Royal love stories fascinate millions of people around the world. Most of them are still talked about to this day. Moreover, even through the years, more and more details of these stories emerge, books are written about them, and movies are made. These iconic tales testify that love in royal families can be both beautiful and complicated, but it always impresses with its magic and grandeur.

1. Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco

In the 1950s, Monaco was experiencing an economic crisis. The advisers of Prince Rainer III of Monaco came to him with an interesting idea: he should marry a Hollywood star, such as Marilyn Monroe. Attention to the celebrity couple was supposed to attract tourists to the country. However, later, the candidacy was canceled, and Monroe was replaced by Grace Kelly.

1. Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco.jpg @Grace Of Monaco - Hollywood Star - Penniless Princess - Royal Family Documentary/Royal Family History/YouTube.com

The romance unfolded quickly. According to several accounts, the prince courted Kelly through letters and gifts until she agreed to marry him and move to his kingdom. Their glamorous wedding in 1956 was dubbed the "Wedding of the Century." Unfortunately, the couple couldn't grow old together: Grace Kelly died at the age of 52 in a car accident when her vehicle veered off a cliff and plunged down a mountainside.

2. Princess Caroline of Monaco and Philippe Junot

Grace Kelly's daughter, 19-year-old Caroline, met her first husband, 36-year-old businessman Philippe Junot, at the Paris nightclub Regine's. Philippe had a reputation as a playboy. According to The List, when they met, he called the princess "chubby" and behaved quite arrogantly, which offended Caroline. However, she became infatuated with the womanizer to such an extent that she decided not to attend Princeton University but to stay with her lover in Paris and enroll in the Sorbonne.

2. Princess Caroline of Monaco and Philippe Junot.jpg @Who Is Princess Caroline's Ex-Husband, Philippe Junot?/The List/YouTube.com

Even though the princess's parents did not approve of these relationships, the couple got married. Later, Caroline confessed to Jeffrey Robinson in his book Grace Monaco: The True Story that she quickly became disillusioned with her lover. She was upset when he invited a photographer on their honeymoon to sell their photos. Then there were betrayals on Philippe’s part. After that, the princess decided to end the relationship.

3. Princess Diana and Prince Charles

For Prince Charles and Diana, it all began in 1977. Diana Spencer was 16 years old at the time. Initially, they simply conversed, but then they began dating. The couple spent weekends together aboard the yacht Britannia, and later Charles invited the girl to his summer residence at Balmoral, where she met his family. After that, they announced their engagement, and later their wedding took place.

3. Princess Diana and Prince Charles.jpg @Charles & Diana's Rare PDA Moments Caught On Camera/The List/YouTube.com

Royal biographer Ingrid Seward, in her new book My Mother and I in 2024, revealed that before the wedding, Diana almost called it off. On the eve, she attended Prince Andrew's birthday party, but Charles did not show up. Afterward, Diana told her father that she wanted to cancel the wedding, but Earl Spencer did not support her. After 15 years of marriage, the couple divorced due to Charles' relationship with another woman.

4. King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson

In 1931, at one of the parties, Prince Edward met an American woman, Wallis Simpson. However, neither the government of the country nor the parents approved of their relationship. The woman was in her second marriage at the time of the romance. Initially, they managed to keep the relationship hidden. But after the death of George V, Edward was to ascend the throne, and the government issued him an ultimatum - the throne or Simpson.

4. King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson.jpg @The Tragic Story Of Britain's Playboy Prince | Prince William & Zsuzsi | Real Royalty/Real Royalty/YouTube.com

The figure of Wallis Simpson instantly became the most talked-about person in the country. Indifferent citizens gathered for protests under her windows, and postal workers could barely keep up with delivering bundles of insulting letters addressed to her. On December 10, 1936, the English King Edward VIII decided to abdicate the throne. Edward embarked on voluntary exile to Europe and married Simpson in 1937. Together they lived out their lives.

5. Princess Mako and Kei Komuro

The princess Mako met a commoner named Kei back in 2012 when she was studying at the International Christian University in Tokyo. It became known that Mako and Kei planned to marry in May 2017. In September of the same year, the couple announced their engagement. However, the wedding was postponed. The public began to pressure the princess due to her relationship with a commoner.

5. Princess Mako and Kei Komuro.jpg @Japan’s Princess Mako to finally marry commoner boyfriend Kei Komuro/South China Morning Post/YouTube.com

Then, in early October 2021, as reported by Time, it became known that Princess Mako had been diagnosed with severe stress, which she faced due to societal pressure. According to People, in 2017, Princess Mako renounced her right to the throne in favor of personal happiness. The couple got married in 2021 and moved to the United States.

6. Harald V and Sonia Haraldsen

In 1959, Norwegian King Harald V met Sonja Haraldsen, the daughter of a small clothing store owner, at a party hosted by mutual friends. Two months later, the prince invited the girl to the graduation ball at the Norwegian Military Academy, but for the next nine years, they kept their romance secret. This was due to the categorical position of King Olav V, who believed that members of the royal family could not marry commoners.

6. Harald V and Sonia Haraldsen.jpg @How The Future King And Queen Of Norway Fought For Love For Years/WOW/YouTube.com

However, in 1968, Harald issued an ultimatum to his father: approval of his marriage to Sonja or he would remain a bachelor for life. This threatened the continuity of the Norwegian royal dynasty. As a result, the king relented. On August 29, the couple finally married. In January 1991, Olaf passed away, after which Harald and Sonja ascended the throne together.

7. Prince William of Gloucester and Zsuzsi Starkloff

At one of the social events, the 27-year-old British prince met a charming model of Hungarian origin named Zsuzsi Starkloff with a rich past: before meeting William, she had worked as a stewardess, become a mother, and divorced twice. The news of their romance reached England.

7. Prince William of Gloucester and Zsuzsi Starkloff.jpg @The Tragic Story Of Britain's Playboy Prince | Prince William & Zsuzsi | Real Royalty/Real Royalty/YouTube.com

The Queen immediately summoned the prince home, citing his duties to the country. William was confident he could influence the royal decision and return for his beloved. However, it was not meant to be. In August 1969, the prince perished while performing a risky maneuver in his aircraft. Zsuzsi learned of the tragedy from the newspapers. After that, she never married again.

8. Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and Shaman Durek

Märtha Louise and Verrett met in 2019. There are two versions of their meeting story. According to one of them, the relationship began when the princess was a client of the shaman in the USA and came for his spiritual session. Before that, she hadn't dated anyone for several years. According to the other version, they were introduced by a mutual acquaintance.

8. Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and Shaman Durek .jpg @Princess Martha Louise Of Norway's Transformation Is Stunning/The List/YouTube.com

The princess's chosen one also refers to himself as a lizard from Andromeda. The couple believes they met together in a past life. The princess claims that initially, her parents were against her romance. Under their pressure, according to CNN, the princess renounced her royal duties for the sake of love. After that, her fiancé, Durek, proposed to her.

9. Prince Haakon and Princess Mette-Marit of Norway

From an early age, Mette-Marit engaged in substance abuse and led a promiscuous lifestyle. At the age of 23, she gave birth to a son without a father and started working as a waitress to support herself and her child. However, everything changed when at the Quart rock festival she met a boy, who turned out to be Crown Prince Haakon of Norway.

9. Prince Haakon and Princess Mette-Marit of Norway.jpg @thoughtful_human/reddit.com

The heir to the throne fell for the lively blonde, and by 1999 they had already begun living together in a rented apartment in Oslo. When the press uncovered the dirty details of Mette-Marit's life, the girl got scared and ran away. But the prince announced on television that despite everything, he wanted to marry her. The girl returned, and her parents had no choice but to bless the couple.

10. Prince Albert of Monaco and Tamara Rotolo

The romance with Californian waitress Tamara Rotolo happened in the 90s during Albert's vacation on the French Riviera. The woman was vacationing on the south coast of France at the time while her divorce proceedings with her husband David Schumacher were ongoing. Then Tamara returned to the USA, and soon after found out that she was expecting a child.

10. Prince Albert of Monaco and Tamara Rotolo.jpg @Prince Albert's Seriously Complicated Dating History/The List/YouTube.com

In March 1992, the woman gave birth to a daughter, whom she named Jazmin Grace Grimaldi. In 1992, Tamara Rotolo filed a lawsuit to establish paternity. After many years of waiting, it was only in 2006 that it was announced that, according to the DNA test results, Prince Albert II was indeed the father of the girl. The Prince acknowledged paternity and provided for his daughter.

11. King Juan Carlos I of Spain and Corinna Larsen

King Juan Carlos I met Corinna in 2006 in the German city of Ditzingen. She worked as a safari organizer for the oldest firearms trading company on the British Isles - Boss & Co. According to Vanity Fair magazine, the woman repeatedly accompanied Juan Carlos on trips abroad as an unofficial companion.

11. King Juan Carlos I of Spain and Corinna Larsen.jpg @LYDIA HAWKEN FOR MAILONLINE/3.11.2022/dailymail.co.uk

At first, the woman denied rumors of a romance with the king but later accused him of sexual harassment. Corinna claimed that after their breakup in 2009, Juan Carlos began to spy on her and forced her to return gifts worth 65 million euros. As a result of these accusations, in 2014, the king abdicated the throne and left the country.

12. Prince Albert II of Monaco and Nicole Coste

The heir to the throne of Monaco met the French flight attendant Nicole Coste on a plane in 1997. The Afro-French woman caught Albert's eye immediately, and he asked for her phone number. A few days later, the prince invited the girl on a date. Their romance turned out to be quite long-lasting, as Nicole did not aspire to the role of the prince's future spouse.

12. Prince Albert II of Monaco and Nicole Coste.jpg @The Feud Prince Albert's Ex Has With Monaco's Royal Family/The List/YouTube.com

At the end of 2002, Nicole informed Albert that she was pregnant, and he was delighted. When she gave birth to their son, Eric Alexandre Coste, Albert gifted them a house in Paris. The father often visited his son, spent time with him, and provided financial support to the family. In 2005, the prince officially recognized his son.

13. Princess Margaret and Roddy Llewellyn

The relationship between the princess and her paramour Roddy Llewellyn began as early as 1973. At that time, Margaret was 43 years old, while her new suitor was only 25. Despite prohibitions from the royal family, Margaret continued to see him after her divorce. Overall, the couple's relationship lasted for eight years, during which time was filled with events and experiences.

13. Princess Margaret and Roddy Llewellyn.jpg @Lisa Waller Rogers/6.05.2020/lisawallerrogers.com

For instance, there was a time when Roddy left the princess for a younger woman. It pushed Margaret to the brink of suicide, but fortunately, her attempt was unsuccessful. After a brief hiatus, Roddy returned to the princess. Although their affair endured for quite some time, it did not culminate in happiness.

14. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex dated for two years before announcing their engagement in November 2017. According to information from People dated January 24, 2024, the couple was introduced by a mutual friend in July 2016, and they agreed to a blind date in London. Meghan admitted that she knew little about the royal family and didn't take the gentleman too seriously.

14. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.jpg

In September 2017, Meghan Markle told Vanity Fair that she and the prince were in love. Ten months later, they had their royal wedding. In May 2019, the couple welcomed their first child, Archie, and in 2020, they announced their departure from the royal family. Currently, the couple lives in the United States, raising their daughter, Lilibet. However, due to candid interviews, their relationship with the royal family is strained.

15. Princess Diana and Dodi Al-Fayed

Princess Diana had crossed paths with Dodi Al-Fayed several times at polo matches even when she was married. However, their relationship began much later. In 1997, Dodi's father, Mohammed, invited the princess and her children to vacation on his yacht, where his son was also present. The couple quickly found common ground, and from then on, they began to spend more time together.

15. Princess Diana and Dodi Al-Fayed.jpg @dailymail/reddit.com

On the eve of the terrible car crash in Paris, cameras captured Dodi purchasing a ring. Later, his father assured journalists that Diana was going to marry his son. However, according to the writer Petronella Wyatt, who refers to Diana's biographer, the princess had no intention of marrying, although she enjoyed spending time with Dodi. The truth of this matter remains unknown. On August 31, 1997, their lives with Al-Fayed Jr. came to a tragic end.

16. King Charles III and Camilla

The relationship between Camilla and Charles began in the early 1970s, but she did not suit the royal family as the future king's wife. Additionally, she was divorced. Charles and Camilla shared common interests such as horses, dogs, and hunting. As soon as the court realized that Charles had serious intentions toward Camilla, they sent him on a seven-month expedition with the British military fleet in the Caribbean in 1973.

16. King Charles III and Camilla.jpg @King Charles III and Queen Camilla, through the years l GMA/Good Morning America/YouTube.com

At the same time, Camilla met Andrew Parker-Bowles and married him. The prince was saddened, but eventually accepted it and even became a godfather to one of her children. Later, the prince married Diana and attempted to find happiness. However, Camilla's husband started cheating, and she reunited with Charles again. After the death of Lady Di, the prince eventually received the Queen's blessing and married Camilla.

17. Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg and Nicolas Bagory

Alexandra, born on February 16, 1991, is the fourth child and only daughter of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg. Nicolas Bagory, on the other hand, is a Parisian businessman. They first met through mutual friends. Despite the public attention that comes with being part of a royal family, they managed to keep their romance relatively private.

17. Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg and Nicolas Bagory.jpg @Princess Alexandra of luxembourg weds Nicolas Bagory in a lavish religious ceremony#Royalwedding/The Royals 360/YouTube.com

In 2020, the couple announced their engagement, much to the delight of royal watchers and well-wishers. On September 9, 2022, Princess Alexandra and Nicolas Bagory exchanged vows in a stunning ceremony held at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg City. In December 2023, information appeared on the royal Instagram account that the couple was expecting their first child. The birth is expected in spring 2024.

18. Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi

Beatrice and Edoardo met in 2018 at a party hosted by mutual friends. Their romance began swiftly, although the couple initially attempted to keep their relationship under wraps. However, soon after the ceremony, the paparazzi began to suspect that Beatrice had a new beau. When keeping their relationship secret became futile, the princess and her beloved made their first public appearance together.

18. Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.jpg @The Truth About Princess Beatrice's Husbandg/The List/YouTube.com

In September 2019, the royal palace officially announced their wedding. The groom presented the bride with a ring adorned with a large diamond and proposed during a summer vacation in Italy. The first engagement photos were taken by her younger sister, Eugenie. The couple's wedding was postponed twice - first due to a sex scandal involving Princess Beatrice's father, Prince Andrew, and then due to the pandemic.

19. Kate Middleton and William Wales

Kate Middleton and William Wales, like countless other young couples, met at university. William recalls his first encounter with his future bride poorly, but her appearance on the catwalk in a sheer dress made a huge impression on the heir to the throne. Initially, they were just friends, but later their relationship became romantic. The couple started living together outside of the city. Later Kate confessed that she even cooked for her beloved.

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The press learned about their relationship and began to pursue the girl. The situation escalated, and the lovers quarreled and broke up in 2007, after a joint trip to Switzerland. However, the breakup didn't last long, and the couple reconciled. During a vacation in Africa, William proposed to Kate and placed the legendary sapphire engagement ring of his mother on her finger. According to Yahoo News, the royal wedding cost over 30 million dollars.

20. Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau and Mabel Wisse Smit

The paths of Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau and Mabel Wisse Smit first crossed in 1993 at a small Austrian ski resort in Lech. Friso was skiing with his mother, Queen Beatrix, while Mabel was on vacation with friends. They met in a bar, and their chance encounter blossomed into a deep and lasting love. However, their relationship faced significant hurdles.

20. Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau and Mabel Wisse Smit.jpg @the wedding, the original dress, and the tragic end of Countess Mabel and Prince Friso married life/royalwedding/YouTube.com

Mabel's past became the subject of intense scrutiny after it was revealed that she had been in a relationship with a notorious Dutch drug lord in the past. Despite Mabel's honesty about her past, the Dutch parliament raised concerns. In 2003, the prince officially renounced the throne. In April 2004, Prince Friso and Mabel Wisse Smit tied the knot in a private ceremony in Delft, Netherlands.

21. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip

The British Princess Elizabeth met her future husband Philip when she was 8 years old. Their first encounter took place at the wedding of Greek Princess Marina at Westminster Abbey. The second meeting of the future spouses occurred at the coronation of Elizabeth's father, three years after their first encounter. And two years later, the 13-year-old princess suddenly realized that she found the 18-year-old handsome prince very attractive.

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When Prince Philip went off to the front, he and Elizabeth exchanged letters for a long time. The young princess had a very stubborn character, and she was firmly convinced that Philip was the man for her and she didn't need anyone else. After Philip's return from the front to Britain, Princess Elizabeth's family realized that arguing with their daughter was pointless. The parents gave their consent to the wedding.

22. Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and Sharmila Tagore

Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi hailed from an illustrious royal lineage in India and served as one of the youngest captains of the Indian cricket team, while Sharmila Tagore was a prominent Bollywood star. Their paths first crossed at a post-match gathering hosted by a mutual acquaintance in 1965. From that moment, they found themselves captivated by each other, gradually falling deeply in love. However, their love faced its fair share of challenges.

22. Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and Sharmila Tagore.jpg @aubreygrahamdrake/reddit.com

Being a Muslim prince and a Hindu actress, their union was initially met with skepticism and disapproval from both families and society. But in December 1969, they tied the knot in a low-key ceremony, blending traditional rituals with modern flair. Their marriage not only defied conventions but also became a symbol of love. Despite Mansoor's tragic demise in 2011, their love story continues to inspire generations.

23. King Felipe VI of Spain and Letizia

The future King of Spain, Felipe VI, first met Letizia in unusual circumstances. At that time, she was working for the local channel 24 Horas and had traveled to Galicia to cover a report about the sunken tanker "Prestige". Felipe was also at the scene. Afterward, he invited the attractive journalist for a date but was very surprised when she declined. It was only on the fourth occasion that she agreed to meet him.

23. King Felipe VI of Spain and Letizia.jpg

In early November 2003, the Prince of Asturias and the commoner Letizia got engaged, with over three hundred journalists present. The prince and the future princess exchanged gifts: on Letizia's nameless finger of her left hand gleamed a ring made of white gold and diamonds, while the royal descendant received cufflinks of the same metal from his beloved.

24. Queen Margrethe of Denmark and Prince Henrik

The union of Queen Margrethe of Denmark and Prince Henrik began in the spring of 1965 when Margrethe, then the Crown Princess, met Henri de Laborde de Monpezat, a French diplomat, during a dinner party in London. The encounter sparked an immediate connection, but their romance faced hurdles due to Henrik's reluctance to give up his career and become a consort.

24. Queen Margrethe of Denmark and Prince Henrik.jpg

Despite the challenges, they married in June 1967. Henrik adapted to his new role as Prince Consort of Denmark but remained fiercely independent. In 2017, according to People magazine, he publicly stated that he did not wish to lie next to Margrethe in the coffin in Roskilde Cathedral. Henrik died of pneumonia on February 13, 2018, surrounded by his family.

25. King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark

The Danish couple met by chance at the Slip Inn bar in Sydney in 2000. Mary was there with friends, while the prince came to relax with his brothers - Joachim, his sibling, and his cousin, Nikolaos. At the bar, they encountered the Prince of Spain, Felipe, who, as it turned out, knew Mary's neighbor's sister. Shortly before this meeting, a fortune teller predicted that Mary would meet a wealthy foreigner.

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For a while, the couple communicated through email. It wasn't until a year later that the Danish press first named Mary Donaldson as Prince Frederik's new sweetheart. In the same year, Mary moved in with him in Copenhagen. Queen Margrethe II approved Mary's candidacy for the role of her eldest son's future wife. Their marriage took place on May 14, 2004.

26. Sheikh Mohammed and Princess Haya

Princess Haya is the offspring of the King of Jordan. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum is the Prime Minister of the UAE and the ruler of Dubai, who already had six wives. The marriage of these individuals seemed unexpected and incomprehensible. Unlike Mohammed's other wives, Haya led a public life, was a social activist, and often appeared in public. At first glance, after the marriage, her life didn't change much.

26. Sheikh Mohammed and Princess Haya.jpg @Dubai ruler had Princess Haya's phone hacked - BBC News/BBC News/YouTube.com

She became the beloved wife of the sheikh, whom he often took out in public. But in the summer of 2019, Haya unexpectedly fled to Europe from her husband. The princess took her children and 39 million dollars with her. She filed for divorce. Haya stated that she feared for her life. As a result, she won the court case. According to the BBC as of December 21, 2021, the sheikh was ordered to pay her 700 million dollars.

27. King Philip and Queen Mathilde of Belgium

Philip and Mathilde met by chance while playing tennis. It was love at first sight. At the time, the girl was 23 years old, and her future husband was 36. Their first meeting took place in 1996, and the 13-year age difference did not hinder the emergence of romantic feelings between them. They were in a relationship for three years.

27. King Philip and Queen Mathilde of Belgium.jpg @Last Royal Wedding Of The 20th Century|king Philippe & Queen Mathilde Of Belgium’s Wedding History/Global Royal/YouTube.com

However, they kept their relationship concealed for an extended period. Therefore, when the Belgian royal family announced the engagement of Prince Philip, it came as a surprise to many. On December 4, 1999, the couple married at the Brussels City Hall, and the wedding ceremony took place at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula.

28. Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene

The heir to the Monegasque throne, Albert, met his future wife thanks to his passion for sports. Charlene belonged to the South African swimming team. They first met in 2000 at a competition in Monaco. However, their initial encounter was not fateful, and their second meeting took place only six years later, in 2006, in Turin. The prince was 48 at the time, with numerous intimate relationships behind him and two illegitimate children.

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Even after beginning a relationship with Charlene, the prince was in no hurry to marry her. She moved into the palace with him. It was only four years later that the couple got married. According to CBS News, in July 2011, after the wedding date had been set, Charlene attempted to flee back to South Africa three times, but she was returned by high-ranking officials of the principality. At the wedding, she cried, earning her the nickname "crying bride".

29. Prince Daniel and Princess Victoria of Sweden

Prince Daniel Westling was a commoner and a gym owner when he first met Princess Victoria, the heir to the Swedish throne. Their love story began in 2001 when Victoria started attending the gym where Daniel became her trainer. Despite their different backgrounds, they soon became friends and later developed romantic feelings for each other. However, their relationship faced significant challenges, including the criticism of the public.

29. Prince Daniel and Princess Victoria of Sweden.jpg @Details About Crown Princess Victoria Of Sweden's Husband/The List/YouTube.com

Despite the obstacles, in 2009, Daniel proposed to Victoria during a private holiday in the United States, and she happily accepted. However, Victoria was worried about how her father, who had dreamed of marrying her to Denmark's Prince Frederik, would react to her relationship with Daniel. To her surprise, this time King consented to the marriage. Their wedding was held on June 19, 2010.

30. Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson

The couple met in childhood. From time to time, Sarah and Andrew would see each other at polo matches. In 1985, Princess Diana, who was already married to Prince Charles at the time, decided to play the role of matchmaker and invited her friend Sarah to a traditional party held by Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle during the Royal Ascot races.

30. Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.jpg @Inside Sarah Ferguson And Prince Andrew's Relationship/The List/YouTube.com

Andrew was captivated by the fiery spirit of the girl and fell in love very quickly. On March 19, 1986, the palace announced the engagement of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, and they married in July. The prince gave his beloved a ring with a Burmese ruby and a diamond cluster. However, in 1992, the marriage broke down due to Sarah's infidelity. Nevertheless, the couple still has a good relationship and even continues to live in the same house.

31. Maharani Gayatri Devi and Maharaja Man Singh II of Jaipur

One of the most captivating love stories of the 20th century unfolds in the marriage of Maharani Gayatri Devi and Maharaja Man Singh II of Jaipur. Princess Gayatri Devi of Cooch Behar (fondly called Ayesha by loved ones) grew up in a modern, cosmopolitan, highly anglicized family setup. The parents arranged her union with the King of Gwalior. But one day, everything changed.

31. Maharani Gayatri Devi and Maharaja Man Singh II of Jaipur.jpg @AegonTargaryen_1008/reddit.com

Her accidental trip to the Delhi Durbar in 1911 led her to meet Prince Jitendra Narayan of Cooch Behar. They both fell in love. And a few months later, the princess called off her wedding with the king via a personal letter. The parents were shocked. Several times they tried to make her change her decision about marrying a prince from a kingdom smaller in size, but in vain. The princess followed her heart and eventually became the Maharani of Cooch Behar.

32. Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei and Anisha Rosnah Isa-Kalebic

The most eligible bachelor, Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei, married Anisha Rosnah Isa-Kalebic in January 2024, a woman who does not come from an aristocratic background. She is the granddaughter of one of the sultan's special advisers and manages a fashion brand. According to People magazine, the couple has been dating for several years. They attended the weddings of the prince's sisters together in 2022-2023.

32. Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei and Anisha Rosnah Isa-Kalebic.jpg @WEDDING OF THE YEAR! Why Did Sultan of Brunei Allow His Son Prince Mateen To Marry An Ordinary Girl?/BUZZ STORY /YouTube.com

Journalists are convinced that Anisha's brother, who is a close friend of Abdul's, introduced the couple. It is known that the bride-to-be does not use social media, unlike her beloved. After their engagement, which took place in October 2023, the prince posted their photo together on Instagram, which quickly garnered half a million likes.

33. Zara and Mike Tindall

Zara Phillips, the daughter of Princess Anne, was an accomplished equestrian, winning an Olympic silver medal. Mike Tindall was a ruggedly handsome rugby player who captained the England team. Their paths crossed in 2003 during the Rugby World Cup in Australia, where Zara was supporting the England team, and Mike was one of the star players. They met in a bar in Sydney and immediately hit it off.

33. Zara and Mike Tindall.jpg @The Truth About Zara And Mike Tindall's Relationship/The List/YouTube.com

In December 2010, Mike proposed to Zara at their home in Gloucestershire, presenting her with a stunning diamond ring. In November 2022, Mike told People that Zara became the love of his life. They tied the knot on July 30, 2011, in a beautiful ceremony at the Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland.

34. Queen Rania and King Abdullah II of Jordan

Rania and Prince Abdullah met at a formal dinner hosted by his sister in August 1992. Abdullah was enchanted by the young woman. However, Rania agrees to go on a date with the prince only after persistent wooing. Since then their story began: the couple often met and talked a lot.

34. Queen Rania and King Abdullah II of Jordan.jpg @Queen Rania Of Jordan’s Incredible Life - The Modern King Abdullah And His Gorgeous Queen Consort/Global Royal/YouTube.com

Later, Abdullah invited his beloved to his birthday celebration at home, as reported by Laha Magazine. After the dinner, his father expressed admiration for the young woman and expressed willingness to meet her parents. A few days later, the prince took Rania to a mountain on the outskirts of Amman and proposed to her there. On June 10, 2023, the couple celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary.

35. Princess Alexandra and Prince Joachim of Denmark

Princess Alexandra met Prince Joachim in her homeland. At that time, the future princess worked as a manager in a Danish corporation. After a year of dating, Joachim got down on one knee and confessed his love to her. In 1995, they got married. Stylish Alexandra immediately endeared herself to the Danes. She quickly learned Danish and etiquette.

35. Princess Alexandra and Prince Joachim of Denmark.jpg @Prince Joachim’s Of Denmark Married Twice To TWO ELEGANT BRIDES/Global Royal/YouTube.com

She was often compared to Diana: like the late Princess of Wales, Alexandra was actively involved in charity work. While she managed well with royal life, her feelings towards her husband cooled over time. The couple separated after nine years of marriage. This case was the first in the royal family in the last 150 years.

36. Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands

The couple met by chance at a private party hosted by mutual friends in Spain. At that time, Maxima didn't even know that the man, striking up a conversation with her, was a real prince and future heir to the throne. When Willem-Alexander disclosed his title to her, she thought he was joking. Their meetings became regular, though complicated by the fact that at that time Maxima was working overseas, in New York.

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After some time, Maxima moved to Brussels, where she lived for about a year and was just a few hours' drive from Amsterdam. Two years after these encounters, the future king decided to propose to his beloved. The engagement was announced by Queen Beatrix and King Claus on March 31, 2001. Less than a year later, Maxima and Willem-Alexander got married.

37. Queen Noor and King al-Hussein of Jordan

In 1978, Lisa Halaby, an American architect whose father hailed from Syria, resided in Jordan. According to Royal Love Stories by Gill Paul, a friend read her fortune, telling her that she would marry someone of high rank. The prediction came true. That same year, she met King Hussein of Jordan. Recently widowed, King Hussein was open to relationships.

37. Queen Noor and King al-Hussein of Jordan.jpg @Queen Noor Of Jordan. Her Touching Love Story With The King/WOW/YouTube.com

Within three weeks of their meeting, Hussein made it clear he wanted to marry. The woman accepted the proposal. She converted to Islam, changed her name, and became actively involved in the life of Jordan. The couple lived together for 21 years. In 1999, the king passed away from cancer. In her book Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life, Queen Noor revealed that despite the sorrow of loss, she was very happy throughout their married years.

38. Princess Martha Louise of Norway and Ari Behn

Ari Behn was the son of a teacher, and he quickly found a connection with Princess Märtha Louise of Norway. The princess had always dreamed of marrying someone without a title, and Ari fit the bill perfectly. They decided to tie the knot. However, King Harald V and Queen Sonja, presented a condition: either she changed her decision or she would have to bid farewell to her title of Her Royal Highness, replacing it with Her Highness.

38. Princess Martha Louise of Norway and Ari Behn.jpg @Princess Martha Louise Of Norway's Transformation Is Stunning/The List/YouTube.com

The princess accepted the change in her title and married her beloved in 2002. The couple welcomed three daughters and seemed always to be happy. However, in one of his interviews in 2009, Ari opened up about his depression and alcoholism. In 2016, the couple divorced but remained good friends. Then, in 2019, Märtha Louise's ex-husband was found dead. He had taken his own life.

39. Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend

Princess Margaret, the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II, and Group Captain Peter Townsend, a war hero, met during World War II. Since 1944, the man worked at the court of Margaret's father, George VI. The princess's fiancé was 16 years her senior and recently divorced. At that time, the Anglican Church allowed remarriages only if one of the partners had passed away.

39. Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend.jpg @Princessleiawastaken/reddit.com

So, the wedding was only possible if Margaret renounced all royal privileges and allowances for her maintenance. In 1955, Peter Townsend was sent to Belgium, and Margaret, facing pressure from the government, the church, and public opinion, announced that she would not marry him. Margaret and Townsend married other people and never met again.

40. Swedish Prince Carl Philip and Sofia Hellqvist

The romance between Prince Carl Philip and model Sofia Hellqvist began in 2009. They met at one of the nightclubs in Stockholm. The royal family did not immediately accept the prince's new girlfriend because of her tumultuous past: Sofia had posed nearly nude for a men's magazine, worked as a yoga instructor, and didn't hide her love for loud parties.

40. Swedish Prince Carl Philip and Sofia Hellqvist.jpg

For a long time, Carl Philip persuaded his mother, Queen Silvia, and his father, King Carl Gustaf, that Sofia was the one for him and that he was ready to tie his fate with her. Eventually, his parents approved of their union, and later, the Swedish government did too. The wedding ceremony took place on June 13, 2015, at the Royal Palace church.

41. Hasnat Khan and Princess Diana

A year before her marriage to Prince Charles was dissolved, Princess Diana met the man she called the "love of her life." Pakistani heart surgeon Hasnat Khan crossed paths with Princess Diana when she visited the Royal Brompton Hospital as part of her charity work. According to close associates of Her Royal Highness, Lady Di behaved like a lovestruck teenager.

41. Hasnat Khan and Princess Diana.jpg @Princess Diana & the Heart Surgeon, a lovestory/Princess Diana The Channel/YouTube.com

She and Hasnat fell in love at first sight. The princess began studying the Quran, secretly met his parents, and was willing to embrace Islam. However, after two years of relationship, they parted ways. Moreover, according to biographer Howard Hodgson, Princess Di's romance with Dodi Al-Fayed was allegedly initiated to provoke jealousy in Hasnat Khan.

42. Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy

From 2004 to 2010, Prince Harry had a romance with Chelsy Davy. The lovers had known each other since childhood, as they attended neighboring schools. In 2004, they met at a charity event in South Africa, where their romance began. Over six years, Harry and Chelsy broke up several times, only to reconcile later on.

42. Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy.jpg @Prince Harry 'can't face the fact' ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy 'did not want a life' with him/Sky News Australia/YouTube.com

During one of these "crises," Chelsy even dated another man but still ended up returning to the prince. When, after another breakup in 2010, Harry invited Chelsy to the wedding of his older brother, Prince William, the girl agreed. However, after the wedding, Chelsy told the press that she was not ready to be the prince's wife, as such a life was not for her.

43. Princess Caroline of Monaco and Vincent Lindon

On October 3, 1990, Caroline lost her husband and the father of her children, Stefano Casiraghi. He became a victim of a tragic boating accident in Monte Carlo. Devastated by grief, the princess first fled to Jamaica, then moved to the village of Saint-Rémy, in Provence, to keep her children away from the prying eyes of the press. It was there that the princess met actor Vincent Lindon.

43. Princess Caroline of Monaco and Vincent Lindon.jpg @royal-confessions/30.07.2023/royal-confessions.tumblr.com

The couple initially kept their relationship secret but then began appearing in public together. Later, rumors spread that they were planning to marry. However, in 1995, the couple abruptly split up. According to Hola magazine, the princess was too jealous, and a serious scandal erupted between her and her partner, leading to their breakup.

44. Prince Joachim and Marie

Prince Joachim met Marie Cavallier in the nightclub and fell in love. When he introduced her to his family and the public, everyone was impressed by her resemblance to his brother Frederik’s wife, Mary. According to the Daily Mail publication dated October 5, 2022, Joachim had deep feelings of love for Mary, which arose after her wedding to Frederik.

44. Prince Joachim and Marie.jpg @bberin/reddit.com

In 2007, Joachim proposed to Marie during a romantic holiday in Rome, and they got married in May 2008. However, tensions arose between Marie and Mary from that time onwards. Queen Margrethe, the mother of the princes, tried to reconcile them but in vain. Ultimately, for reasons unknown, she stripped Joachim's family of their prince and princess titles. Following this, they moved to Paris and reduced their interactions with Frederik and Mary.

45. Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones

Margaret and Antony met in 1959 when he photographed the princess on her 29th birthday. Their acquaintance developed into a romance, and on May 6, 1960, they married at Westminster Abbey. On October 3, 1961, Armstrong-Jones received the title Earl of Snowdon from the Queen. Despite the grand wedding ceremony, two children, and 18 years of marriage, this union is hard to call successful.

45. Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones.jpg @pmahalan/reddit.com

Anthony, like Margaret, also had a difficult personality: with each passing year, their arguments grew more frequent and intense. Eventually, Margaret's husband began to cheat on her in secret. However, it was Margaret herself who ultimately ended their marriage. In 1978, a photograph emerged in the media showing a woman enjoying her leisure time in the company of a young lover. This signaled the conclusion of their relationship.

46. Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank

The younger daughter of Prince Andrew Princess Eugenie, met Jack Brooksbank in 2010 while on vacation at the ski resort of Verbier in Switzerland. At that time, Jack was working as a humble waiter in one of the bars in Liverpool and hardly dreamed that one day he would propose to a girl from the royal family. At the time of their meeting, the princess was 20 years old, and her future fiancé was 24.

46. Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank.jpg @kervinjacque/reddit.com

However, in 2013, the princess embarked on an internship in New York, while her boyfriend remained in London. They maintained their relationship long-distance. For two years, they lived at such a hectic pace, constantly flying to see each other. Then Jack decided to propose during a vacation in Nicaragua. On October 12, 2019, they got married in the Chapel of St. George at Windsor Castle.

47. Mark Phillips and Princess Anna

Princess Anne met Captain Mark Phillips at a horse lovers' party in 1968. Five years later, their engagement was announced. Phillips gave Anne an engagement ring made of sapphire and diamonds from the jeweler Garrard. The couple decided to marry on Anne's brother's birthday – King Charles III. The date was not chosen by chance.

47. Mark Phillips and Princess Anna.jpg @MonsieurA/reddit.com

The princess wanted to get back at her brother, who had spoken about Mark in the most unflattering terms. He claimed Anne was marrying Phillips just to avoid leaving the stables. Their marriage lasted for 18.5 years. Then, for unknown reasons, the couple announced their split, which shocked not only the public but also the royal family.

48. Prince Pavlos of Greece and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal

In 1993, at a party, Marie-Chantal met Prince Pavlos, the son of the former King of Greece. They were introduced to each other by a mutual acquaintance, the banker Aleko Papamarkou, who was a friend of Pavlos's father. Later, Pavlos confessed that it was love at first sight for him. The Greek royal family immediately welcomed the future princess but with one condition.

48. Prince Pavlos of Greece and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal .jpg @Oth1994/reddit.com

Before the wedding, Marie-Chantal had to convert to Greek Orthodoxy. During their vacation at a Swiss ski resort, Pavlos presented his beloved with a family ring adorned with a diamond. On July 1, 1995, one of the most luxurious and expensive wedding ceremonies in European history took place at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sophia in London.

49. Prince Leka II of Albania and Elia Zaharia

Prince Leka II first met his future wife, Elia Zaharia, an actress and singer, in one of the most romantic cities in the world - Paris, in 2010. She captivated the prince with her elegance and intelligence. Later that year, they became engaged. Since then, Elia has accompanied the prince on all his official visits and meetings with members of other royal families.

49. Prince Leka II of Albania and Elia Zaharia.jpg @EnglishNovelist/reddit.com

However, they didn't rush into marriage. It only happened in 2016. Four years later, they welcomed their daughter Geraldina, named after the queen-grandmother who passed away exactly 18 years before her granddaughter's birth. However, in January 2024, the couple shared the sad news on their Instagram that they were getting divorced by a mutual decision.

50. Prince Ernst August of Hanover and Ekaterina Malysheva

Ekaterina Malysheva and Ernst August were introduced to each other at one of the social gatherings. The young couple enjoyed spending time together, and a few years after the start of their romance, they were already living together in a house in the vicinity of London's Queens Park. In 2016, the prince proposed to his beloved. However, Ernst’s father, Prince Ernst August V, categorically refused to bless this marriage.

50. Prince Ernst August of Hanover and Ekaterina Malysheva.jpg @Prince Ernst August And Princess Ekaterina Of Hanover’s Royal Wedding/Global Royal/YouTube.com

He considered the bride to be a fortune hunter targeting the dynasty's wealth. Despite this, the couple got married a year later. The prince's father did not attend the wedding. Before the wedding, he demanded that his son annul the engagement or renounce all his titles and return the assets that were transferred to him as the heir to the throne. However, Ernst refused to do so.

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Royal Love Stories: Some Ended in Scandal, While Others Changed the History of an Entire Country

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