Royals You Might Not Know Died

The following article contains references to suicide and mental illness 

Thanks to a spate of grandiose period dramas, most notably "Bridgerton" and "The Great," there has been renewed interest in the lives of aristocrats, both past and present. There's just something about the pomp and pageantry of the world's elites that has arrested the imagination of fans the world over, giving a glimpse into a lifestyle that few will get to experience on the inside. And just as we become invested in royals' lives, we also grow morbidly curious about their deaths. 

The death of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch of the United Kingdom, came as a shock to fans across the globe. The queen was preceded in death by her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, who died just one year earlier. When royals die, it usually generates headlines and critical evaluations of their public and personal lives. The untimely death of Princess Diana, for instance, remains one of the most talked about regal tragedies, and indeed, seminal global events. The princess' demise has spawned numerous TV plots (most notably in "The Crown"), biopics, and, unfortunately, outlandish conspiracy theories, continuing to create media buzz over a quarter of a century after the fact. But not all regal figures are afforded such a high level of exposure when they pass on. 

There a number of noble persons who die with little to no media coverage, particularly those from the more under-the-radar and inconspicuous monarchist countries. Let's take a look at royals you might not know died.

Dubbed the royal rebel, Princess Margaret was Queen Elizabeth II's feisty younger sister. While her sibling served the country, Margaret lived the high life, partying, smoking, and even — if risqué rumors are to be believed — having an affair with Mick Jagger. But she was also a tragic figure. 

Her biographer, Andrew Morton, told Vanity Fair that Margaret's rebellion was rooted in the insecurity she faced from living in her sister's shadow. "She was four years younger, and tried to make up for the age difference by wearing the same clothes and doing the same things as her older sister," he explained, "but there was a hierarchy and Margaret always came behind the Queen. She found out very soon in life that she would be number two."

Due to royal protocol, Margaret was unable to find her happily ever after with the man she loved, royal equerry Peter Townsend, who was a divorcé. She also suffered from health problems throughout her life. In the '70s, she was admitted to a psychiatric hospital after experiencing mental health issues, per The Guardian. Then, she suffered a series of strokes, starting in 1998. In 2002, she suffered her fourth and final stroke, dying from the associated complications soon after, per the BBC. Although the British royals are known for their longevity, Margaret was just 71 when she died. Mere weeks later, her mother also died, aged 101.

If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.

The Troubles, an escalation of conflict between the United Kingdom and the Irish Republican Army, lasted for thirty years and spurred much unrest. There were a series of bombings across the U.K., for which the IRA claimed responsibility. Lord Louis Mountbatten, who was the brother of Princess Alice of Battenberg (Prince Philip's mother), became a victim of one such attack.

In 1979, Mountbatten was on a fishing vacation in Ireland when an explosion occurred. He died soon after, aged 79. His 15-year-old grandson, Nicholas, also died in the blast. The IRA took responsibility for the attack, declaring that Mountbatten's killing was a means of drawing attention to the plight of the Northern Irish, who were under the rule of the U.K. Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams told Time that the assassination was to be expected, since Mountbatten was seemingly at war with Irish Republicans. "I think it is unfortunate that anyone has to be killed," he said, "but the furor created by Mountbatten's death showed up the hypocritical attitude of the media establishment... What the I.R.A. did to him is what Mountbatten had been doing all his life to other people."

In the documentary "The Murder of Lord Mountbatten: 3 Days that Shook Britain" (via Express), it was noted that Queen Elizabeth II was deeply affected by her cousin's death. "This must have been one of the worst days of the Queen's reign," said royal historian Wesley Kerr.

While many European monarchies date back as far as the medieval period and before, the Dutch monarchy is a relatively new institution, dating back to 1814, per Royal House of the Netherlands. At the same time that the French were moving towards a republic, the Dutch were hailing in a royal family. The current reigning monarch of the Netherlands is King Willem-Alexander. Sadly, tragedy struck when the king lost his younger brother, Prince Johan Friso.

Like the Margaret to King Willem-Alexander's Elizabeth, Friso was known as a royal rebel, having relinquished his princely duties in order to marry the woman he loved, Mabel Wisse Smit, per The Telegraph. The couple settled in London and enjoyed a cozy life with their two children. But in February 2012, this idyll would come to an end.

Friso was on a skiing vacation in Austria when an avalanche struck. He became trapped under the snow and was rushed to hospital. Unfortunately, he suffered catastrophic injuries and it took fifty minutes of resuscitation to get his heart beating again. "After the latest neurological test we conducted yesterday it became clear that the lack of oxygen (to) the brain of the patient caused massive damage," his doctor explained to CNN affiliate SBS NL. For a year and a half, he remained in a coma, though he briefly regained some consciousness in July 2013, per the BBC. The following month, he succumbed to his injuries, aged just 44.

Extracurricular activities usually associated with royal life include equestrian sports, hunting, and attending charity galas. However, Prince Azim of Brunei, the son of Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei, decided to embark on a career in the arts. A movie producer, he worked on female-focused films such as 2014's "You're Not You," starring Hilary Swank, and 2016's "Wild Oats," with Hollywood legend Shirely MacLaine. An avid follower of fashion, he designed a collection of gender neutral bags for MCM and was frequently snapped partying with the A-list likes of Naomi Campbell and Mariah Carey, per The Times. Moreover, Azim's presence as a gay man within the notoriously homophobic Brunei, where his own father implemented anti-LGBT legislation, helped raise awareness of the plight of LGBT people within the country.

In 2020, Azim died, aged just 38. According to QNews, he is believed to have been suffering from liver cancer. The outlet argues that the nation's mourning of the late prince was highly hypocritical, since his father attempted to institute the death penalty for same-sex activity just two years prior (the proposed legislation was eventually scrapped). On Twitter, his friend, the designer Daniel Lismore, paid tribute to him. "A beautiful soul has been lost and gone way too soon. I respected him. He had to deal with a lot," he wrote, alongside a rainbow emoji. In a separate tweet, Lismore clarified that Azim did not support his father's anti-LGBT rhetoric.

Spain has a long royal history, but the most recent incarnation of the royal family was instituted in 1978, following an end to Franco's dictatorship. Princess Maria Teresa was a member of the Bourbon-Parma branch of the Spanish royal family, per La Montagne. As the outlet notes, the royal was a passionate political activist who was dubbed "the red princess." She led a full and active life, meeting with high profile world leaders such as the French socialist president François Mitterrand and Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez. Regarding accusations of hypocrisy due to retaining her royal title despite her socialist views, Maria explained that she did not see the two ideologies as inharmonious. "My title is a gift ... provided you do something with it," she told Libération. "I am above all a left-wing democrat, but a monarchy, by giving society a constant reference, seems to me to be able to be useful."

Sadly, the princess became the first royal victim of COVID-19, dying of the virus in March 2020. She was 86. Paying tribute to the sadly departed princess, her relatives fondly recalled her compassion and unwavering fight for social change. "We greatly admire our aunt for her scholarship and dedication, for always being committed to defending peace and prosperity in the world," Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Parma said in a statement, per Point de Vue. "We cherish the beautiful memories we had with her."

Before she was crowned Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly was a venerated Hollywood actor. In her heyday, she starred in movies by iconic filmmakers such as Alfred Hitchcock and John Ford. But in 1956, she left Tinseltown behind and wed Prince Rainier of Monaco, thereby becoming a princess. As her son, Albert of Monaco, revealed in Paris Match, his mother fell in love with the prince during a trip to Cannes the previous year. "If my mother, Grace Kelly, had not been invited to the 1955 Cannes Film Festival, I would not be signing these few lines today," he remarked.

In 1982, Kelly was driving near Monte Carlo when she suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, leading to her car crashing down a hillside. She had suffered a catastrophic brain injury, from which recovery was impossible. Subsequently, she was taken off life support, dying at the age of 52.

Tragically, her daughter, Princess Stéphanie, who was a teenager at the time, was in the car when the accident occurred. Speaking to the Chicago Tribune, she opened up about the lasting trauma of witnessing her mother's death. ”I remember every minute of it,” she said. "It's only in the last few years that I've been starting to cope with it. ... I still can't go down that road, even if someone else is driving. I always ask them to take the other road. But at least I can talk about it without crying."

As My London notes, the name "John" has long had unlucky connotations within the British royal family. Despite this, King George V and Queen Mary decided to call their youngest son John. The prince was the brother of Kings Edward VIII and George VI (Queen Elizabeth II's father). Tragically, the young royal didn't live to adulthood.

Dubbed "the lost prince," John suffered from frequent epileptic seizures, per The Times. Accordingly, he stayed out of the public eye throughout his all too brief life, with epilepsy being a poorly understood illness at the turn of the 20th century. According to the book "In the Eye of the Storm: George V and the Great War" (via The Times), John was deeply loved by his parents, who shielded him out of compassion, as opposed to chagrin.

When John sadly died of an epileptic seizure in 1919, at the tender age of 13, his brother Edward apparently wasn't too overcome by grief. "His death is the greatest relief imaginable," the future king wrote in a letter, adding, "No one would be more cut up if any of my other three brothers were to die... but this poor boy had become more of an animal than anything else!" Unfortunately, these sentiments from Edward, who allegedly held Nazi sympathies, are reflective of the ableism of the era.

A native of Argentina, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands is the wife of King Willem-Alexander. Sadly, she was bereaved in 2018 when her sister, Inés Zorreguieta, died unexpectedly. As the BBC reports, Zorreguieta was found dead in her home in an apparent suicide. She was just 33. Devastated by her beloved sister's death, Máxima canceled her royal engagements thereafter.

Zorreguieta led a difficult life. According to the outlet La Vanguardia, she suffered from depression and an eating disorder. In addition to her personal struggles, her job also caused controversy; she was employed by the Argentine government within the Ministry of Social Development, a role that she was deemed ill-equipped for, per La Otra Crónica. Subsequently, there were allegations that she was awarded the prestigious position due to her sister's significant pull.

During a visit to a hospital shortly after Zorreguieta's death, Máxima paid tribute to her sister and alluded to her personal struggles, per the BBC. "My dear, talented younger sister Inés was ill too," she said. "She couldn't find joy and couldn't recover. Our only consolation is that she has now finally been able to find peace." She contrasted her sister's illness with those of the patients she met in the hospital, stating that they had hope of recovery despite being seriously ill. 

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.

If you need help with an eating disorder, or know someone who is, help is available. Visit the National Eating Disorders Association website or contact NEDA's Live Helpline at 1-800-931-2237. You can also receive 24/7 Crisis Support via text (send NEDA to 741-741).

U.S.-born Kasia Gallanio became a Qatari princess when she wed Abdelaziz bin Khalifa Al-Thani in 2004, becoming the septuagenarian's third wife, per Sky News. However, she soon grew unhappy with royal life and the pair divorced amid Gallanio's allegations that her ex sexually abused the couple's daughter, which he denied. Things took a turn for the worse when Gallanio lost custody of her children, with Al-Thani being granted full custody.

In her final interview before she died, the former princess reflected bitterly on life within the Qatari royal family and also accused her ex, who was almost 30 years her senior, of isolating her in what she termed a "golden cage" and manipulating their children. "I decided after a few years it's time to speak up," she shared on "Women's World Show." "It's time to let people know that it's not all glam and perfect, that I do also struggle."

She died in May 2022, aged 45, with El Pais reporting that she suffered a drug overdose. However, those close to her claim that such reports are untrue. "I am 100 percent sure she did not die of an overdose... She would have never left her daughters," her friend Louis Spagnuolo told the Daily Beast, noting that Gallanio was a fitness enthusiast who never used drugs. Other friends suggested that there was foul play involved. "They need to look at who had the means and the motive to want her dead," a friend argued. "That's where the answer to this mystery lies."

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If you've ever seen those classic paintings of aristocrats from the 17th century then you're likely familiar with the Habsburg dynasty. The family was famed for their highly distinctive jawlines, as Smithsonian Magazine highlights. But these days, the aristocratic Habsburg descendants are far less easy to spot out of a crowd, opting to keep things low-key. 

One such descendant was Luxembourg-born Princess Maria Galitzine Singh. Despite her noble lineage, Maria pursued a career as an interior designer and worked in Europe before relocating to Houston with her sisters. A number of local outlets have emphasized the down-to-earth nature of the princesses. "My life is completely normal unless we are invited to royal weddings," Tatiana, the middle Galitzine sister, once told Chron. "My mail sometimes says 'Princess Tatiana'. What was weird was when I went from 'Princess' to 'Mrs.'"

In 2018, Maria married chef Rishi Singh and the couple soon welcomed a son, Maxim. But just two years later, in May 2020, she died suddenly, aged 31. As stated in her obituary in the Houston Chronicle, she suffered a cardiac aneurysm. According to a 2020 study, a prevalence of cardiac aneurysms has been found in some young people who contract COVID-19, though it is unknown whether Maria had Coronavirus at the time of her death. In keeping with her Russian heritage, she was buried in an Orthodox cemetery.

Before William, Prince of Wales, there was Prince William of Gloucester. Born in 1941, William was the dashing son of Prince Henry, who was Queen Elizabeth II's first cousin. Regarded as a "daredevil," he pursued a number of outdoor activities that were not for the faint of heart. Sadly, one led to his death.

In 1972, William was competing for the Goodyear International Air Trophy when he was involved in a horrific plane crash, per the BBC. Flying in a light aircraft, the plane plummeted shortly after take off and erupted into an uncontrollable blaze, making rescue efforts impossible. "We tried to break into the plane's doors and then tried to break it in half by pulling at the tail," said a spectator who tried to help. "But it was no good, we had to go back because of the heat." William succumbed to his injuries, aged 30. To make matters worse, 30,000 observers witnessed the gruesome and fiery crash. It's believed that the accident was the result of a pilot error.

Tragically, William's mom, Princess Alice, decided not to tell her ailing husband that their son was killed out of fear that his health would deteriorate further, per Royal Central. "I was completely stunned and have never been quite the same since," she reflected, "though I have tried to persuade myself that it was better to have known and lost him than never to have had him at all."

Norwegian author Ari Behn became part of the nation's royal family when he wed Princess Märtha Louise in 2002, per The Telegraph. Following his marriage to the princess, the once-acclaimed writer, who was likened to Scott Fitzgerald, fell out of favor with critics.

In 2017, Behn made allegations of sexual misconduct against Kevin Spacey, who was facing a slew of assault allegations at the time. Per the BBC, on the radio station P4, Behn claimed that the Oscar winner groped him at the Nobel Peace Prize concert in 2007. "I was 10 years younger and right up his alley," he remarked, noting that he was able to fend off Spacey by suggesting that they continue with their interaction another time. At the time, Spacey did not respond to Behn's allegations.

Two years later, Behn died by suicide on Christmas day. In 2009, he opened up about his struggles with mental health in an interview with Norwegian outlet Verdens Gang. "I will die without the company of anyone, but without being lonely and bitter," he said in a prophetic admission. "It's as if I never really manage to connect with anyone... I'm chronically depressed and it seems to be getting worse."

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Princess Caroline of Monaco experienced immense tragedy when she lost her mom, Grace Kelly, in a car crash in 1982, as previously mentioned. Sadly, the tragedy did not end there. The following year, Caroline married Stefano Casiraghi, an Italian racing driver, per The New York Times. In 1990, just eight years after her mom's death, Caroline also lost her husband. And like her mom, he died in a horrific accident. 

During a race near Monaco, his speedboat became engulfed by a wave and turned over. While his co-pilot, Patrice Innocenti, survived the accident, Casiraghi succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital (in a devastating irony, he was rushed to the Princess Grace Hospital). He was 30. "He surely didn't have time to look out and, at that speed, stuck under the boat, must have been killed by the blow," witness and fellow competitor, Michel Karsten, said of his cause of death, per the Los Angeles Times.

According to The Royal Observer, theories began circulating that Casiraghi's death was not an accident and he was in fact murdered. Casiraghi's friend, Giancarlo Miorin, claimed that he told him he feared for his life. "He was a frightened man," he said. "He told me: 'Quite frankly, I'm scared. Someone is out to get me.' ... A week later, he was dead." It's been suggested that his business dealings may have played a part in his death, but there's little evidence to back up this theory.