19. The Royal Marriages Act and Broken Hearts
The Royal Marriages Act of 1772 imposed strict rules on whom members of the royal family could marry, requiring the sovereign’s consent for any union. This law led to personal heartbreak and public scandal, most famously in the case of George IV and Maria Fitzherbert, whose secret marriage was deemed invalid. The Act created decades of political drama and emotional turmoil for royals torn between duty and love.
