Love the Duchess of Cambridge? Discover more inspiring royal role models from around the world
When it comes to royal role models, the Duchess of Cambridge has long been our firm favourite – but she’s not the only princess inspiring women around the world. There are remarkable royal women from Thailand to Spain, whether they’re stylish Instagram stars or serious human rights activists. Click through to discover our new icons.
Princess Mary of Denmark
It’s not often that you see a royal wearing leather, so you’ve got to admire Crown Princess Mary of Denmark for her confident personal style. Mary is an Australian who met Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, in a pub in Sydney in 2000 (not the classic fairytale meeting, and we like it all the more for that). Today she’s at the helm of the Mary Foundation, an organisation that works to prevent childhood bullying, domestic violence and loneliness.
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Queen Letizia of Spain
Former TV journalist Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano married Felipe, then Prince of Asturias, in 2004. When the prince's father abdicated in 2014, the couple became King and Queen of Spain. Their two princess daughters, Sofia and Leonor, are the first and second in line for the throne.
Though she's clearly got brains as well as style, Queen Letizia, like our very own Duchess of Cambridge, has become known for her wardrobe. She's usually seen in chic, streamlined knee-length dresses, and when it comes to formal events she's the master of the elegant, flawless gown. Browse our Queen Letizia style file for more of her looks.
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Princess Ameerah Al-Taweel of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabian Ameerah Al-Taweel divorced from Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal in 2013, but has remained in the public eye as a campaigner for the rights of women in the Middle East. Most recently, she has been at the helm of a fight to lift the ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia, where female drivers have previously been punished with 150 lashes. She's said to be one of the most influential Arab women in the world.
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Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana of Thailand
The only daughter of Crown Prince Maha Vajralongkorn and Sujarinee Vivacharawongse of Thailand, 28-year-old Sirivannavari has often been seen front row at Paris Fashion Week's most prestigious shows: Chanel, Christian Dior and Balmain. As a fashion designer herself, she's even shown her own collections in Paris twice.
The princess also has another skill up her sleeve: she's an accomplished horse-rider, and has competed in dressage at the Asian Games.
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Princess Tatiana of Greece and Denmark
How we wish that the Duchess of Cambridge had a personal Instagram account. But in lieu of that, we're hooked on @tatianablatnik, where Princess Tatiana of Greece and Denmark shares snaps of her husband (Prince Nikolaos), their dog and a seemingly neverending series of holidays. Despite the envy factor, it's impossible not to warm to Tatiana, who looks like she's loving every minute.
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Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau
When Princess Mabel married into the Dutch royal family in 2004, she was already a human rights activist - and her career has only blossomed from there. She later became the CEO of the Elders, an organisation founded by Nelson Mandela to find solutions to the environmental crisis, poverty and war. Today she's the chair of Girls Not Brides, an organisation that fights to end child marriage, and this week she won a Champions for Change Award. As princesses go, this one is a better role model than any Disney heroine.
