The Most Controversial Royals Of All Time

Appearances often mean everything to the Royal Family. Maintaining a good public image is vital to their continued success, especially at a time when fewer people seem invested in the monarchy. However, while they might try their hardest to look a certain way to the public, they still slip up occasionally.

It probably doesn’t help that some of their own don’t always follow their rules and keep things as private as the family would like. They do what they want and leave everyone else to pick up the pieces because they don’t necessarily believe in the monarchy’s way of doing things. Of course, by doing things their way, they make themselves some of the most controversial royals around.

Princess Sofia of Sweden was a controversial choice to marry into the monarchy

One of the most controversial royals around isn’t part of Britain’s monarchy, nor does her controversy stem from what she’s done as part of the family. Instead, it’s the stuff she got up to before she got married that raised a few eyebrows. We’re referring to Princess Sofia of Sweden, who married Prince Carl Philip in 2015. She was an unlikely choice to enter into Sweden’s monarchy at the time, given her past work as a glamour model and reality TV personality. She’d allegedly even made out with a former adult film star. While this is all very much behind her now, some people can’t forget the life that Sofia used to lead.

Prince Harry has long been a controversial member of the Royal Family

There’s probably no one in the Royal Family right now more controversial than Prince Harry. Although he no longer works for the monarchy, there’s no removing his family ties, even if some of his relatives might wish to. Harry has always been a somewhat controversial figure, given his wild days in the past, which included assaulting the paparazzi and wearing a highly distasteful party costume. Many were able to look past this, given the loss of his mom and the fact he eventually settled down. However, recent drama with his family, his quest for privacy, and his outspokenness have made Harry an incredibly divisive figure.

Meghan Markle has seemingly been a divisive royal from day one

Of course, where there is Harry, there is Meghan these days. Never has a new addition to the Royal Family faced so much resistance. At least, that’s certainly how it feels. People were reluctant to embrace Meghan from day one, blaming things like that she’s American, an actress, and a divorcee. Some of her decisions during the early years of the relationship caused controversy, and things have only worsened since she and Harry stepped back from their royal duties. Quite a few people blame Meghan for the distance between her husband and his family nowadays and believe she brings out the worst in him.

Sarah Ferguson’s marriage ended pretty disgraceful after certain photos hit the tabloids

Divorce is something the Royal Family generally doesn’t look too kindly on, although it’s not necessarily avoided at all costs nowadays. There were several notable splits in the 1990s, one of which was when Sarah Ferguson separated from the Duke of York. Ferguson was already one of the more controversial additions to the family, and her departure came following a scandal blasted all over the tabloids. We’re referring to the time she was spotted with her toes in another man’s mouth as she sunbathed topless on vacation. It was hardly the most graceful way to bow out of her marriage.

Princess Diana wasn’t afraid to do things others wouldn’t dare dream of

She might not be with us anymore, but we can’t talk about controversial royals and not mention Princess Diana. Though she was immensely beloved by the public, some of her actions in the past were definitely considered controversial. From walking through a landmine site to hugging people with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, she was never afraid to do things her way. It usually earned her more respect from the public than the monarchy, with whom Diana often lived a turbulent life. Though her marriage to Charles ultimately ended in divorce, the breakdown of that relationship alone was more controversial than most royals could handle.

King Edward VIII abdicated to be with his controversial bride

People will do some outrageous things in the name of love. Not many have ever gone to the lengths that King Edward VIII did when he fell in love with Wallis Simpson, though. The man’s desire to marry the American was considered highly controversial, what with her being a divorcee and everything. The royal was forbidden from making her his wife, so he abdicated. Edward was much more interested in marrying his American lover than ruling a nation, which is what ultimately led to King Charles III’s line of the family becoming the monarch.

Just because someone is born or marries into a monarchy, that doesn’t mean they’re perfect - far from it. Plenty of royals make mistakes or do things that others won’t agree with, earning them the title of the most controversial royals of all time.