Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shocked the world when they announced they're turning their backs on royal life and quitting their senior duties.

Their historical decision - which they reportedly didn't consult the rest of The Firm on - has sent shockwaves through the Palace and resulted in a number of highly unusual statements.

But they are not the first Royals to make the radical decision to change their lives forever, and they could look to Sweden's Princess Madeleine as they start to plan their future.

The mum-of-three is the daughter of the King of Sweden King Carl XVI Gustaf and grew up third in line to the throne, under her older sister Crown Princess Victoria.

The sisters are two of the most stylish royals in Europe , but they lead very, very different lives after Madeleine stepped back from her duties to live in New York.

Princess Madeleine and Christopher O'Neill with their three children (
Image:
AFP/Getty Images)

She moved to America to mend a broken heart after breaking up with her lawyer fiance Jonas Bergström.

She started working for one of her mother Queen Silvia's charities and ended up falling in love with British-American financier Chris O’Neill who she met through a mutual friend.

So she decided to stay.

The couple married in Stockholm in 2013, with Prince Edward and his wife Sophie Wessex among the guests.

The reception was held at Drottningholm Palace, the royal family's private residence.

Princess Madeleine of Sweden attends the Nobel Prize Banquet 2015 (
Image:
Getty)

Despite Madeleine's position in the line of succession, O’Neill didn't get a title when he joined the family.

Speaking in an interview in 2018, he said: “I’ve met the woman of my life, the woman I love.

"But it is clear that it has its challenging sides to be married to a princess. Of course, it has complicated my life, for obvious reasons.”

The couple have since welcomed three children - Leonore, Nicolas and Adrienne

The family have lived outside of Sweden for nine of the past 10 years, but return home for important royal events.

Madeleine and Chris on their wedding day (
Image:
Getty)

She's given a number of magazine interviews and is a regular on social media, sharing sweet photos of her day-to-day life, work and family.

Her page is far more personal than any members of the British Royal Family, featuring holiday snaps and private family photos alongside cute captions.

Last year King Carl XVI Gustaf stripped Madeleine's three children and two of their cousins of their HRH titles in a bid to slim down their Royal Family - not too dissimilar from Prince Charles's vision for the British family.

This means they will no longer perform any royal duties and will not get any taxpayer money.

She's one of the most stylist royals in Europe with an incredible wardrobe (
Image:
Getty)

Their titles - which they shall retain - will not be passed on to their future spouses or children. They themselves are still in the line of succession to the Swedish throne.

The Deputy Marshal of the Realm, Fredrik Wersäll, gave a press conference and said the whole royal family had been involved in the decision.

Debate about the issue has been ongoing for several years and it's believed the desire was to provide a a better idea of the future roles of the children of the two younger children of the king.

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Image:
Instagram)

Madeleine took to Instagram as the announcement was made, explaining her thoughts on the decision.

Alongside a gorgeous family photo, she wrote: "This change has been planned for a long time.

"Chris and I think it is good that our children now have a greater opportunity to shape their own lives in the future as individuals."

In a statement from Fredrik Wersäll, the royal house said: "His Majesty The King has decided on changes to The Royal House. The purpose of these changes is to establish which members of The Royal Family may be expected to perform official duties incumbent on the Head of State or related to the function of the Head of State.

"His Majesty The King has decided that the children of Their Royal Highnesses Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia, and the children of Her Royal Highness Princess Madeleine and Mr Christopher O'Neill will no longer be members of The Royal House."