If The Crown Fits: Stunning Royal Women
Kate Middleton may have made headlines as the hottest commoner to become a member of England's royal family, but all over the world there are other beautiful crowned women who go largely unacknowledged. Style, poise and impeccable taste in fashion set these ladies apart -- jewels or no jewels on their heads.
Others on this list are known for exactly the opposite of Kate's class and elegance... some of these royal women have indulged in pretty salacious behavior! Just because Kate might be more famous doesn't mean she's the most scandalous or controversial.
Princess Beatrice of York
Princess Beatrice is the older sister of Princess Eugenie. As the first-born to the Duke and Duchess of York, she is seventh in line to succeed current Queen Elizabeth II, her grandmother. She regularly attends royal events, even though she is not a working member of the Royal Family and therefore does not receive a royal salary.
But she still represents her family well in the various causes she supports, even being the first member of the Royal Family to run in the London Marathon when she raised money for Children in Crisis.
Myra Madihah Of Malaysia
Tunku Myra is the princess of Malaysia, and the royal daughter of Besar Kecil of Negeri. She has been married to her husband Iskandar Jaafar-Greaves for 10 years. She has a master's degree in real estate development and investments and also owns an events management company.
One of her best friends is Ruthlene Abu Sahid, whose father is a prominent businessman, Tan Sri Abu Sahid. Together they share electric energy and are quite popular as a result.
Mary, Crown Princess Of Denmark
Mary of Denmark is the wife of Prince Frederik, who is the heir apparent to the throne. An Australia native, Mary met her husband in a Sydney pub, and became the original "fairytale" romance, before Kate Middleton. She worked in advertising before becoming a sales director for a luxury real estate firm.
If Frederik succeeds the throne, Mary will become the Queen of Denmark. The royal couple now has four children together.
Princess Claire Of Belgium
In 2003, Princess Claire married the Crown Prince of Belgium, Laurent and they now have three children together. Claire was born in England and moved to live in Belgium when she was three years old. Her father was born in Britain and her mother is Belgian.
Prior to her marriage, she was a land surveyor. These days, she is frequently seen accompanying her husband to charity events for environmental and animal causes.
Zara Of The UK
Zara Tindall is the second oldest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth and is married to a former rugby player, Mike Tindall. She is a British equestrian and won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics for event riding. Both of her parents ride horses as well.
It's not likely that she'll become Queen, as she is 17th in line to the throne. However, Princess Zara is an active royal, and regularly supports charitable causes.
Manohara Odelia Pinot Of Malaysia
Manohara Odelia Pinot is a controversial royal figure. Once an Indonesian model, she married Malaysian Prince Tengku Fakhry in 2008. Her mother claimed that he abducted the new princess. She was only 16 at the time of their marriage.
Manohara reported abuse during the marriage and escaped to Indonesia in 2009, spurning all gifts and grand gestures from the Prince attempting to win her back. The drama made major news as her mother pleaded for her daughter's safe return.
Moza bint Nasser Of Qatar
Sheikha Moza bint Nasser is one of three wives who are married to the Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa. She holds a BA in Sociology, and was awarded as an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has many foreign honors and is the chosen wife who represents her husband at international events and conventions.
Unlike many monarchical wives in the Middle East, Sheikha Moza was been actively involved in Qatar's government is a high-profile political figure.
Crown Princess Victoria Of Sweden
The Crown Princess of Sweden, Victoria, is the next in line to the throne and will be the fourth queen regnant in Sweden's history. Her title was changed from Duchess to Princess (and heir apparent) in 1980, when a law reform allowed the throne successor to be either gender, regardless of marriage.
She attended Yale for two years in the United States and enrolled in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs Diplomat Program. She's fluent in Swedish, English, French, and German, and is only one out of three throne heirs in the world.
Princess Sofia Of Sweden
The lovely Princess Sofia of Sweden joined the country's royal family when she married Prince Carl Philip in 2015. The former model, who has made appearances on reality television, studied accounting in New York and also worked as a yoga instructor.
Sofia is a co-founder of a non-profit group called Project Playground, which provides assistance for underprivileged kids in South Africa. She and Prince Philip have two children together, Prince Alexander and Prince Gabriel.
Queen Rania Of Jordan
Queen Rania of Jordan is known for her work with education, health, youth, and community empowerment, as well as cross-cultural dialogue. She has four children -- two sons and two daughters -- with her husband, King Abdullah bin al-Hussein. She has an honorary Masters Degree in International Cooperation and Development from the University of Rome.
Born in Kuwait, she moved to the country of Jordan for work, which is where she met then-Prince Abdullah. Unlike the British royal family, Queen Rania is allowed to use social media, and stays active on several platforms.
Princess Sonam Of Bhutan
Princess Sonam of Bhutan has a degree from Stanford University and a Masters in Law from Harvard. She is the daughter of the fourth King of Bhutan, and the half-sister of the fifth King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
She has been married to Dasho Phub W. Dorji since 2009 and the couple has two sons. Her Royal Highness is a major political player and the current President of the Bhutan National Legal Institute.
Kate Middleton
No list of stunning royal women would be complete without the Duchess herself, the lovely Kate Middleton. Kate, whose official name is Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, led a relatively normal life until she charmed Prince William during their college days. The two were married on April 29, 2011, and the world has been smitten with her ever since.
Kate is simply one of the most stylish public figures out there. She's always impeccably dressed and beautifully put together although she also seems quite down-to-earth and is very active and hands-on with her two children, George and Charlotte. Kate was once named to the "100 Most Influential People in the World" list by Time magazine.
Princess Charlene Of Monaco
Charlene of Monaco is a former Olympic swimmer and married her husband in July of 2011. The wedding day did not go as smoothly as expected though. Following the wedding, it was discovered that Charlene had attempted to call off the wedding and runaway three separate times prior to the ceremony.
Despite this, the couple is still currently married and appear to be happier. She currently serves as a Special Olympics Ambassador and is a style icon in high society. The couple has two children and heirs to the throne of Monaco, Jacques, and Gabriella.
Queen Letizia Of Spain
Queen Letizia of Spain is one of the royal world's favorite fashion trendsetters. She was a journalist and a news anchor before her marriage to King Felipe in 2004. When they wed, she was appointed to the Grand Cross of the Royal and Distinguished Order of Charles III.
In 2015 she was named the Ambassador of Nutrition in the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and is active with a number of charities.
Princess Eugenie Of The UK
Princess Eugenie of York is tenth in line to succeed the throne after her sister, Princess Beatrice. She currently works as an associate director at an art gallery in London. She lived in New York for one year to work as a benefit auctions manager before returning to London in 2015.
She married Jack Brooksbank on October 12, 2018, and is now officially known as "Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie, Mrs Jack Brooksbank."
Marie-Chantal Of Greece
Marie-Chantal is the current Crown Princess of Greece, although she is a London native. She is married to Pavlos, son of the deposed King Constantine, and converted to Greek Orthodoxy so they could be wed.
Pavlos is the heir apparent to the defunct throne of Greece (the country no longer has a monarchy) and is also a Danish prince. In 2000, Marie-Chantal founded, and still directs, her own children's clothing line.
Jetsun Pema Of Bhutan
Queen Jetsun Pema is also known as the "dragon queen" of Bhutan, and the wife of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. To Asian nations, Jetsun is a fashion icon who combines traditional style clothing with vibrant colors and design. She's also an advocate for environmental issues.
The royal couple was mon October 13, 2011, and had their first child in February of 2016. Their second child, also a son, was born in March of 2020.
Mette-Marit Of Norway
Crown Princess of Norway, Mette-Marit, is next in line to succeed the throne next to her husband, Crown Prince Haakon. Also a commoner before her marriage, she came from an unfortunate upbringing and was a single mother before meeting her husband.
Since the royal wedding in 2000, Mette-Marit has become well known for her philanthropic work and humanitarian efforts in the arts. She's also gotten an education since her marriage, receiving a master's degree in Executive Management in 2012.
Clotilde Courau, Princess Of Venice
Clotilde Courau, Princess of Venice, is an award-winning French actress and is a Dame of the Arts in France. She married the last reigning Prince of Venice, Italy, Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia, in 2003. The pair have two children together.
Courau was a controversial bride at the time of their wedding in Rome, as she was six months pregnant with their first child and also expressed some left-leaning political beliefs.
Princess Elisabeth Of Germany
Elisabeth von Thurn und Taxis is a member of the royal German house Thurn und Taxis. She is a German journalist who lives in London and works as style editor for Vogue. She also writes a column for the Vatican's magazine, mainly focused on faith and values.
In 2015 she caused a firestorm of controversy after posting an Instagram of a homeless person reading Vogue, saying, "...there are readers everywhere!" which was criticized as being cruel and tasteless.
Princess Charlotte Of Monaco
Princess Charlotte Casiraghi is eighth in line to the throne of Monaco. Her maternal grandmother was the former Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly, and is named after her paternal grandmother, the Duchess of Valentinois. She keeps her personal life fairly private, although her romantic life is discussed heavily in public.
She had a son out of wedlock with actor Gad Elmaleh in 2013, however, the two have since split. It's rumored that the cause of the split was Gad's busy schedule and his apparent lack of desire to spend time with Charlotte and their son.
Theodora Of Greece And Denmark
Theodora is a princess of Greece and Denmark, since she is a descendant of Danish royal ancestry and Greek ancestry. She is currently ninth in the line of succession to the defunct Greek throne.
The princess is a working actress with an extensive filmography, operating under the stage name Theodora Greece. She currently resides in Los Angeles, California and made her acting debut in 2011, on the popular soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful.
Queen Máxima Of The Netherlands
Máxima of the Netherlands is the first Queen consort since the year 1890. She is married to King Willem-Alexander, and they have three daughters together. She is also the first Queen consort to not only have been a commoner, but to have been born outside of Europe (in Argentina).
The couple met during the Seville Spring Fair in Seville, Spain, in 1999. In a later interview, they claim that the king introduced himself only as "Alexander", and she had no idea that he was a prince. It's like a real fairy tale romance!
Princess Madeleine Of Sweden
Princess Madeleine of Sweden is also known as the Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland. She was born as third in line to the Swedish throne, but has since become sixth in line after the birth of three nieces and nephews. She is regarded as one of the world's top beauties and is a philanthropist who focuses on raising awareness surrounding child abuse.
For as stunning as she is though, she's had her fair share of heartbreak. In 2011 her wedding was called off after it was revealed her former fiance-to-be had an affair with a 21-year-old during their engagement. Madeleine has since found her Prince Charming though and married in 2013.
Haya Of Jordan
Haya bint Hussein is the junior wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and is known as the Princess of Jordan. She graduated from Oxford University and is the two-term President of the International Federation of Equestrian Sports.
She has two children with the Sheikh.
Mathilde Of Belgium
Queen Mathilde of Belgium is married to King Phillipe, and is the first Belgian-born queen who is a member of nobility by birth. She speaks four languages (Dutch, French, Italian and English) and holds a Masters Degree in Psychology.
She serves as a Special Representative for the World Health organization and is the honorary President of UNICEF Belgium.
Keisha Of Nigeria
Keisha Omilana is the Princess of Nigeria and wife of Prince Kunle Omilana. She is a model and philanthropist, but takes pride in being a businesswoman first and foremost.
She has one child with her husband, a son named Diran King.
Tatiana Of Greece And Denmark
Princess Tatiana of Greece and Denmark is the wife of Prince Nikolaos and sister-in-law of Princess Theodora.
She has a BA degree in sociology from Georgetown University and used to work for Diane Von Furstenberg as an event planner. She resigned her position in 2010 to focus on living the royal lifestyle.
Märtha Louise Of Norway
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway is the fourth in line to succeed the Norwegian throne, after her brother Haakon (heir apparent) and his two sons. She is a certified physiotherapist, but has chosen to open her own entertainment business as opposed to practicing physiotherapy.
She founded a charity, Her Royal Highness Princess Märtha Louise's Fund, that assists disabled children under the age of 16.
Ameerah Of Saudi Arabia
Princess Ameerah of Saudi Arabia has a degree in Business Administration from the University in New Haven. She was previously married to Prince Alwaleed al-Taweel, a man who was almost 30 years her senior, and they divorced in 2013.
She is an active humanitarian and strives for women's rights in the Middle East. She wishes to become one of the first woman to drive on Saudi roads.
Lalla Salma Of Morroco
Princess Lalla Salma of Morroco is the wife of King Mohammed, and the first female Moroccan ruler to be given a royal title publicly. She has two children with her husband and is also honored as the Dame Grand Cross in Belgium, Spain and Senegal.
She founded a cancer prevention association and is actively involved with HIV and AIDS prevention in Africa.
Stephanie Of Luxembourg
Originally born as a Countess, Grand Duchess Stephanie received a new title upon her marriage to Duke Guillarme, the heir to the Luxembourg throne. She is also the Princess of Nassau, as well as Parma.
She is fluent in German, English and French, but can also speak a little Russian, as she studied in Moscow for a short time.
Tamara Of Spain
Princess Tamara is of Polish and Spanish ancestry, and although royalty, works as a sportswoman and model. She has appeared on many television programs, including reality TV shows that include Cirque de Celebrity and Australian Princess.
On her father's side she belongs to a noble family from Poland before World War I, and is the descendant of Kings from Spain and France.
Masako Of Japan
Princess Masako of Japan is a member of the Imperial House of Japan through her marriage to the Crown Prince, Naruhito. Once her husband ascends to the throne, she will become the Empress Consort to the nation.
After the birth of the royal couple's daughter, plans to change the law prohibiting a female heir from claiming the throne have been widely debated. The birth of her nephew has thwarted this possibility, temporarily.
Fathima Of Saudi Arabia
Princess Fathima Kulsum is reportedly the highest educated female in the Saudi Arabian royal family. Married to Sheikh Awadi, she maintains a fairly low profile and receives little to no coverage concerning her personal and professional affairs.
She is said to be devoted to the Islamic religion, but remains an advocate for women's rights and wishes to see progress in her country's potential transition to equality.
Himani Shah Of Nepal
The former Crown Princess of Nepal, Himani Shah, is married to the ousted Crown Prince, Paras, since 2000. They have three children together, but will never ascend to the nation's throne.
She is now a social worker, taking part in social welfare activities, although she is still a royal member of the House of Shah.
Nandi Zulu Of The Zulu Tribe
Nandi Zulu's 2002 marriage to tribe leader Mtirara was meant to bring together two tribes of different cultures and traditions. The tribal Princess stayed married to Mtirara for just two years, eventually running away from the arranged marriage.
Princess Nandi has been missing for eight years, but her husband still claims that she is his wife. Nelson Mandela attended the upscale wedding and ultimately supported the marital merger.
Gabriella Windsor Of The UK
Lady Gabriella Windsor is the daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and works as a writer. She has two educational degrees, in Comparative Literature and Social Anthropology.
Her great-grandparents were the late King George V and Queen Mary. She is currently dating rugby star Tom Kingston. She is currently dating rugby star Tom Kingston.
Princess Sikhanyiso Of Swaziland
Princess Sikhanyiso of Swaziland is the first and oldest child of out 30 and her mother, the Queen, is the first wife out of the King's ten! Sikhanyiso is a an active speaker and public figure against the polygamy movement in her country and has been silenced by the nation's government on two occasions for opposing their views.
She wishes to be a rapper and an actress, and is known as "Pashu" in Swaziland.
Diana Of Wales
Who can deny the timeless beauty of Princess Diana? No one, that's who! The Princess was married to Prince Charles until 1996 and suffered a fatal car crash that would change the world forever in 1997.
She is still remembered and commemorated by the royal family and the public who loved her so much.
Grace Kelly Of Monaco
Grace Kelly, late Princess of Monaco, was one of the most iconic women in human history. She turned Crown Princess from beautiful movie star after her marriage to Prince Rainier the 3rd in 1956.
The actress died of a stroke in 1982, while behind the wheel of her car with her daughter in the passenger seat. Her husband never remarried, and was buried next to her after his death in 2005.
Meghan Markle
Megan Markle caught the eye of Prince Harry and the couple quickly fell in love. There were some concerns over the American actress' etiquette and poise, as a potential addition to the Royal Family. However, according to Vanity Fair, a former butler to the royal family by the name of Grant Harrold said it isn't the most important aspect.
"Harry loves her and she loves him. And that will be what matters in the eyes of the Queen and Prince Charles. I don't see any reason why Meghan couldn't be the one."
Kendra Spears
Kendra Spears is now known as Princess Salwa Aga Khan since her 2013 marriage to Prince Rahim Aga Khan, whose father is currently the 49th Imam of Nizari Ismailism.
But before the Princess was given her title, the Seattle native had already forged a successful career as a fashion model.
Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah
Princess Hafizah is one of 12 children to Hassanal Bolkiah, the current Sultan of Brunei and one of the wealthiest royals in the world.
Brunei is located on the northern coast of Borneo in the South China Sea and is one of the smallest nations that still has a monarchy.
Princess Caroline
If Kate Middleton came to fame around the '80s and '90s, then Princess Caroline would have given her a run for her money. Caroline belongs to the famous Monaco royal family as the first-born daughter of the late Grace Kelly and Rainer III, Prince of Monaco.
She was heir to the throne for just over a year until her brother, Prince Albert II was born. She regained official princess status in her third marriage to Ernst August, Prince of Hanover.
Jazmin Grace Grimaldi
Jazmin Grace Grimaldi is the first-born daughter of Prince Albert II of Monaco, and therefore is Prince Caroline's niece and Grace Kelly's granddaughter. However, she is considered an illegitimate child in the eyes of the Monaco monarchy, since she was born out of wedlock.
As a result, she is not heir apparent to the Monegasque throne, even though she is Prince Albert's first-born. Still, she respects and admires her father, who acknowledged in 2006 that he is indeed her father and who is also protective of her.
Pauline Ducruet
Another member of the Princely House of Grimaldi is Pauline Ducruet, whose mother is Princess Stéphanie, the youngest child of Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly. She holds no royal title, but is 12th in the line of succession to the Monegasque throne.
She is also a competitive diver who represented Monaco at the World Junior Diving Championships in 2010.
Tatiana Santo Domingo
Like Kate Middleton, Tatiana Santo Domingo married into royalty. Her husband is Andrea Casiraghi, Princess Caroline's first-born son and fourth in the line of succession to the Monegasque throne. The two met at boarding school in Fontainebleau and dated for seven years before getting engaged.
Before her entrance into the Monaco royal family, however, Tatiana was already from a wealthy family whose roots trace back to South America.
Beatrice Borromeo
Like Tatiana, Beatrice married into the Monaco royal family as well. Beatrice Borromeo is the wife of Pierre Casiraghi, Princess Caroline's youngest son and seventh in the line of succession to the Monegasque throne.
But without that connection, she is also a member of the ancient aristocratic House of Borromeo, a wealthy merchant family with roots in ancient Italy. Her father, Don Carlo Ferdinando Borromeo is also the Count of Arona.
Queen Noor of Jordan
Born Lisa Najeeb Halaby in Washington, D.C. in 1951, she became the Queen of Jordan in 1978 when she married the then-King of Jordan, Hussein bin Talal.
Although she was considered an outsider by the country of Jordan at first, she was accepted after the citizens have seen her charitable contributions to the country as the Queen consort, a position she held until 1999.
Queen 'Masenate Mohato Seeiso
Queen 'Masenate is the Queen consort of King Lestie III. Together, they reign over the country of Lesotho in Southern Africa.
As Queen, she is heavily involved in charity work which includes helping and giving a public voice to People with Disabilities and HIV/AIDS patients in her community.
Sophie Winkleman
Sophie Winkleman is known as Lady Frederick Windsor, the wife of Lord Frederick Windsor, who is 46th in line of succession to the British Throne and 8th in line to the Dukedom of Kent.
Before her marriage, she already made a name for herself as an English actress boasting acting credits such as The Chronicles of Narnia, CSI: Miami, and Two and a Half Men.
Archduchess Elisabetta of Austria-Este
Elisabetta became archduchess in her marriage to Prince Amedeo of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este.
She received her Bachelor's of Arts degree from Queen Mary University of London, where she studied comparative literature and film, and has since contributed work to the cultural section of Bloomberg News.
Sarah, Crown Princess of Brunei
Princess Sarah gained her title when she married the Crown Prince of Brunei, Al-Muhtadee Billah.
She received a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy and Administration at the University of Brunei Darussalam, where she graduated with honors and was a member of the university's army cadets.
Crown Princess Elia of Albania
Known as singer and actress Elia Zaharia, she recently became Princess of Albania when she married Leka II, Crown Prince of Albania in October 2016.
Before her marriage, she was a prominent figure in Albania theater and she was also the head of the Queen Geraldine Foundation, a non-profit created by the Royal Court that aims to lend aid to Albanian families and children in need.
Fawzia Fuad, Egyptian Princess
Fawzia Fuad was born an Egyptian princess, as her father was Sultan Fuad I of Egypt and Sudan during the first half of the 20th century. She had an arranged marriage to the Crown Prince of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, which was seen as a political move since Fawzia was a Sunni royal and the prince was a Shia royal.
When Mohammad became the Shah of Iran, Fawzia subsequently became the Queen of Iran in 1941. As Queen, she led the Association for the Protection of Pregnant Women and Children in Iran and was featured on the cover of a 1942 edition of Life. However, the marriage didn't work out and ended in divorce.
Princess Soraya of Iran
After Fawzia of Egypt divorced her husband, Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi remarried to Princess Soraya. Since Mohammed was already Shah, Soraya was instantly Queen of Iran upon their marriage.
Unfortunately, this marriage would end in divorce as well, due to Soraya's infertility and inability to produce an heir. After the divorce, she was still granted the title of Princess and moved to France to become an actress.
Leila Pahlavi
After divorcing Soraya, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi married again, and with his third wife had Princess Leila Pahlavi. As the fourth child to the Shah, she would never see an opportunity to succeed the throne since her family was forced into exile after the Iranian Revolution.
Because of this, she grew up and obtained her education in the United States. In her adult years, she suffered from multiple mental illnesses and passed away at age 31 due to an overdose on medication.
Marie Marguerite, Duchess of Anjou
Marie Marguerite was born an heiress to a success Venezuelan bank owner, but became a duchess when she married Louis Alphonse, Duke of Anjou. French Legitimists, royalists who adhere to the rights of dynastic succession before the 1830 Revolution in France and who believe the French king must be chosen according to rules based in Salic law, believe that Louis Alphose should be the current rightful head of the French Royal House.
Because of this, Marie Marguerite is considered the titular Queen consort of France.
Sirikitiya Jensen
Sirikitiya Jensen, also known as Khun Mai, is the granddaughter of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand.
She and her siblings grew up in San Diego and she even went on to attend University of California, Riverside, then transferred to New York University where she earned her degree in East Asian studies.
Lady Sarah Chatto
Born as Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, she is the daughter of the Earl of Snowdon and Princess Margaret, as well as the youngest grandchild of King George VI and Elizabeth, Queen Consort of the United Kingdom.
She is 23rd in the line of succession to the British throne. She met her husband, actor Daniel Chatto, while working on a film in India. She remains close to her aunt, Queen Elizabeth II, and regularly attends royal events and vacations.
Alexandra Of Luxembourg
Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg is the only daughter of the Duke and Duchess Luxembourg.
She is a fairly laid-back princess, one who makes the casual social appearance at royal events and weddings. She is 25 years old, and a stunning beauty.
Sirivannavari Of Thailand
Princess Sirivannavari of Thailand has been ranked among the 20 hottest royals by Forbes. Raised in the UK with her mother, she now resides in Thailand with her father and grandfather, the King. At 33 years old, she is an arts and sports enthusiast who is an active participant in the world of high fashion and is also very involved with social work.
The Princess represented Thailand in badminton in 2005 at the 23rd South East Asian Games in the Philippines, helping the team win a gold medal.
