Meghan Markle and Prince Harry stepped back as senior royals of the British royal family – meet 6 other princesses who renounced their titles

Oct 15 , 2020

Princesses who have renounced their royal titles include Princess Sayako of Japan, Princess Anne of the United Kingdom and Princess Ubolratana of Thailand. Photo: @royalworldthailand @theroyalfamily @princessubolratana/Instagram

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry shocked the world when they renounced their HRH titles, announcing in January that they would be stepping back as senior royals, no longer formally representing the queen or receiving public funds for royal duties.

Being a member of the royal family might sound like a real-life fairy tale, but it also carries heavy civic obligations, expectations and responsibilities. For example, the British royal family carries out 2,000 official engagements every year throughout the UK and the rest of the world. However, that sense of mandate definitely comes with privilege, perks and a luxurious lifestyle.

But even with a massive family fortune and the support of taxpayers, why do some royals opt to give up their status? Read on for our list of six princesses who dropped their titles and traded their tiaras for love, career success and privacy.

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Princess Miriam, Bulgaria

Princess Miriam of Bulgaria. Photo: @miriamdeungria/Instagram

Princess Miriam married the late Prince Kardam of Bulgaria in 1996. However, she refused to use her husband’s title in the context of her jewellery career, and she revealed to Insider that dropping her maiden name felt like “throwing away so many years of work”. Before she entered into the royal picture, she was already an established jewellery designer and appraiser, having launched her first collection in 1991 and her own jewellery brand, Mdeu, in 2014.

Princess Ubolratana, Thailand

Princess Ubolratana of Thailand. Photo: @princessubolratana/Instagram

The Thai princess relinquished her title in 1972 when she married Peter Jensen, an American who she met while studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She resided in the US with her husband until their divorce in 1998, after which she returned to Thailand and resumed her duties and position at court.

Last year, she was nominated by the Thai Raksa Chart Party as a candidate for prime minister, breaking the long-standing tradition of Thai royalty staying out of politics. Although ultimately disqualified, she made history as the first member of the royal family to run for public office.

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Princess Anne, United Kingdom

The second-eldest child of Queen Elizabeth, Princess Anne decided not to accept inherited titles in the royal family. Her husband, Mark Phillips was offered an earldom by the queen, but he declined for reasons unknown to the public. Princess Anne also refused royal titles for her children, Zara and Peter.

Sayako Kuroda, formerly Princess Sayako, Japan

The former Princess Sakayo of Japan, now Sayako Kuroda. Photo: @rozsagastonauthor/Instagram

Sayako Kuroda, the only daughter of Emperor Akihito, lost her imperial status when she married a commoner. Living her life now as an ordinary citizen, she has learned how to drive and do groceries, and even moved into a one-bedroom flat. She is also the first Japanese royal woman to wed in her thirties.

How Japan’s Empress Masako came out of the shadows

Princess Märtha Louise of Norway

In 2019, Princess Märtha Louise announced on her Instagram page that she will no longer use her title unless she is representing official royal matters and attending engagements. Her decision comes after she drew flak for using her title in a series of seminars she hosted with her boyfriend, a shaman named Durek Verrett. She has created a new Instagram account dedicated to only work endeavours.

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Princess Cristina, Spain

Princess Cristina of Spain with her children Miguel, Juan and Irene Urdangarín. Photo: @royalchildren_europe/Instagram

King Felipe VI stripped his sister Princess Cristina of her royal title as the duchess of Palma de Mallorca after she and her husband were embroiled in a tax fraud scandal. According to Al Jazeera, the king phoned her personally that she was no longer part of the monarchy. In 2017, Princess Cristina was acquitted but her husband was found guilty and was sentenced to serve six years in prison.

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Royalty

The daughter of Queen Elizabeth, Princess Anne, Princess Miriam of Bulgaria and Princess Cristina of Spain are just a handful of royals who renounced their titles for love, career success, and a host of other reasons