© NL Beeld

Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret -

One of the most famous escapes was pulled off by Queen Elizabeth and her sister Margaret in 1945. 

© Getty Images 

Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret -

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. 

© Getty Images 

Princess Diana's night out -

The tabloids loved to follow Princess Diana's every move, so it took some serious planning to escape for a night out.

© Getty Images 

Princess Diana's 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.

© Getty Images 

Princess Diana's night out -

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! 

© Getty Images 

Family outings -

The late Princess also took her sons Prince William and Prince Harry out on secret adventures to give them a taste of normal life. 

© Getty Images 

Family outings -

Prince William says his fondest memories of her are the times she would sneak them out to go to McDonalds or the movies. 

© Getty Images 

Prince Harry's "Winston" - Prince Harry learned his own tricks once he grew up. It's reported that he goes out disguised as a character he calls Winston.

© Reuters

Prince Harry's "Winston" - He dressed up in strange outfits to make himself less recognizable. On one occasion he was spotted wearing a Rastafarian-style wig, but those days seem to be behind him!

© Reuters

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle -

Now Harry and Meghan reportedly dress down in very casual clothes and sunglasses to avoid detection when they want to visit the supermarket. 

© Getty Images 

Meghan Markle -

Meghan Markle sometimes goes out for pilates classes and simply hides her hair under a hood or a hat. 

© NL Beeld

Prince William and Kate -

Prince William and Kate also have their little escapes, despite being the model royal couple! 

© Getty Images

Prince William and Kate - On one occasion they allegedly snuck out to see the Cirque du Soleil show in London.

© Getty Images

Nipping out for a pint -

Apparently they also like to sneak out for a drink in their local pub or a visit to their local movie theater.

© Getty Images 

"The hitchhiker, the motorcycle, and me" -

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. 

© Getty Images 

"The hitchhiker, the motorcycle, and me" -

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. 

© Getty Images 

The big reveal -

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! 

© Getty Images 

King Willem-Alexander - When he was 19 years old, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands took on a fake name (W.A. van Buren) to enter a famous ice-skating race.

© Getty Images

The Elfstedentocht -

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.) 

© Getty Images 

New York City Marathon -

In 1992, he also ran the New York City Marathon under a fake name! 

© Getty Images 

King Henry VIII -

Even centuries earlier when royals were far less recognizable to their people, King Henry VIII used to sneak out in disguise. 

© Getty Images 

King Henry VIII -

It's said that he would walk through the city at night to ensure the guards were doing their jobs properly. 

© Getty Images 

Locked up -

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. 

© Shutterstock 

Visiting Anne of Cleeves -

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. 

© Getty Images 

Cleopatra and Mark Anthony -

Empress Cleopatra had a notoriously unconventional romance with the Roman general Mark Anthony.

© Getty Images 

Cleopatra and 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.

© Getty Images

Peter the Great -

Peter the Great of Russia was another ruler who like to disguise himself and walk among his people. 

© Getty Images 

Peter the Carpenter -

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. 

© Getty Images 

Peter the Carpenter -

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)

See also: The extravagant spending of royals around the world

© Getty Images