15 Royals Who Married Commoners 》

The phrase “married into royalty” is a major part of our cultural lexicon. But the truth is, this doesn’t happen very often. In fact, you typically see those of noble lineage going out of their way to marry other aristocrats holding titles and rank.

However, every rule has its exceptions. Throughout the years, several royals have fallen in love with commoners. And by marrying those commoners, these royals do more than just follow their hearts: they also elevate common people into positions of immense wealth and power.

Here are the 15 most famous royals around the world who married commoners.

UK: Prince William and Kate Middleton, 2011

For over 200 years, it was practically unheard of for British royals to marry commoners (thanks to the Royal Marriages Act of 1772). That changed when Queen Elizabeth gave her consent for Prince William to marry Kate Middleton in 2011. Unlike Princess Diana, whose father was an earl, Kate was born into an English family with no titles of peerage.

However, Kate’s family wasn’t without wealth and prestige. Her parents owned a successful party supplies business and she attended exclusive boarding schools. As an adult she continued her elite education at St Andrews, Scotland’s most prestigious university, where she met William in 2001.

Monaco: Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly, 1956

Grace Kelly is the kind of woman that really stretches the definition of “commoner.” After all, she was a rich and famous American actress known for starring in Hitchcock films when she met Prince Rainier III of Monaco at a Cannes Film Festival photoshoot. They got married in 1956, making her Princess of Monaco. After marriage, she retired from acting and focused on raising their three children.

Sadly, Grace passed away in 1982 at only 52 years old, after a car accident brought on by a stroke while she was driving. Rainier never remarried after her death. He passed away in 2005 and was buried beside her.

Japan: Princess Mako and Kei Komuro, 2021

Few royals have experienced the drama that Japan’s Princess Mako has. When she announced her engagement to aspiring lawyer Kei Komuro in 2017, many were convinced he wasn’t good enough for the emperor’s niece.

Not only did Mako lose her royal status by marrying a commoner, but she also voluntarily gave up her $1.4 million dowry due to the negative press her relationship received.

Still, love conquers all in the end. After a three-year wedding delay, Mako and Kei married in October 2021.

Netherlands: King Willem-Alexander and Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti, 2002

King Willem-Alexander married the Argentinian-born Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti in 2002, while he was still crown prince. He became king in 2013 when his mother abdicated the thrown. Before their royal wedding, Máxima worked in finance. Now, she raises their three daughters.

Greece: Prince Nikolaos and Tatiana Blatnik, 2010

You never know where you’ll run into royalty! For example, Venezuelan publicist Tatiana Blatnik ran into Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark during a ski trip back in 2003 and hit it off. After several years of dating, these two finally tied the knot in 2010. Tatiana used to work for famous fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg; now she holds the title of Princess of Greece and Denmark!

Nikolaos and Tatiana will never become king and queen, though. Nikolaos is the third child of King Constantine II of Greece and Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark. The monarchy of Greece was abolished in 1973. Meanwhile, Anne-Marie gave up her and her children’s rights of succession to the Danish throne when she married Constantine II.

UK: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, 2018

For better or for worse, British Prince Harry has become the poster child for “rebellious royal.” After a wild youth, he made headlines for marrying American TV actress Meghan Markle in 2018. Then, after consistently brutal attacks on Meghan by the British press, Harry and Meghan stepped down from royal duties and left the U.K. altogether in 2020. They currently live in Montecito, California with their children Archie and Lilibet.

Germany: Prince Casimir zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn and Alana Bunte, 2019

While Prince Harry made waves for marrying an American actress, a German prince was going through a similar romantic experience. Prince Casimir zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn met and fell in love with American model Alana Bunte in 2017, and these two made things official in 2019.

Spain: King Felipe VI and Letizia Rocasolano, 2004

Most royals have a contentious relationship with the press. But that didn’t keep Spain’s Prince Felipe VI from falling in love with Spanish journalist Letizia Rocasolano. They got married in 2004 and brought two beautiful daughters into this world. In 2014, Felipe became King of Spain.

Norway: Crown Prince Haakon and Mette-Marit Høiby, 2001

One of the most common elements of royals marrying commoners is that it raises eyebrows with both the press and the public. For example, when Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon fell in love with Mette-Marit Høiby, she was a single mother. This caused a minor scandal, but they married in 2001 and now have two children of their own.

Jordan: King Abdullah II and Rania Al-Yassin, 1993

We often talk about “whirlwind romances,” but it turns out the whirlwind can catch royalty and commoners alike. For example, Jordan’s King Abdullah II met Rania Al-Yassin at a dinner party back in 1992, when he was a prince. Just one year later, they got married. Abdullah II became king in 1999. He and Rania have four children together.

Monaco: Prince Albert II and Charlene Wittstock, 2011

Monaco’s Prince Albert II was once known for being Grace Kelly’s son and a wild bachelor who reportedly dated many famous women, including Brooke Shields and Naomi Campbell. But he also made a name for himself as an athlete, competing in the bobsleigh at five Winter Olympics.

The latter gave him something to talk about with Charlene Wittstock, a South African Olympic swimmer he began dating in 2006. Charlene convinced Albert to give up his bachelor life, and they got married in 2011. Their twins Gabriella and Jacques were born in 2014.

Uganda: Princess Ruth Komuntale and Christopher Thomas, 2013; Anthony Phil, 2021

Princess Ruth Komuntale of Uganda married Christopher Thomas, an American accountant, in 2013.

Princess Ruth Komuntale of the Ugandan kingdom of Tooro married not one, but two foreign commoners. First, she married an American accountant named Christopher Thomas in 2012, whom she had met while attending American University in Washington D.C. They divorced one year later. Then, in May 2021 Ruth married Jamaican DJ and IT engineer Anthony Phil.

Sadly, they suffered rumors of a divorce just five months later, which have not yet been confirmed.

Germany: Prince Christian of Hanover and Alessandra De Osma, 2018

While reading about commoners marrying royalty, you might find yourself asking how one goes about meeting a royal in the first place. In the case of Peruvian attorney and former model Alessandra De Osma, she just happened to meet Germany’s Prince Christian of Hanover while he was on vacation in her country in 2005. Then fairly young (she was 17 and he was 20), they stayed in touch over the years and began dating in 2011. They wed in 2018 and had twins in 2020.

Denmark: Crown Prince Frederik and Mary Donaldson, 2004

Some of these royal/commoner “meet cutes” seem downright relatable. For example, Denmark’s Prince Frederik may have been crown prince, but this didn’t keep him from ducking into a bar in Sydney when he was visiting Australia for the 2000 Summer Olympics. There, he met PR specialist Mary Donaldson, and the two were married in 2004. They now have four children together.

Sweden: Prince Carl Philip and Sofia Hellqvist, 2015

While all of these commoners are lucky, you could say that Sofia Hellqvist “lived the dream” multiple times over. She first achieved minor fame as a model and then as a reality TV show contestant. Then, when clubbing in 2009, she ran into Sweden’s Prince Carl Philip. They got married in 2015 and now have three lovely children together.