Royal marriages throughout history have traditionally been made for political reasons, but every now and then, love managed to change the story.
Love: Elizabeth Woodville & Edward IV
King Edward IV’s marriage to Elizabeth Woodville is possibly Britain’s most scandalous love story. Elizabeth was a beautiful widow with two children and had no royal status.
Edward fell madly in love with her and took her as his Queen in secret in 1464, sabotaging a major political alliance with France, which his main advisor had been negotiating. His decision, made solely out of love and passion, infuriated many of the nobles and led to decades of ruinous rebellions against the English crown.
Love: King Edward VIII & Wallis Simpson
King Edward VIII caused one of the largest modern-day scandals when he gave up the British crown for the woman he loved. He fell in love with twice-divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson, who, by British standards (and by Church of England rules), was completely unacceptable to become his queen.
Faced with an ultimatum to choose between his country or Mrs. Simpson, Edward chose love and signed the official document to abdicate the throne of England in 1936.
Love: Queen Elizabeth II & Prince Philip
Queen Elizabeth II fell in love with Prince Philip as a teenager and insisted on marrying him in 1947 despite concerns from establishment figures who viewed Philip as a foreigner with comparatively little money.
However, the couple enjoyed the longest royal marriage in British history, lasting over 73 years. Philip was by Queen Elizabeth’s side through decades of history as her partner and greatest supporter.
Love: Tsar Nicholas II & Tsarina Alexandra
Nicholas II of Russia refused to bow to intense family pressure to select a politically advantageous bride and instead chose to wed Princess Alix of Hesse. Both of Nicholas’ parents were adamantly opposed to the union, but none could deny the deep love between Nicholas and Alix that was expressed in the hundreds of loving, intimate letters they shared over the course of their lives.
Their love for one another would be their refuge and remained strong even as their world fell apart around them during the Russian Revolution.
Love: King Carl XVI Gustaf & Queen Silvia
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden met Silvia Sommerlath, a German-Brazilian woman working as an educational host, during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. Since Scandinavian law prohibited royal princes from keeping their titles if they married non-royal commoners, Carl Gustaf could not marry Silvia until he ascended to the throne.
He married her in 1976, setting a new trend for modern European royals to follow by marrying commoners.
Arranged: King Henry VII & Elizabeth of York
Contracted purely to bring peace to England and conclude the Wars of the Roses, Henry VII’s marriage to Elizabeth of York (the eldest daughter of King Edward IV) aligned the houses of Lancaster and York under his newly established Tudor dynasty.
Although the marriage initially began as a political arrangement, the couple grew to become equals and true partners.
Arranged: King Louis XIV & Maria Theresa of Spain
The marriage of Maria Theresa and Louis XIV was purely political to end over 50 years of constant warfare between the nations of France and Spain.
The Spanish princess was married to the King of France to ratify the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1660. At the time of their arranged marriage, Louis was more interested in other ladies and spent most of his time away from Maria with royal mistresses.
Arranged: King George V & Queen Mary (1893)
The marriage of this prominent British royal couple was entirely orchestrated by Queen Victoria in order to continue the line of succession. Mary was initially engaged to George’s eldest brother, Prince Albert Victor. When he unexpectedly died of influenza, the Royal family felt it only right for George to step in and marry his brother’s fiancée.
What began as a loveless marriage of political obligation blossomed into a deep respect and love that the couple shared for each other. They became the picture of stability for the British monarchy throughout WWI.
Arranged: Marie Louise & Napoleon Bonaparte
Marie Louise of Austria married Napoleon Bonaparte in 1810, forging an alliance meant to bring peace between France and Austria after years of war.
She was only 18 years old and had never met the famed general. Napoleon was rapidly building his empire and wanted an heir through marriage to solidify his dynasty. They did have a son together and their relationship was founded in state affairs rather than romance.
Arranged: Marie Antoinette & King Louis XVI
Fourteen-year-old Austrian archduchess Marie Antoinette was sent to France to marry teenager Louis-Auguste, the future King of France, as part of a powerful political alliance meant to heal years of hostile tensions between Austria and France.
Both were ill-equipped to handle the pressures of life at the lavish royal court of Versailles. Their awkward arranged relationship took seven years to consummate, which led to vicious speculation that ruined both their reputations long before the French Revolution.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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