5 Royal Divorces That Changed The Monarchy Forever—And The Shocking New Engagement Of 2025
The British Royal Family’s relationship with divorce has undergone a truly revolutionary transformation, moving from an unthinkable scandal that once toppled a King to an accepted, albeit regrettable, reality of modern life. As of December 2025, the monarchy continues to navigate the complexities of personal relationships under intense public scrutiny, most recently highlighted by the engagement of Queen Elizabeth II's eldest grandson, Peter Phillips, who is set to remarry following his 2021 divorce.
This seismic shift reflects a monarchy striving to remain relevant in the 21st century, where personal happiness often trumps centuries of rigid tradition. The stories of royal splits—from the tumultuous 1990s to the quiet, dignified separations of today—reveal a family that is, at its core, grappling with the same marital challenges as the public it serves, albeit with the added weight of constitutional and historical expectation.
The New Normal: Peter Phillips’ Recent Engagement and the Modern Royal Split
The most recent significant marital event in the extended Royal Family is the quiet, modern approach taken by Peter Phillips, the son of Princess Anne. His separation and subsequent engagement perfectly illustrate the monarchy's current, pragmatic stance on divorce and remarriage.
Peter Phillips and his former wife, Canadian management consultant Autumn Kelly, announced their separation in 2020. The couple, who married at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in 2008, finalized their divorce in 2021 after 13 years of marriage.
- Couple: Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly (née Autumn Patricia Kelly)
- Separation Announced: 2020
- Divorce Finalized: 2021
- Children: Two daughters, Savannah and Isla.
- Significance: The divorce was handled privately and amicably, emphasizing the co-parenting of their children, setting a new, less dramatic precedent for royal separation settlements.
In a further sign of the times, Peter Phillips announced his engagement to NHS nurse and single mother Harriet Sperling in 2024, with the marriage anticipated in 2025. The announcement, made four years after his divorce was finalized, was met with public well-wishes rather than scandal, confirming that the taboo surrounding remarriage after a royal divorce has completely dissolved. Sperling, a specialist paediatric nurse, represents a distinctly non-aristocratic choice, highlighting the family's focus on personal connection over noble lineage.
The Trio of Divorces: The Tumultuous 1990s and Queen Elizabeth II’s Children
The 1990s, famously dubbed the "annus horribilis" by Queen Elizabeth II, saw three of her four children divorce their spouses. This unprecedented period of royal splits shattered the illusion of the fairy-tale royal marriage and forced the institution to confront the reality of high-profile separation.
The sheer volume of divorces within the immediate family—Prince Charles, Princess Anne, and Prince Andrew—created a media frenzy and led to intense public debate about the stability and future of the monarchy.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana: The Defining Royal Divorce
The separation and subsequent divorce of the then-Prince Charles and Princess Diana remains the most culturally significant royal split of the modern era. Their separation in 1992 and divorce in 1996 was a global spectacle, marked by tell-all interviews, intense media scrutiny, and public sympathy overwhelmingly leaning towards Diana, the 'People's Princess'.
- Couple: Prince Charles (now King Charles III) and Princess Diana
- Separation: 1992
- Divorce Finalized: 1996
- Impact: The divorce led to a significant public relations crisis for the monarchy and paved the way for Charles' eventual marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles, a divorced woman, which was an unthinkable concept just decades earlier.
Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips
Princess Anne was the first of the Queen's children to divorce. Her marriage to Captain Mark Phillips ended in 1992, following their official separation in 1989. Anne quickly remarried Commander Timothy Laurence later that same year, demonstrating a shift toward a more relaxed approach to remarriage within the Church of England, which traditionally discouraged it.
Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson
The Duke and Duchess of York, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson ("Fergie"), separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996. Their marriage was characterized by public appearances and a seemingly modern approach, but the separation was accompanied by media scandals involving the Duchess. Despite the divorce, the couple maintained a famously close relationship, even living together at Royal Lodge years later, creating an unusual but stable co-parenting unit for their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
From Scandal to Acceptance: The Historical Shift in Royal Divorce
The modern era of royal divorce stands in stark contrast to the historical precedent, where separation was a constitutional and religious crisis. The journey from absolute taboo to quiet acceptance is the greatest story of evolution within the House of Windsor.
Princess Margaret: The Pioneer of Royal Divorce
Queen Elizabeth II's sister, Princess Margaret, became the first senior member of the Royal Family to divorce in 77 years when she separated from Antony Armstrong-Jones, the Earl of Snowdon, in 1978. Her decision, though preceded by a long separation, was a pivotal moment. It signaled that even high-ranking royals were no longer immune to marital breakdown and that the Church of England’s strict stance was beginning to soften under the pressure of modern life.
The Abdication Crisis: The Ultimate Divorce Taboo
The most consequential historical event tied to divorce is, of course, the Abdication Crisis of 1936. King Edward VIII chose to abdicate the throne to marry American socialite Wallis Simpson. Simpson was a twice-divorced woman, and the British establishment, the Church of England, and the government considered marriage to a divorced person—especially one with two living ex-husbands—to be constitutionally impossible for the head of the Church. Edward’s choice underscored the severity of the taboo, a rule that would take over 60 years to truly dismantle.
Today, the monarchy's approach is defined by discretion and a focus on minimizing public drama. While rumors continue to swirl—such as the persistent, though dismissed, media speculation surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's marriage in 2024—the institution now prioritizes the well-being of the children and the continuity of the line over maintaining a façade of marital perfection. The acceptance of divorce, and subsequent remarriage, is perhaps the clearest sign that the Royal Family has completed its transition from a semi-divine institution to a family operating within the norms of contemporary British society.
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