A few days ago it was reported that King Carl XVI Gustav had removed five of his grandchildren from taking over the king in Sweden. The move was a long-planned family decision, and the children concerned (descended from Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine) would retain the title of Prince or Princesses, but would not receive money from taxpayers or be forced to perform royal duties. The family welcomed this change as an opportunity for its youngest members to have a greater choice as individuals, another milestone in modernizing the monarchy that made the succession to the throne possible for both sexes in 1980.
The last century of royal history around the world proves that loss of title is common, whether at marriage, by personal choice, or by changes in royal families.
When Prince Harry and Megan announced their expectation for their first child, there was a lot of talk about the titles the new prince would receive. The child is unlikely to ascend directly to the throne, and the child is not automatically entitled to become a prince, so the world was thinking whether Queen Elizabeth II would specifically exclude him, or if the child would get a secondary title like Earl. For this reason, the couple decided not to give their son a title at all, and instead called it «Archie Mountbatten - Windsor» or «Archie Master», in short.
Given the history of the modern British royal family, the choice of Harry and Megan had a clear precedent: two of the Queen's sons, Princess Anne and Prince Edward, decided not to make their children princes and princesses, and chose to allow them to live a more normal life according to their potential future. While Anne's sons (Peter and Zara) have no titles at all, Edward's sons (Louise, James, and Viscount Severn) have secondary titles.
Prince Harry was not the first to marry an American. In 1936, King Edward VIII married Wallis Simpson. Due to opposition from the Prime Minister and the Church of England, it was impossible for the British monarch to easily remain on the throne after marriage, so he decided to abdicate in favor of his brother, who became George VI.
Japan's royal rules require members to give up their titles if they marry a non-royal person. Princess Ayako, daughter of Prince Takamado, a cousin of Emperor Akihito, did not stop her from marrying a shipping industry employee last year. Shortly after completing her graduate studies, many were not surprised that Ayako chose love for the title. Her new life is not difficult because she still earns about $ 950,000 a year, but otherwise she has moved away from royal rituals. The daughter of the Emperor, Princess Sayako, took a similar step in 2005, followed by Princess Mako, who will marry fiancée Kumi Komuro, but those plans are currently on hold due to a financial dispute.
In Spain, after scandals and minor health problems, King Juan Carlos decided to abdicate in 2014, explaining his decision at an advanced age and his desire to have his son long. The Queen of the Netherlands, Beatrix, and King Albert II of Belgium followed suit, highlighting the trend towards retirement from a post that is supposed to last a lifetime. Juan Carlos retired from full official duties in June 2019.
- Prove the last century of royal history
Worldwide, that loss of title title
Common, whether at marriage, or by personal choice,
Or changes in ruling families.