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Royal life is a bit like being in a very fancy and luxurious prison. There are strict schedules, strict dress codes, strict standards of behavior, and constant supervision. It's no surprise that they want to break out sometimes and let loose, or just go to the supermarket without an armed escort.
Kings, queens, princes, and princesses have been venturing out incognito since medieval times and the current royals are still doing it today! Click through the gallery to find out how and why these noble prisoners have snuck out.
One of the most famous escapes was pulled off by Queen Elizabeth and her sister Margaret in 1945.
On VE day the whole country was celebrating the end of WWII in Europe and there were huge crowds outside Buckingham Palace. Elizabeth and Margaret snuck out to join them and partied the night away. They even danced in a conga line unnoticed.
The tabloids loved to follow Princess Diana's every move, so it took some serious planning to escape for a night out.
One evening she was enjoying a small gathering at a friend's house with Freddie Mercury and the comedian Kenny Everett. They were planning to go to a famous gay bar, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, and Diana wanted to join them.
She borrowed clothes from Everett and went out wearing a camouflage jacket, a leather cap, and aviator sunglasses. Diana successfully got into the bar and ordered drinks without being recognized!
The late Princess also took her sons Prince William and Prince Harry out on secret adventures to give them a taste of normal life.
Prince William says his fondest memories of her are the times she would sneak them out to go to McDonalds or the movies.
Now Harry and Meghan reportedly dress down in very casual clothes and sunglasses to avoid detection when they want to visit the supermarket.
Meghan Markle sometimes goes out for pilates classes and simply hides her hair under a hood or a hat.
Prince William and Kate also have their little escapes, despite being the model royal couple!
Apparently they also like to sneak out for a drink in their local pub or a visit to their local movie theater.
The former king of Spain, Juan Carlos I, is a motorcycle enthusiast and used to escape the confines of royal life by taking his bike out for a ride.
On one occasion, he spotted a hitchhiker on the side of the road and stopped to help. The man had run out of gas and was stranded so Juan Carlos gave him a ride to the gas station.
The man insisted on knowing his name so he could thank him properly. Juan Carlos I finally removed his helmet so the man could see his face. Needless to say, he was speechless to see that his savior was the King!
The Elfstedentocht is like the Tour de France of ice-skating! Participants skate on a frozen canal between 11 different cities, traveling 124 miles (200 km.)
In 1992, he also ran the New York City Marathon under a fake name!
Even centuries earlier when royals were far less recognizable to their people, King Henry VIII used to sneak out in disguise.
It's said that he would walk through the city at night to ensure the guards were doing their jobs properly.
One guard found him suspicious and actually arrested the King and put him in jail for the night! Rather than having the guard executed, as you might expect, King Henry congratulated him for his good work.
King Henry also once disguised himself and went to visit his love, Anne of Cleeves, hoping that her heart would recognize his. Apparently, it didn't.
Empress Cleopatra had a notoriously unconventional romance with the Roman general Mark Anthony.
Cleopatra would dress up as a maid and Mark Anthony as a slave. The couple walked through the streets joking and interacting with the locals.
Peter the Great of Russia was another ruler who like to disguise himself and walk among his people.
It's said that Peter disguised himself as a carpenter and hid among his men when they departed on a diplomatic mission to Europe called the Grand Embassy.
He would switch between Peter the Great, negotiating with foreign rulers, and Peter the Carpenter, meeting the local common people. Unfortunately his disguise often failed, as he was famously 6 foot 7 inches (2 meters) tall.
Sources: (Ranker) (Latin Times) (Dutch Review)
Times the royals secretly snuck out to do normal things
Imagine putting on a disguise just to go to the pub!
CELEBRITY Royalty
Royal life is a bit like being in a very fancy and luxurious prison. There are strict schedules, strict dress codes, strict standards of behavior, and constant supervision. It's no surprise that they want to break out sometimes and let loose, or just go to the supermarket without an armed escort.
Kings, queens, princes, and princesses have been venturing out incognito since medieval times and the current royals are still doing it today! Click through the gallery to find out how and why these noble prisoners have snuck out.