The Most Expensive Divorces In Royal Families, Ranked

Highlights

• Costly royal divorces are marked by extravagant financial agreements, conflicts over titles, and scandalous news stories.
• Princess Diana walked away with $22.5 million, a residence, and exclusive amenities, but had to relinquish her title and the right to be called Princess of Wales.
• Princess Haya sought staggering sums like $100 million per annum, but the exact outcome of her divorce from Sheikh Mohammed remains undisclosed.

Divorce is a universally challenging aspect of married life – however, when it involves royal households, it turns into a very complicated and astronomically expensive matter. These famous separations have been marked by extravagant financial agreements, conflicts over titles, and an array of scandalous news stories, and in this article, we'll examine the most costly divorces in royal history.

9 Princess Diana And Prince Charles

One cannot mention costly royal divorces without referring to Princess Diana and Prince Charles, whose separation in 1992 culminated in an official divorce four years later. After three grueling years of negotiations, Diana walked away with an astonishing $22.5 million cash settlement, along with an annual payment of $600,000 for life.

She retained ownership over her residence at Kensington Palace, her treasured jewelry collection, and continued access to exclusive amenities like royal jets. Nonetheless, this financial triumph came at a price - relinquishing her title of Her Royal Highness and forfeiting the right to be called Princess of Wales.

8 Princess Caroline And Prince Ernst August

Princess Caroline of Monaco's marriage to Prince Ernst August ended up being another expensive split, when their relationship fell apart after ten tumultuous years together. Although reports suggest they had a prenuptial agreement granting Caroline an $85 million settlement if they divorced after five years, specifics around the actual amount remained undisclosed due to a protracted legal battle that reached its conclusion relatively recently – in 2020, more than a decade after their initial separation.

Despite everything else crumbling around them during this process; one thing remains consistent. Caroline retains her title as Her Royal Highness Princess of Hanover.

7 Sarah Ferguson And Prince Andrew

When Sarah Ferguson (or Fergie, as she's commonly known) married Prince Andrew, the Duke of York in 1986, little did she know that their union would later become synonymous with scandal. Their divorce in 1996 was marked by Fergie's infamous toe-sucking incident (involving her financial advisor), adding even more fuel to the media frenzy surrounding their separation.

Despite the controversies surrounding their divorce, Fergie received a relatively modest settlement of $3 million, along with an annual stipend of $20,000 for living expenses. She maintained her title as Her Royal Highness The Duchess of York; the only difference being that "Her" was dropped from her official address after the split.

6 Princess Haya And Sheikh Mohammed

Among recent high-profile royal divorces is that between Princess Haya bint Al Hussein from Jordan, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum - ruler of Dubai and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates. Marrying in 2004, the royal couple had two children together before things took a turn for worse – allegations regarding abuse and intimidation within this union emerged, leading up to it unraveling completely when Haya fled to London in 2019 seeking refuge.

This divorce captivated public attention globally, primarily due to its highly contentious nature – spanning over two years and wrapped within shrouded secrecy. Although exact figures haven't been publicly declared, reports suggest Haya initially sought staggering sums like $100 million per annum – for herself, as well as for their two children.

While the outcome remains undisclosed, one can confirm another fact – that there has been no change to Haya’s grandeur, including her steadfast retention of her existing title of Her Royal Highness (which will be retained in perpetuity).

5 Princess Anne And Mark Phillips

Even those close to the upper echelons of British monarchy haven't been immune to marital strife; a case in point is Princess Anne and Mark Phillips, whose divorce was finalized in 1992 (and involved allegations of a child fathered outside the marriage). Records show that this dissolution came with a tidy compensation package for the princess, valuing her settlement at $2 million.

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Moreover, monthly payments totaling a quarter-million dollars for their child's care alone were granted to Princess Anne, and Her Royal Highness retained her title in the split.

4 Prince Joachim And Alexandra Manley

In 2004, the Danish royal family was thrown for a loop when they learned the heartbreaking news that Prince Joachim (the sprightly and youngest son of Queen Margrethe) and his Hong Kong-born wife Princess Alexandra were calling it quits. It was a revelation that rocked the monarchy to its core.

Their shocking divorce not only shattered their own dreams but also broke a historic dry spell for Denmark's royal lineage. The last time such palace drama unfolded was way back in ancient times (1846 to be precise).

While official sources stayed mum about why this once-perfect couple called it quits, media whispers suggested that Prince Joachim's wild party lifestyle and occasional social missteps created insurmountable rifts between him and his beloved Alexandra. Despite all the heartache, this photogenic princess managed to hold her head high while retaining her esteemed royal title – no small feat.

Alexandra even received a bountiful allowance granted by none other than the Danish parliament themselves — amounting to a cool US $330,000 per year (until she remarried in 2007).

3 King Leka And Susan Cullen-Ward

King Leka and Susan Cullen-Ward never got formally divorced, but always had a troubled life. They got married in 1975 in France after meeting in the late 1960s in Sydney – where Leka was an exiled claimant to the Albanian throne, and Susan was a sheep farmer’s daughter and art teacher.

It seemed like life was finally looking up for this unconventional couple, but trouble soon surfaced when Leka faced expulsion from Spain due to his alleged involvement in illicit arms dealings. Forced to flee, they sought shelter in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), only to be met with heartbreak as they lost their precious daughter during childbirth – a devastating blow.

Ruling and the Albanian throne were never far from their thoughts, and thus began an arduous mission to reclaim what they believed was rightfully theirs. Face-to-face with communist opposition, King Leka and Susan's dreams initially were at odds with what were functionally immovable walls.

Later on, democratic governance posed its own set of challenges. Susan was provided a generous allowance by the Australian government, which gave her the title of "Queen Susan" on her passport.

Nobody knows how much money she received in the split (as it was kept a secret), but according to reports, she lived lavishly. Lung cancer claimed Susan's life in 2004, which ultimately led to the end of their marriage.

2 King Juan Carlos And Queen Sofia

The turbulent tale of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia's nearly six-decade marriage is riddled with rumors of unfaithfulness, scandal, and detachment. These former rulers, who ascended to power in 1975 following the death of dictator Francisco Franco, led separate lives for years without officially severing their marital ties.

Nevertheless, August 2020 brought a stunning announcement from King Juan Carlos, as he revealed his plans for self-imposed exile amidst allegations of financial impropriety involving former flame Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein. As whispers swirled around the unprecedented development, speculation ran wild about a potential end to their matrimonial charade.

Spanish law mandates that any royal divorce would necessitate parliamentary approval and the consent of the current king — Felipe VI — the son born out their decades-long union. This bureaucratic process would also involve an intricate division of assets and titles, while profoundly impacting both succession lines – and potentially tarnishing the monarchy's public image.

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Unverified reports contend that Queen Sofia continues to cling onto her marriage due to religious convictions; she holds steadfastly to her faith as a devout Orthodox Christian. On the other hand, some claim that she's biding her time until her husband's demise before initiating proceedings — seeking greater access to his vast wealth.

Exact figures regarding what portion of that fortune Queen Sofia might receive following a hypothetical split remains cloaked in mystery; estimates place King Juan Carlos' net worth at an astounding $2.3 billion. Other rumors claimed he bestowed an extravagant gift totaling $72 million back upon her in 2012 — a sum allegedly smuggled from his clandestine Swiss bank account.

Both parties swiftly denied such claims, casting them aside like discarded confetti. Meanwhile, Queen Sofia secures personal income through investments, alongside serving as a revered benefactor for numerous charitable and cultural institutions. Throughout the tumultuous royal saga, she garnered widespread respect and admiration from her Spanish subjects – solely for her unwavering dedication, both to philanthropy and preserving a regal composure amid the chaos.

1 Princess Märtha Louise And Ari Behn

Princess Märtha Louise, Norway's fourth-in-line to the throne, made a shocking announcement in August 2016 – her marriage of 14 years with acclaimed writer Ari Behn had come to an end. Despite their sincere efforts to salvage their union, fate pulled them apart, making it impossible for them to forge ahead together.

Their anguish stemmed not only from the disintegration of their romantic bond, but also from a profound guilt over failing to provide a sturdy sanctuary for their cherished children Maud Angelica, Leah Isadora, and Emma Tallulah. In 2017, after traversing the tumultuous path of divorce, Princess Märtha Louise obtained joint custody of her beloved daughters.

Norwegian media outlets disclosed that as part of the settlement between her and Ari Behn, she received a staggering sum of 25 million Norwegian kroner (equivalent to approximately $2.9 million). This financial package amounted to half his fortune during those turbulent times.

While retaining the exalted title bestowed upon her by King Harald on her momentous wedding day in 2002 – Her Royal Highness – Princess Märtha Louise decided against exploiting this honor for personal gain through commercial endeavors. Instead, she went on an extraordinary journey toward becoming a therapist and alternative healer.

Meanwhile, Ari Behn pressed forward and continued pursuing his passions unabated — writing insightful literary works intertwined with awe-inspiring brushstrokes on canvas. Behn's work pressed forward until tragedy struck in December 2019, when he succumbed to despair and took his own life, leaving a void in the artistic world.

Overall, divorces within a royal family present a special combination of challenges - involving riches, legal intricacies, and public intrigue. These well-known separations exemplify the particular difficulties experienced by royals when their marriages fall apart.

We can consider Princess Diana and Prince Charles as an archetype here; their divorce involved enormous financial arrangements (and Diana surrendering her royal status), demonstrating the complex nature of royal breakups. Likewise, the divorce of Princess Haya and Sheikh Mohammed, which was marked by accusations and courtroom spectacle, attracted worldwide interest.

Even the British royal family, known for its long-standing customs and stability, has experienced its share of divorces, like that of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips. These high profile splits remind us that despite their majestic image, royals endure the same challenges and difficulties as ordinary individuals, and are in no way immune from the complex dynamics of love, heartbreak, and scandal.

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