Royal history is filled with grand weddings, but some of its most talked-about love stories ended before vows were exchanged. Across Britain and Europe, princes and princesses have faced pressure from duty, faith, timing and public scrutiny. According to Hello!, some of these relationships came close to changing the shape of royal families for good. From Princess Margaret’s painful decision in the 1950s to Prince Harry’s pre-Meghan romances, these breakups still stand out for what they might have meant inside the palace and beyond it.
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Princess Margaret Chose Duty Over Peter Townsend
Before marrying photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, Princess Margaret planned a future with Group Captain Peter Townsend. Their engagement in 1953 faced major obstacles because Townsend had been married before, and Margaret also needed royal consent while under 25. In 1955, she confirmed the split in a public statement. "I would like it to be known that I have decided not to marry Group Captain Peter Townsend," said Princess Margaret according to Hello!. She also made clear that her duty to the Commonwealth and the Church’s position on marriage shaped her choice.
Princess Anne and Andrew Parker Bowles Parted Early
Princess Anne’s first major romance was with Andrew Parker Bowles long before her marriage to Mark Phillips. Their relationship ran into difficulty because Andrew was a Roman Catholic, making the match unsuitable under Church of England rules at the time. He later married Camilla Shand, who would decades later become Queen Camilla after marrying Anne’s brother, King Charles. Anne’s own love life remained eventful, including divorce and remarriage in 1992, but this earlier relationship remains one of the most striking royal near-matches.
Prince Harry and Cressida Bonas Faced Intense Scrutiny
Prince Harry had two serious relationships before Meghan Markle that drew heavy public attention. Cressida Bonas, introduced to him by Princess Eugenie in 2012, was often seen travelling with the prince and appeared to fit easily into his world. Yet growing engagement talk and relentless attention reportedly became too much, and they split in 2014. Harry’s earlier relationship with Chelsy Davy followed a similar path. The pair spent years together, attended major royal occasions and prompted constant marriage speculation, but the glare surrounding royal life proved difficult to manage.
Princess Madeleine and Beatrice Saw Plans Fall Apart
Elsewhere in Europe, royal relationships also ended just short of marriage. Princess Madeleine of Sweden called off her engagement to Jonas Bergstrom after allegations that he had been unfaithful. The palace confirmed the breakup in a brief statement, marking a rare cancelled royal wedding in recent Swedish history. Princess Beatrice’s long relationship with businessman Dave Clark also ended without an engagement becoming reality. After a decade together, differences over marriage brought the romance to a close. Beatrice later married Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, while Dave moved on and married Lynn Anderson.
