10 Heartbreaking Royal Family Tragedies (Part 1)

The British royal family is one of the most fascinating and sophisticated individuals in the world. The world’s most popular royals have not only enjoyed glamor and festivities throughout the years; they have also survived scandals and moved on from deaths and heartbreaking tragedies. Below are some of the most tragic deaths that the royal family has endured over the years.

1. Princess Diana died at the age of 36

Perhaps the most known modern tragedy involving the royal family is the death of Princess Diana. Called by millions as the “queen of people’s hearts,” she was the first one to have broken barriers between the royal family and the public.

The princess died in a horrific car crash in Paris in August of 1997. The princess and her boyfriend, Dodi Fayed, died instantly when the high-speed Mercedes S-280 they were traveling in crashed into a pillar in a tunnel under the Alma Bridge.

2. Prince William and Kate Middleton were blamed for the tragic death of nurse Jacintha Saldanha

Two Australian DJs called a nurse in King Edward VII’s Hospital in London and pranked her by pretending to be the Queen and Prince Charles. The aim was to get information regarding Kate Middleton’s pregnancy, who was then admitted at the hospital for severe morning sickness. The call was answered by nurse Jacintha Saldanha, who transferred the call to the nurse in charge of Kate.

The nurse in charge gave away information, which was broadcasted in one radio station. It is public knowledge that information such as the baby’s gender and other details about the royal pregnancy must remain a secret until the Queen is first told.

Three days after the prank, Saldanha was found hanging in one of the quarters of King Edward VII’s Hospital. Somehow Kate was blamed for the nurse’s death. Vocalist of the rock band Smith, Morissey, who apparently has a medical degree, was quite vocal about his opinion on the incident.

“She feels no shame about the death of this woman, she's saying nothing about the death of this poor woman,” he said.

3. Her Majesty’s father, King George VI, died at the age of 56

Queen Elizabeth II has been in reign for 65 years already and holds the title of the world’s longest-reigning monarch. She became queen when her father, King George VI, died at the age of 56. The King has suffered from different illnesses, including a developing lung cancer, and died in his sleep from a coronary thrombosis.

4. Mark Shand, the Duchess of Cornwall’s younger brother, died outside of a hotel in New York

While Shand is not a member of the royal family, he is directly related to Camilla Parker Bowles. The duchess’ younger brother was in New York for the The Elephant Trust charity as a host. In one of the after-parties, Shand fell off, hit his head and died instantly due to his unusually thin skull.

5. Lord Louis Mountboutten died from a terrorist attack

King Philip’s uncle, Lord Louis Mountboutten, was on a vacation at Classiebawn Castle in Ireland when he was attacked by terrorists. The boat he was riding, along with grandson Nicholas Knatchbull and five others, exploded resulting to his death. Lord Mountbatten was a father figure to Prince Charles.

Read “10 Heartbreaking Royal Family Tragedies Part 2” here.