A royal love story: India's first out gay prince and his American husband

Many of us, as children, often imagined royals as living happily ever after in a faraway castle.

For those of us who enjoyed shows and movies like The Crown, Versailles—and yes, even House of the Dragons—-we know that's not always the case.

But what of queer royals? History isn't littered with many; the ones that stand out are either mysteriously murdered or forced off their thrones (Edward II of England), having to contend with playing second fiddle to their older, seated sibling (Philippe d'Orleans, brother of Louis XIV of France), or having to hide their sexuality (Frederick the Great of Prussia, Isabella of Parma, William III of England—the list goes on and on).

Though there are writers who are creatively imagining what queer royal partners could look like, (looking at you, Red White & Royal Blue) there aren't great sources from history to help shape that framework.

Or so I thought.

They say love is blind, but for Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil and Prince DeAndre Richardson, love is visionary and revolutionary. Sitting across the screen from the first openly gay prince of India and his American husband, I felt the weight of their shared journey—a decade of love and resilience, breaking free from centuries of royal tradition.

A quick history lesson—I can finally put that royal history grad course to good use—His Royal Highness Prince Manvendra is a scion of the Gohil Rajput dynasty, rulers of the former Kingdom of Rajpipla on the Indian subcontinent. From approximately 1340 to 1948, his family governed a large swathe of land, witnessing the onset of the Mughals in the medieval period to British imperialism during the Victorian era. Though the family doesn't retain any political status, as with most former ruling princes of India, it nevertheless retains a prominent air in social circles and works on charitable endeavors.

Following a brief arranged marriage in the early 90s, Manvendra came out in an interview in 2005, which quickly caught the attention of the press, from Oprah Winfrey to BBC Television. Still, how does one navigate coming out in a royal family?

Prince Manvendra, calm and composed, responded with a mixture of history and societal hypocrisy—a cocktail of acceptance and resistance he's had to drink all his life. "Someone has to talk about it," he explained, referring to his landmark coming, which sparked nationwide and even international conversations. It was a bold move to lift the veil on a deeply entrenched issue in India, where homosexuality, despite a rich ancient history, has been veiled in stigma for centuries.

Prince DeAndre, born in Oregon and brought up far from any throne, joined the conversation with warmth and ease. Marrying into royalty meant assuming new responsibilities and navigating roles he hadn't foreseen. "There's no manual for a same-sex royal marriage," he quipped, a smile underscoring the enormity of what he and his husband have built together. Here was an unlikely pairing: a prince of an ancient Indian heritage and an American from the Pacific Northwest. Yet, as DeAndre put it, "Our differences are our strengths."

Their love wasn't just a personal revelation but a political statement. When they were married in 2013, India's laws still criminalized same-sex relationships. "In the eyes of the law, I was a criminal," Manvendra shared, the words piercing through the screen.

It was a stark reminder of the risks they took. Against cultural resistance, they faced private and public challenges, standing up as symbols of hope for LGBTQ+ individuals in India and abroad.

And in their unity, they found resistance.

Eleven years later, I wondered what lessons had they learned about each other. Manvendra responded quickly, reflecting on the importance of equality in their relationship. "For me, it was the value of love and equality…Coming from two different backgrounds, we survived the challenges we faced from the people around us."

DeAndre's voice chimed in resolutely. For him, the journey had been about finding "worthiness and resilience." Theirs is a love story that defies history, a journey of adapting to each other's cultures and embracing the pressures of princely duties. "It's the unexpected glue of our relationship," he explained. The marriage goes beyond shared spaces—it's a commitment to a shared world.

The royal couple's journey doesn't stop at personal revelations. In 2006, Prince Manvendra launched the Lakshya Trust, an organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ rights in India. "We envision a society free from stigma, where people of every background are empowered," His Highness says passionately. The Trust has grown into a beacon of hope, a symbol of change in a society that still grapples with accepting its queer citizens. Through Lashya, Manvendra's fight is personal and political. As the social and political climate evolves, he envisions a future where discrimination and stigma become relics of the past. It's a big vision but achievable for a man who has faced threats and ridicule for simply being himself.

Tenth-anniversary gifts are commonly said to be tin or aluminum. But for this princely couple, they decided on paper: in honor of their anniversary, they co-authored A Royal Commitment: Ten Years of Marriage and Activism, a memoir capturing their journey, each chapter marking each milestone year in their lives. The book began for DeAndre to bridge the physical distance they endured when a visa issue separated them. "We were still a world apart," DeAndre explained. "Writing the book felt like a way to mark the moment and honor the years we've spent together."

The memoir invites readers into the intimate, behind-the-scenes realities of navigating a (nonfictional) royal life as a same-sex couple. From covert glances to society's reluctance to see them as a couple, their journey reveals the gaps still present in India's—and the world's—tolerance for LGBTQ+ relationships. "Each year had its own challenges," Prince DeAndre shared, hinting at moments of heartbreak and triumph woven into their narrative.

Even as they celebrate eleven years together, challenges remain. Though filled with love and commitment, their marriage remains unrecognized in India. Manvendra recounted how society's rejection of their union was one of the most challenging aspects of their journey. "People saw us as criminals as if we were wrong for loving each other," he shared.

It was a reminder that acceptance, even in a post-decriminalized world, is far from universal.

But the challenges didn't just come from legal battles. Family and societal pressures added weight to their journey. While many close to them voiced support, they also faced hostility. Yet, as Prince Manvendra noted, "In times of difficulty, we also found unexpected allies within royal circles." The support from other royal families, some of whom openly championed their cause, was a testament to how solidarity within elite circles can serve as a bridge for broader acceptance.

The push for marriage equality resonates deeply with DeAndre, who is observing the shifting tides of LGBTQ+ rights back home. "As the election looms, so do questions about our rights," he reflects. The possibility of marriage equality being challenged in the U.S. underscores his commitment to advocating for the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals everywhere.

Meanwhile, India remains at a crossroads. Although its Supreme Court struck down laws criminalizing same-sex relationships, marriage equality remains elusive. "India's a young democracy," DeAndre points out. There's still so much potential, so much to fight for." Their advocacy, both together and individually, extends beyond borders and into the realm of dreams: that one day, every Indian citizen will be free to love and marry whomever they choose.

So what's next? As the couple continues to break boundaries, their dreams of a world where love isn't just accepted but celebrated slowly come to fruition. "The book is just the beginning," Prince Manvendra hints, sharing aspirations of reaching an even broader audience through translations and worldwide discussions. They want the world to understand their story and be inspired by the possibilities it opens for other couples. Prince DeAndre chimes in, envisioning another memoir in a decade. "We're writing our own history now. There's no guidebook, but that's what makes it so exciting."

In a world that often questions their love, they've become each other's sanctuary, a source of strength as they write their royal romance.

It's truly a love story for the ages. And though history rarely presents us with couples like Their Highnesses, we can all remember that we write our own futures as much as we read of the past. We create our own customs and traditions when the old ones don't suit our modern thinking.

And one day, we find our own happily ever after—either with a partner or ourselves, regardless of titles and tiaras.

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