18 commoners who married royalty

Back in the day blue blood was only good enough for blue blood.

The royals would marry distant cousins from all over the place in order to keep a certain pedigree. In fact, did you realise that Prince Philip and the Queen are third cousins because they are both great-great-grandchildren of Victoria?

Today, times have changed.

It turns out, love trumps titles and it’s possible - common in fact - for royalty to marry their sweethearts even if they don’t come from regal beginnings.

Perhaps the most famous in the world was the matching of Prince William with Kate Middleton, who met at St Andrew’s University in the noughties and now there’s Prince Harry who’s marrying Meghan Markle who was born and raised in Los Angeles.

It happens outside the UK too.

Look through the above gallery to find out what Swedish prince married a former glamour model, which Spanish King married a news anchor and which heir to the throne is happily married to a personal trainer…