Kings and queens usually go out in style—or at least that’s the myth. History has a wicked sense of humor, and not every royal got the grand farewell you’d expect. This article lists the strange, sloppy, and downright ridiculous ways some royals met their end.
King Alexander of Greece
While walking in the royal gardens in 1920, King Alexander’s dog got into a scuffle with a Barbary macaque. When Alexander intervened, a second monkey bit him. The wound became infected, and sepsis set in. Doctors couldn’t stop it. Within weeks, the 27-year-old king bid his farewell.
Crown Prince Sado of Korea
Sado’s fate is one of the darkest chapters in Korean royal history. Struggling with erratic behavior and accused of behavior outbursts, the prince’s father, King Yeongjo, ordered Sado into a wooden rice chest. The prince remained trapped inside without food or water for eight days before his last breath.
Emperor Qin Shi Huang of China
China’s first emperor conquered kingdoms and built monumental wonders, yet his search for eternal life led to a tragic miscalculation. Believing in alchemy, Qin Shi Huang regularly consumed mercury-based potions crafted by his advisors. Instead of granting immortality, the concoctions damaged his health.
King George II of Great Britain
George II’s curtain call happened during his usual morning routine. After enjoying a cup of hot chocolate, he headed to the royal privy and collapsed moments later. The cause was a burst artery near the heart. It was a quiet and decidedly unglamorous way for a monarch to go.
Czar Peter III of Russia
Peter III’s brief time as emperor came to an abrupt end. He was removed from power and taken to a country estate, where he found himself surrounded by men who no longer considered him royalty. Accounts say an argument spiraled out of control, and the scuffle left him lifeless.
King Béla I of Hungary
In 1063, Béla I of Hungary met an unfortunate end not on the battlefield but on the throne—literally. The hastily constructed wooden chair collapsed beneath him as he attempted to sit during a royal gathering. It was a humbling exit for a ruler once known for military skill and power.
Prince Philip of France
Prince Philip, just 15, was riding through the streets of Paris when a pig ran loose and startled his horse. After being thrown off balance, he fell and hit his head. Unfortunately, he didn’t recover. In response, laws banning pigs from roaming freely in the city were introduced.
King William II (William Rufus) of England
William Rufus went hunting and never returned. During the trip, an arrow pierced him—fired by nobleman Walter Tirel, who claimed it was a tragic mistake. But Tirel vanished soon after, and no investigation followed. William’s body was recovered by local peasants with no royal fanfare or tribute.
King Charles VIII of France
Charles VIII met his end doing something surprisingly mundane—walking through a hallway. In 1498, he was heading to watch a tennis match with his queen at the Château d’Amboise when he hit his head on a low doorframe. He appeared fine at first but collapsed later and never woke up.
King Henry I of England
Henry I had a soft spot for lampreys, those eel-like fish that were all the rage in medieval banquets. Against medical advice, he gorged on them during a visit to Normandy in 1135. The aftermath was brutal—he became ill and never recovered.
King Albert I of Belgium
In 1934, while on a solo climbing trip in the Ardennes, Albert I lost his footing and fell from a rocky cliff. Though physically fit and experienced in mountaineering, he didn’t survive the fall. The location and circumstances sparked speculation—some doubted whether it was an accident.
King Henry II of France
Jousting tournaments were meant to showcase royal strength, but for King Henry II, one turned fatal. In 1559, during celebrations for a royal wedding, he faced an experienced opponent. A splinter from the opponent’s lance broke off, pierced his helmet, and struck him behind the eye.
King Richard II of England
Once a child king, Richard II ended up completely isolated. After being deposed by his cousin, he was imprisoned in Pontefract Castle. Over time, food was reportedly withheld, and he faded away alone and powerless. Some believe he was deliberately neglected, while others think the situation unraveled through mismanagement.
King Umberto I of Italy
In 1900, Umberto I’s reputation among the working class had reached a boiling point. After a crackdown on labor protests in Milan left dozens dead, tensions soared. During a public appearance in Monza, a man approached him and delivered what looked like a handshake—but instead struck him repeatedly.
Princess Diana of Wales
Diana’s final journey through Paris became one of the most heartbreaking moments in royal history. In 1997, after leaving the Ritz Hotel, their driver rushed to avoid the aggressive crowd of photographers following behind. Inside the Pont de l’Alma tunnel, the car lost control and collided with a concrete pillar.