HOW TO THINK ABOUT IT

The king and she. King Vajiralongkorn (pictured below) was quick to denounce his sister’s decision — ironically breaking custom himself by commenting on politics. Thailand's election commission is investigating whether her party should be dissolved, which could impact how Thai parties relate to royals in the future.

Anything for love. Last year Japan's Princess Ayako renounced her royal title so she could marry a commoner, Kei Moriya. Unlike male heirs, who've been able to marry whomever they like for three generations, the law required the 28-year-old to give up her imperial credentials. Her sister Noriko did the same — marrying an appropriately high-born man would mean marrying a blood relative — but their unmarried oldest sister remains an imperial princess. Meanwhile, Dutch Prince Johan Friso of Orange-Nassau married Mabel Wisse Smit in 2004 without parliamentary approval … in fact, they didn’t even ask for permission, owing to some of her admitted unsavory ties to a crime boss. That meant he was automatically disqualified from the line of succession.

Overstepping. As the first Black woman to marry into the modern British royal family, Meghan Markle is a rebellion in herself. But the American duchess’s loose attention to protocol has also drawn fire in the British press, whether it’s by closing her own car door or by clearly stating her opinions on women’s empowerment. To some, it’s reminiscent of the late Princess Diana’s focus on activism on behalf of children, landmine victims and HIV patients, which was often viewed through a political lens. Prince Charles himself is known for writing "black spider memos," letters secretly lobbying government ministers on public policy, a habit he promises to break should he become king.

Have you seen her? Emirati princess Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed al-Maktoum, whose father rules Dubai, caught the world's attention last year after news broke of her mysterious disappearance. The 33-year-old disappeared during what was thought to have been a long-planned escape attempt to live abroad, and released a video statement claiming she’d been imprisoned and tortured. Her family says she’s safe at home. Neighboring Saudi Arabia saw a similar case in 2014, when the late King Abdullah's daughters Jawaher, Sahar, Hala and Maha told a Russian network that they were living in captivity and running out of food and water. Princess Sahar explained they were being punished for being vocal about social causes and human rights.

WHAT TO READ

How a Princess Entered, Shook and Left Thai Politics in One Day, by Claudio Sopranzetti at Al Jazeera
"The princess's short-lived candidacy revealed a rift within Bangkok conservative elites, some of whom showed that their hate for the Shinawatras may be even stronger than their adulation for the royal family."

Royals’ Roles in Politics Vary, but Few Join Electoral Fray, by Elaine Kurtenbach in the Associated Press
"[Bhutan] transitioned from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy in 2008. The country’s fourth king introduced a concept of gross national happiness in the 1970s, embracing sustainable development, education and health over economic growth."

WHAT TO WATCH