Inside The British Royal Family’s Most Controversial Scandals

The British royal family has never run short on headlines, and over the years, some controversies have shaken the monarchy to its core. In 1936, King Edward VIII relinquished the throne to marry American divorcée Wallis Simpson. In a historic radio address, Edward even explained, “I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.” Princess Margaret’s highly publicized relationship with British garden designer Roddy Llewellyn led to her separation from Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1976. Their divorce became the first royal divorce in the immediate family in roughly 400 years. More recently, ex-Prince Andrew has faced intense scrutiny over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. After years of controversy, he lost his military affiliations, royal patronages, and titles. In February 2026, Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, though he has not been charged with a crime.