Everyone adores a royal romance.
And those love stories are even more captivating when a member of the monarchy weds a commoner — just think of the media circus that surrounded the wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William.
After the King of Spain unexpectedly abdicated his throne yesterday, a former television presenter and the granddaughter of a taxi driver is set to become Spain's next queen. Letizia Ortiz married Spain's Crown Prince Felipe de Bourbon in 2004, and the public has been fascinated by their relationship ever since.
We rounded up 26 commoners who have married into monarchies from all around the globe.
Maxima Zorreguieta became Queen in the Netherlands.
Official Title: Queen Consort of the Netherlands
Maxima met Willem-Alexander, heir apparent to the Dutch crown, in Spain during the Seville Spring Fair. The couple have said in interviews that Maxima had no idea he was a prince, and thought he was joking when he finally told her the truth.
They were married on February 2, 2002, and have three daughters together. Willem-Alexander ascended to the throne on April 30, 2013, and Maxima became queen.
Jetsun Pema became the Queen of Bhutan.
Official Title: Her Majesty The Queen of Bhutan
Bhutan's prince first met Jetsun when she was 7 years old and he was 17 at a family picnic. He told her that if they were both still single as adults, they would marry.
He was true to his word. On October 13, 2011, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck Bhutanese married his 20-year-old bride in a traditional Buddhist ceremony.
Christopher Thomas married a princess from Uganda.
Official Title: Mr. Christopher Thomas
Princess Ruth Komuntale of Uganda was studying at American University in Washington DC when she met Christopher Thomas, an accountant working at Discovery Channel in Silver Spring. They started dating, and Christopher proposed at a local Ruth's Chris Steak House.
But it wasn't until after their engagement that Christopher realized how integral Ruth was in Uganda's Tooro Kingdom. The couple married on November 17, 2012 in Uganda, but reportedly split just a year later.
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