[em500]

Not that I have any direct knowledge, but I think a real king (either medieval or modern day) has a huge number of constraints on life opportunities. They have a lot of nominal wealth, but probably also too many obligations and duties (real or perceived) to just say, the heck with it, I'm going to be a full time traveling musician or rock climber or some such.

[walthamstow]

We've seen this recently in British and Japanese royal families. Some people just don't want it, and to get a normal life they have to leave the monarchy.

[pjc50]

This is reminding me of folk tales where the king, prince or princess disguises themselves and goes among the commoners, but I can't name a definite example of the trope at the moment.

[IAmBroom]

The Prince and the Pauper is the classic Western version.

[cyberlimerence]

I think there are multiple versions of this. One example is Gråkappan.[1] It was mentioned in the Severence series, funnily enough.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_XI_of_Sweden#Greycoat

[bmn__]

https://allthetropes.org/wiki/King_Incognito

[samlinnfer]

Kangxi emperor being disguised as a commoner in some kind of undercover boss scenario is a common trope.

[jimbokun]

Clark Kent.

[0cf8612b2e1e]

Aladdin