The 20 biggest scandals of the British royal family

Caroline Praderio,Mikhaila Friel,Talia LakritzMar 10, 2021, 01:05 IST

Royal life isn't always easy.CTR/ Star Max/ AP Images

King Edward VIII rejected the crown so he could marry a divorced American woman.
In 1995, Diana sat down for a tell-all solo interview and talked about Prince Charles' affair.
In an interview with Oprah, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shared many shocking revelations.

The British royal family is always making headlines - sometimes for rather unsavory reasons.

The past few generations of the House of Windsor have been dogged by scandals of nearly every variety, from tactless costume choices to explosive divorces and even an unprecedented abdication of the throne.

Thanks to gossip-hungry media outlets, much of their dirtiest laundry has been broadcast and published all across the world.

Here are the stories behind 20 major scandals that captured the world's attention.

King Edward VIII rejected the crown in 1936 so he could marry a divorced American woman.

Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII. AP/Len Putnam

Princess Margaret fell in love with a married man.

Captain Peter Townsend stands behind Princess Margaret. AP

Her eventual marriage to different man ended in a high-profile divorce.

Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong Jones in 1960. AP

Princess Diana and an alleged lover were secretly recorded on the phone.

Princess Diana and James Gilbey. Reuters/Kimimasa Mayama; AP/David Jones

The same thing happened to Diana's husband, Prince Charles.

Camilla Parker Bowles and Prince Charles in 1999. AP/Alistair Grant

Then Diana gave a bombshell TV interview - and the marriage finally collapsed for good.

Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1992. AP

Princess Anne divorced her husband and married a member of the royal staff.

Mark Phillips and Princess Anne in 1976. AP

Paparazzi caught Sarah Ferguson in a compromising "toe-licking" incident.

Sarah Ferguson in 1988. AP/John Redman

Later, Fergie was accused of taking a $633,000 bribe.

Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew on their wedding day in 1986. AP

Prince Harry spent a day (yes, a single day) in rehab.

The clinic Prince Harry attended in 2002. Getty/Sion Touhig

He was also photographed wearing a Nazi costume.

The costume made headlines around the world. AP/Adam Butler

In 2012, Prince Harry got naked at a private party in Las Vegas, and someone leaked the photos to The Sun.

Prince Harry in 2012. Sang Tan/AP Photo

That same year, Closer Magazine published a photo of Kate Middleton sunbathing topless on its cover.

They sued the company and won. WPA Pool/Getty Images

Meghan Markle walked herself down the aisle after her father was caught staging paparazzi photos in the lead up to her wedding to Prince Harry.

Meghan Markle walks herself down the aisle. WPA Poo/Getty Images

Prince Andrew had his own dirty laundry: He resigned from his job because of seedy friendships.

Prince Andrew in 2012. AP/Sang Tan

Prince Andrew stepped back from his royal duties altogether in 2019 after new allegations surfaced regarding his relationship with Epstein, culminating in a disastrous BBC interview.

Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre, then known as Virginia Roberts. Florida Southern District Court

Prince Andrew stepped back from his royal duties altogether in 2019 after new allegations surfaced regarding his relationship with Epstein, culminating in a disastrous BBC interview.

Markle launched a lawsuit against British newspaper the Mail on Sunday after it published a private letter she wrote to her father.

Thomas (left) and Meghan Markle. GMB, Ben Birchall/ WPA Pool/ Getty Images.

After months of rumors, Harry and Markle announced they were taking a "step back" from royal life in 2020.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are stepping back from their roles as senior royals. AP/Star Max

In March, Markle and Harry gave a tell-all interview to Oprah Winfrey about their rift with the royal family, revealing one bombshell after another.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in their interview with Oprah Winfrey. Getty Images

Before the interview aired, Buckingham Palace announced they were investigating claims that Markle bullied members of the royal staff - but no such investigations were publicly made into Prince Andrew's involvement with Epstein.

Meghan Markle (left) and Prince Andrew. Max Mumby/Getty/Ian Forsyth

Before the interview aired, Buckingham Palace announced they were investigating claims that Markle bullied members of the royal staff - but no such investigations were publicly made into Prince Andrew's involvement with Epstein.

Meghan Markle said Kate Middleton made her cry before her wedding day. Here's a timeline of their relationship.

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The 20 biggest scandals of the British royal family

King Edward VIII rejected the crown in 1936 so he could marry a divorced American woman.

Princess Margaret fell in love with a married man.

Her eventual marriage to different man ended in a high-profile divorce.

Princess Diana and an alleged lover were secretly recorded on the phone.

The same thing happened to Diana's husband, Prince Charles.

Then Diana gave a bombshell TV interview - and the marriage finally collapsed for good.

Princess Anne divorced her husband and married a member of the royal staff.

Paparazzi caught Sarah Ferguson in a compromising "toe-licking" incident.

Later, Fergie was accused of taking a $633,000 bribe.

Prince Harry spent a day (yes, a single day) in rehab.

He was also photographed wearing a Nazi costume.

In 2012, Prince Harry got naked at a private party in Las Vegas, and someone leaked the photos to The Sun.

That same year, Closer Magazine published a photo of Kate Middleton sunbathing topless on its cover.

Meghan Markle walked herself down the aisle after her father was caught staging paparazzi photos in the lead up to her wedding to Prince Harry.

Prince Andrew had his own dirty laundry: He resigned from his job because of seedy friendships.

Prince Andrew stepped back from his royal duties altogether in 2019 after new allegations surfaced regarding his relationship with Epstein, culminating in a disastrous BBC interview.

Markle launched a lawsuit against British newspaper the Mail on Sunday after it published a private letter she wrote to her father.

After months of rumors, Harry and Markle announced they were taking a "step back" from royal life in 2020.

In March, Markle and Harry gave a tell-all interview to Oprah Winfrey about their rift with the royal family, revealing one bombshell after another.

Before the interview aired, Buckingham Palace announced they were investigating claims that Markle bullied members of the royal staff - but no such investigations were publicly made into Prince Andrew's involvement with Epstein.