If you thought your love life was complicated, try being a royal. It’s hard enough finding someone to love, never mind the added pressures of being trained from birth to uphold certain expectations, follow rules and traditions that have been in place for generations, and lead the rest of the country by a perfect example of royal excellence.
Naturally, it was only a matter of time before the forces and spontaneity of modern love got in the way. Here are 11 royals who defied familial expectations by marrying commoners (gasp!) and risked it all to be with the people they loved.
1. Edward VIII
December 11, 2021, marks 85 years since Edward VIII abdicated the British throne, making history as the first royal ever to do so voluntarily. Choosing love with twice-divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson over a life of kingly privilege—as King, he wasn’t allowed to marry Simpson because of her scandalous marital status—Edward VIII served as king for 325 days before transferring power to his brother, Queen Elizabeth II’s father, King George VI….