and privileges-- these scandals have shaken the monarchy’s image.
But history shows that royal drama isn’t new. Over the decades, shocking revelations, strained relationships, and public scandals have repeatedly tested the UK Royal family’s resilience and reputation. Here we list some such controversies of the UK Royal family:

If you think Prince Harry quitting his role as senior member of the Royal family for Meghan Markle was shocking, well, then it wasn't for the first time that that happened. Back in 1936, King Edward VIII made one of the most dramatic decisions in British history — he chose love over the crown. Deeply in love with Wallis Simpson, an American socialite who was twice divorced, Edward faced fierce opposition from the Church of England and the British government, both of which forbade a monarch from marrying a divorced woman. Refusing to live without her, Edward abdicated the throne after less than a year as king!

Back in 1981, Prince Charels and Lady Diana Spencer's grand wedding was nothing less than a fairytale wedding. However, in just a few years it soon turned into a tragedy marked by infidelity and emotional turmoil. Prince Charles’s (now King Charles III) long-standing affair with Camilla Parker Bowles and Diana’s candid confession of their troubled marriage in her explosive BBC interview in 1995 stunned the world. Her phrase “There were three of us in this marriage” sadly became iconic. Their eventual divorce and Diana’s untimely death in 1997 left deep scars on the monarchy and changed how the public viewed the royal family forever.

Within a few months of her divorce, Princess Diana died in a tragic car crash accident in Paris in 1997. This led to global mourning for the People's Princess— and intense criticism of the Royal Family in turn. Back then, (late) Queen Elizabeth II’s delayed public response to Princess Diana's tragic death and perceived lack of empathy outraged the British public. It forced Buckingham Palace to adapt, showing a more human side in the face of public pressure. The tragedy became a turning point for the monarchy, pushing it to modernise and connect emotionally with the people it serves.

In 2023, months after Meghan and Harry stepped down as senior members of the UK Royal family, Prince Harry released his memoir 'Spare' which sent shockwaves through the royal establishment. In the book, Prince Harry exposed his family's disputes which were private so far, revealing strained relationships with his father, King Charles, and elder brother, Prince William. From claims of physical altercations to feelings of being the “spare heir” to the British throne, Prince Harry’s candid account deepened the royal divide. While some praised Prince Harry's honesty, others criticised him for being disloyal, immature, and washing his dirty laundry publicly.

In the 1990s, under the late Queen Elizabeth's reign the British Royal family endured quite a lot of scandals one after the other. As if Prince Charles and Diana's troubled marriage wasn't enough, another royal marriage became the talk of the town and brought more embarrassment for the Royal family.
In 1992, Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York and ex-wife of Andrew (who recently lost his Royal title) became the center of a tabloid storm. Why? Well, while rumours of their troubled marriage were rife, photos emerged of Sarah Ferguson having her toes kissed by American businessman John Bryan while still part of the royal family! The scandal broke just as her marriage to Andrew was crumbling, embarrassing Buckingham Palace for years to come. The media frenzy was relentless, and “Fergie” became a symbol of royal scandal in the 1990s. Meanwhile, Sarah later rebuilt her reputation through her charity work, but the incident remains one of the monarchy’s most infamous tabloid moments so far!
Photo: Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II's younger sister, Princess Margaret lived a glamorous but turbulent life which was filled with affairs and romantic controversies. She first had a love affair with Group Captain Peter Townsend, who was a divorced man. Back then, it was forbidden by the Church to get married to a divorcee and so, Princess Margaret was forced by the royal family to end her relationship. A few years later she married photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, but their marriage too was marked by affairs and couldn't survive the test of time. Over the years, Margaret’s rebellion against royal expectations made her both a scandalous and sympathetic figure. Her life highlighted the strict traditions and emotional sacrifices often required within the monarchy.