British Monarchs Who Actually Despised Being Royal

Royal life looks glamorous on the surface—palaces, crowns, and adoring crowds. However, behind the grand ceremonies and public image, not every British monarch enjoyed their role. In fact, several openly resented the throne, feeling trapped by the very institution that defined their lives. Whether they were reluctant rulers, traumatised by duty, or simply longed for a quieter existence, here are the monarchs who, at one time or another, would’ve happily traded crowns for freedom.

Edward VIII (Later Duke of Windsor)

Edward VIII is perhaps the most famous example of a monarch who actively rejected the crown. Less than a year into his reign, he abdicated in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcée considered unacceptable as a queen by both the Church of England and the government.

Edward had never seemed particularly suited to royal life. He disliked court protocol, found the responsibilities dull, and had little patience for tradition. In a BBC article, historians noted his detachment from government and policy. After the abdication, he admitted that he never wanted to be king, calling it a burden. He lived the rest of his life in relative exile, more at ease in Parisian society than Buckingham Palace.

George IV

George IV, who reigned from 1820 to 1830, had a well-documented disdain for his royal duties. Even before becoming king, as Prince Regent during his father’s mental decline, he earned a reputation for extravagant spending and a distaste for responsibility. He once called his own coronation “a boring farce” and referred to governance as “a wretched business.”

He was often described as vain, flamboyant, and prone to indulgence, preferring lavish parties and art collecting to statecraft. His health deteriorated rapidly from years of overindulgence, and by the time he was king, he spent much of his reign avoiding public appearances and complaining about the burden of monarchy.

Queen Victoria (in her early years)

It might surprise some to see Queen Victoria on this list, given her reputation as a deeply committed monarch. But in her early years, she didn’t embrace the role as readily as history might suggest. When she became queen at just 18, she was sheltered and unprepared.

In her journals, now available through the Royal Archives, she expressed fear and anxiety over her new responsibilities. She struggled with court intrigue and was overwhelmed by the constant demands of the crown. Though she eventually grew into the role and became an enduring symbol of the era, the transition was anything but smooth.

Henry VI

Henry VI ascended the throne as a baby and spent much of his reign caught between rival factions during the Wars of the Roses. Deeply religious and passive by nature, he lacked the assertiveness expected of a medieval monarch and often retreated from court politics.

He was known for long periods of withdrawal, including episodes that may have been catatonic or linked to mental illness. Henry reportedly preferred praying and reading scripture to leading armies or issuing edicts. For much of his life, it appeared he would have been far happier in a monastery than on a throne.

Richard II

Though he relished the ceremony of monarchy, Richard II’s reign was marred by his inability to rule effectively. He craved authority but seemed to loathe the practical aspects of governance—negotiation, diplomacy, compromise. After facing rebellions and political opposition, he grew increasingly erratic.

Richard began to view kingship as a divine right, detached from obligation to his people. His later years were marked by paranoia, revenge politics, and eventual deposition. Contemporary chroniclers described a man more obsessed with image than action, possibly overwhelmed by the expectations of his title.

James II

James II didn’t so much despise the role of monarch as find himself completely ill-suited to the political reality of being one. His open Catholicism in a fiercely Protestant country made his rule a constant battleground. He was stubborn, tone-deaf to political tensions, and often bewildered by the reaction to his decisions.

When he was deposed during the Glorious Revolution of 1688, he fled to France and never returned. In exile, he lived as a kind of shadow king, supported by Louis XIV but stripped of any real power. Letters from his time abroad reveal a man confused and frustrated, unable to grasp why his subjects had rejected him.

Mary, Queen of Scots (as Queen of France)

Though technically a Scottish monarch, Mary spent her teenage years in the French court and briefly became Queen Consort of France. She was deeply unhappy in this role, particularly after the death of her husband, King Francis II. Isolated, grief-stricken, and surrounded by intrigue, she longed to return to Scotland.

When she did, she found that royal life in Scotland was no easier. Mary often found herself at odds with Protestant reformers and her own nobles. Her letters and poetry, including the famous “Casket Letters,” reflect a profound weariness with court life and the expectations that came with her status.

George III (later years)

While George III is known for his long and at times stable reign, his later years were plagued by mental illness, likely porphyria or bipolar disorder. During these periods of illness, he was confined and often unaware of his royal surroundings. Though he didn’t hate the monarchy in the traditional sense, it’s clear that his role became a source of immense distress.

His outbursts, hallucinations and erratic behaviour meant that by 1810, his son was appointed as Prince Regent. George III lived the rest of his life in seclusion at Windsor Castle, effectively sidelined from the crown he had once held with conviction.

Elizabeth I (briefly)

Elizabeth I is remembered as one of Britain’s most formidable monarchs, but she hesitated before accepting the crown. After the tumultuous reigns of her father (Henry VIII), brother (Edward VI), and sister (Mary I), she knew the dangers of power all too well. Her childhood was full of suspicion, near-executions, and political manoeuvring.

When she became queen, she is reported to have said, “This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes,” but in private, she was reportedly fearful and reluctant. Her refusal to marry or name an heir is often interpreted as a way to maintain control over her own destiny, rather than surrendering it to the rigid demands of royal succession.

Royalty often looks enviable from the outside, but for many monarchs, the crown has felt like a cage. Whether it was the burden of expectation, the limitations on personal freedom, or the constant pressure of public scrutiny, these rulers remind us that monarchy isn’t all grandeur and ease. And sometimes, even the most gilded of thrones can feel like a prison.

If you’re interested in more behind-the-scenes glimpses of royal life, the Royal Collection Trust offers extensive archives, artefacts, and records from centuries of monarchy, warts and all.