From UK's Prince Harry to Japan's Princess Mako: Royals who gave up their titles and wealth for love — Shocking true stories

We’re often told that being a royal is the ultimate fairy tale—the crowns, the palaces, the never-ending staff. But for some, the "happily ever after" didn't include the throne. It turns out that even when you’re born into a life of extreme privilege, the heart wants what it wants, and sometimes the price of love is a literal kingdom.

Here are the royals who decided that a partner was worth more than a title.

This is the "OG" of royal scandals. In 1936, Edward VIII dropped a bombshell: he wanted to marry Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American woman. Back then, the Church and the government said, "Absolutely not."

Instead of dumping Wallis to keep his crown, Edward dumped the crown to keep Wallis. He abdicated the throne, handed the keys to his brother (the future King George VI), and spent the rest of his life in a sort of high-society exile. It was the ultimate "all or nothing" move.

You’d have to be living under a rock to miss this one. In 2020, Harry and Meghan Markle decided they’d had enough of the "goldfish bowl" life. They stepped back from their roles as senior royals to move to California.

While Harry is still a Prince by birth, he lost his military titles, his royal funding, and the "His Royal Highness" (HRH) styling. It was a modern trade-off: he gave up the security of the "Firm" for the freedom to speak his mind and protect his family.

In Japan, the rules for royal women are incredibly strict: if you marry a "commoner," you’re out. In 2021, Princess Mako married her college sweetheart, Kei Komuro.

She didn't just lose her title; she actually turned down a $1.3 million payout that was supposed to help her transition to civilian life. She and Kei moved to a one-bedroom apartment in New York City. It’s hard to imagine a bigger leap than going from an Imperial Palace to navigating the NYC subway.

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Prince Friso was second in line to the Dutch throne when he fell for Mabel Wisse Smit. The Dutch government refused to give their blessing for the marriage due to some controversy in Mabel's past.

Friso didn't blink. He went ahead with the wedding in 2004, knowing it meant he would be removed from the line of succession. He traded his official royal status for a private life in London, proving that even a prince can prioritize a person over a political position.

Photo: Wikipedia

The Thai monarchy is one of the most revered and strict in the world. Yet, in 1972, Princess Ubolratana gave up her status to marry an American she met while studying at MIT.

She lived as a private citizen in the U.S. for decades. While she eventually moved back to Thailand and is still very much a part of public life, she never officially regained her full royal titles. She’s a great example of someone who managed to bridge both worlds—living for love first, then returning home on her own terms.

Japan deserves its own category because the sacrifice there is so final. Unlike some European royals who might keep a title or some funding, Japanese princesses like Sayako Kuroda (2005) and Princess Ayako (2018) had to walk away completely.

The Reality Check: For these women, choosing a husband means legally ceasing to be a member of the family they were born into. They become "Mrs." and have to learn how to do things most of us take for granted—like getting a passport or opening a bank account.

When you look at these stories, a few patterns emerge:

The Gender Gap: Historically, royal women (especially in Asia) have had to sacrifice much more than men to marry for love.

Privacy over Prestige: Almost every one of these royals cited "privacy" or "independence" as a major reason for leaving.

The Sacrifice is Real: It’s easy to say "money doesn't matter," but walking away from a life where every need is met requires a serious amount of guts.

If you were in their shoes, do you think you’d be able to walk away from a throne for a person, or is the pull of the crown too strong?