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.

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.

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.

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."

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).

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.

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).