From Princess Diana-Prince Charles to Prince Harry- Meghan Markle: Royal divorces and rumours that shook the Crown

The UK Royal family is one of the most popular monarchies in the world, and no matter what they do-- they always make the headlines. However, the royal family has its share of controversies and failed marriages too, that have made the headlines for decades now. From Princess Diana-Prince Charles to Prince Harry-Meghan Markle, here we list some royal divorces and rumours over the years that have caught people's attention:

Queen Elizabeth II's younger sister Princess Margaret was known for her rich and varied life, wherein she played an active role in the Royal Family's public work. Talking of her personal life, Princess Margaret was married to Antony Armstrong-Jones (they got married in 1960). However, their marriage couldn't survive the test of time, and they got divorced in 1978. Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong-Jones's was the first divorce in the British royal family in 400 years! Of course, then, it made it to the headlines. The marriage ended due to their extramarital affairs and a volatile relationship.
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Prince Charles (now King Charles) married Princess Diana in July 1991, but roughly 15 years and two children later, they called it quits. The reason: Prince Charles was deeply in love with Camilla (now the Queen), and the People's Princess Diana too was linked to other people.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip's second child, and King Charles' sister, Princess Anne too had a troubled marriage. As per reports, Princess Anne ended her 18-year marriage to Captain Mark Phillips in 1992, following a separation in 1989. Their divorce was finalized in April of that year. And just months later, Anne tied the knot with Sir Timothy Laurence, a former equerry to the Queen, as per Wikipedia.

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, also known as Fergie, married in 1986 in a fairytale royal wedding. However, their marriage soon faced challenges, largely due to Prince Andrew’s naval duties keeping him away for long periods. The couple separated in 1992, and their divorce was finalized in 1996. Despite their split, they have remained unusually close, continuing to live together at Royal Lodge and co-parenting their two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. Their post-divorce friendship has often sparked rumors of reconciliation, but both have maintained they are happy with their unconventional but strong relationship as devoted family members.

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Weeks before Kate Middleton announced her cancer diagnosis in 2024, rumours were rife that the Prince and Princess of Wales' marriage was in trouble. Prince William was being linked to another woman, while Kate was staying away from public duties. Not just this, more recently rumours of trouble in their marriage spread again when news of Prince William hiring Diana's laweyers made the headlines. However, William and Kate seem to be going strong together with each passing year, as the royal couple celebrated 14 years of their marriage in 2025. They are also proud parents to their three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louise.

Ever since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle officially stepped down from their roles as senior members of the UK Royal family in 2020, there have been many rumours of their marriage being in trouble. However, rubbishing these claims, Meghan recently said in an interview that she and Harry are very much (still) in the "honeymoon phase" in their marriage.