The loss of a royal title is rarely a simple matter. It’s a severance of identity, a reshaping of destiny, and often, a consequence of love, loyalty, or political upheaval. Recently, a prince relinquished his status, prompting a reflection on others who have walked a similar path – those who either willingly surrendered their birthright or had it forcibly taken away.
One of the most dramatic examples unfolds with Prince Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. A grandson of Queen Victoria and cousin to King George V, his life took an unexpected turn when his uncle inherited a German duchy. Fate intervened when the heir to that duchy died without a male successor, and the title, against the wishes of Kaiser Wilhelm II, fell to the 15-year-old Charles Edward – a schoolboy in England.
Relocated to Germany, Charles Edward found himself compelled to fight for his adopted country in World War I, a decision he confided to his sister was driven by immense public pressure. This allegiance proved fatal to his British titles. The Titles Deprivation Act of 1917 stripped him of his dukedom and earldom, forever altering his course. He remained in Germany, eventually becoming entangled with the Nazi Party.
The story of King Edward VIII resonates with a different kind of heartbreak. His abdication in 1936 wasn’t a matter of wartime allegiance, but of the heart. He chose to relinquish the throne for Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee deemed unacceptable by the British government and the Church of England.
Though he became the Duke of Windsor, the title came with a sting. Wallis was denied the style of “Her Royal Highness,” a slight that haunted them both. They sought solace in a life of glamour and travel, settling in France, forever marked by the crown he left behind.
Prince Philip’s journey to becoming the Duke of Edinburgh was one of sacrifice. To marry Princess Elizabeth, the future queen, he was required to renounce his Greek and Danish titles. He embraced British citizenship, taking the surname Mountbatten, and patiently waited until 1957, five years into Elizabeth’s reign, to be bestowed with the title of prince once more.
Sometimes, the rules surrounding titles are rooted in centuries-old laws. Prince Michael of Kent faced a challenge when he married a Roman Catholic in 1978. The Act of Settlement of 1701 disqualified anyone marrying a Catholic from the line of succession, costing him his princely status – a restriction later lifted in 2013, allowing him to reclaim his title.
More recently, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, made a conscious decision to step back from royal duties. In doing so, they agreed to forgo the use of “HRH” and official funding, a move that redefined their relationship with the monarchy. While they retained their dukedom and other titles, their children, Archie and Lilibet, only gained the right to be addressed as prince and princess upon the ascension of King Charles.
The story of Prince Friso of the Netherlands is perhaps the most poignant. His marriage to Mabel Wisse Smit in 2003 led to a demotion in title, transforming him from Prince of the Netherlands to Prince Johan Friso of Orange-Nassau. Concerns surrounding Smit’s past association with a criminal figure sparked political controversy and stripped him of his constitutional royal status, including funding and official duties.
Tragedy struck in 2012 when an avalanche buried Friso while skiing in Austria, leaving him in a coma for over a year. He ultimately succumbed to his injuries in 2013, his funeral a private affair reflecting his non-official royal standing – a somber testament to the lasting consequences of a title lost.
