9 coolest royals in the world

Princess Ameerah Al-Taweel, Saudi Arabia

The desert princess, who can totally play Jasmine in the live-action remake of Alladin if anyone’s looking into it, is actively involved in changing the way Saudi women are perceived. She has been recognised for her several philanthropic endeavours, including spearheading a relief mission in Somalia and Pakistan during the floods in 2010. She divorced her husband when his family threatened to punish her for her several television appearances to advocate the cause of Saudi women around the world.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk and Queen Jetsun Pema, Bhutan

Having a fairy tale-esque royal wedding isn't the only thing the monarchs of Bhutan have in common with the world’s favourite royal couple Prince William and Kate Middleton. The Dragon Queen or Jetsun Pema was a commoner when she met the future king and they both fell in love, not unlike Will and Kate. The king has worked actively towards bringing democracy to Bhutan and is called the ‘People’s King” affectionately. 

If you, like us, grew up reading fairy tales depicting the baller lives of princes and princesses (if you don’t include murderous stepmothers, that is) then these modern day equivalents are just what you need to know about. Their titles maybe longer and more complicated than Daenerys Targaryen’s and they may or may not have life-changing curses placed on them by vengeful witches, but there is no doubt that these royals deserve fairy tales of their own. 

Prince Henry of Wales (more popularly known as Prince Harry)

When he is not whipping the tabloids into a frenzy with his alleged relationships, Prince Harry is busy advocating for women’s rights, trekking across the South Pole for charity and throwing fundraisers headlined by everyone’s favourite band of the moment: Coldplay.

He has also set up the Invictus Games, a sporting competition for wounded soldiers. The games, started in 2014, will be hosted by Toronto in 2017.

Sheikh Hamdan, Dubai

If his dreamy good looks weren’t enough, get this: he writes poetry, is an incredible athlete and has spearheaded several successful government initiatives, including the creation of ‘Smart Government’ that makes the government more easily accessible to people with the help of technology. He is also pretty active on social media, with his Instagram racking up nearly 4.6 million followers.

Prince Carl Philip, Sweden

A man of many talents, Prince Carl Philip is a decorated officer in the Royal Swedish Navy, a professional race car driver and designs interior products. His struggle with dyslexia as a child led him to work actively towards removing the stigma associated with learning disorders. 

Princess Charlene, Monaco

After learning to swim at the age of three when a dog accidentally pushed her into a pool, Princess Charlene has represented South Africa at the 2000 Olympics and has won four gold medals for Johannesburg in the 1999 All-African games for 100m freestyle swimming. Aside from having a title that is quite a mouthful, Her Serene Highness the Princess of Monaco also has a permanent position in the ‘best dressed’ lists across the world. While living in South Africa, she gave swimming lessons to underprivileged kids and became the global ambassador for the Special Olympics in 2011.

Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, Thailand

Not content with just being featured in ‘best dressed’ lists, this royal decided to take matters in her own hands and became a designer after studying fashion and textiles. After being a front row regular at fashion weeks, she was invited by French couturier Pierre Balmain in 2007 to present her line, titled ‘Presence of the Past’, in Paris.

Prince George of Cambridge

Prince George has totally upstaged his parents in the popularity stakes, with every wave and rejected handshake going viral across the internet. His dismissal of protocol while meeting President Obama (he greeted the US dignitaries in his bathrobe) and his annoyance with the paparazzi that continue to follow his every move have made him the coolest royal in the world. That he is adorable is just a bonus.