Royal Families of the World

Monaco's House of Grimaldi has a 700-year history that reads like a sweeping epic filled with tales of intrigue, romance, fairy-tale marriage and tragic death. Here is the story of Prince Rainier's marriage to screen star Grace Kelly, and of Princess Grace's shocking death, plus the exciting lives of the Grimaldi children, including Princess Caroline, Princess Stephanie and Crown Prince Albert.

Here's a fascinating and rare glimpse into the lives of Japan's royals, who trace their roots back to 200 A.D. In particular, we'll explore the incredible marriage of the Imperial Majesty Akihito, who defied convention to marry a commoner, and the Crown Prince Naruhito and his marriage to Harvard graduate Owada Masako, who made the shocking decision to give up her career for marriage.

Members of Sweden's House of Bernadotte are among the most intriguing of all royals. Formed in 1818 with the coronation of Charles John XIV, the House of Bernadotte is today helmed by King Carl Gustaf XVI, one of the most innovative monarchs. With Crown Princess Victoria next in line to the throne, the Swedish royal family is constantly redefining the boundaries of royalty.

The House of Saxe-Coburg in Belgium has a fiery history, including the heroism and tragedy of rulers Albert I, Leopold Ill, and Leopold's long-reining son Baudouin. This adored and celebrated family continues its tradition today under international bon vivant and auto racer Albert II, his dedicated wife Paola, and their three children, Phillippe, Astrid, and Laurent.

In the past 100 years, the Netherlands has been ruled by three great queens: Wilhelmina, Juliana, and Beatrix. This is the story of their charismatic and humanitarian reign through two world wars, as well as the controversial courtship and marriage of Princess Beatrix to her prince, Claus Von Amsberg, and her current role as an adored monarch as change looms on the horizon.

The Windsors of Great Britain define royalty in all of its glamour, majesty and privilege. We look back at some of the more famous early rulers of the Windsors, including Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne in the name of love. But mostly, we'll look at the Windsors in the modern age: Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, and Lady Diana, who died tragically in a car crash.

Passionate, exciting, romantic-those adjectives describe both Spain and its royal family! Truly monarchists for the modern age, the king and queen have encouraged their children to marry not for service to the crown, but for love. But life hasn't always been carefree. We'll explore some of the most dramatic moments in Spain's royal history, including the exile during the Franco years.

The royal family of Morocco has held the throne almost continuously since the 8th century. King Hassan II occupied the throne from the lavish palace in Rabat, where he entertained dignitaries and celebrities. While his children, including the Crown Prince and two daughters, led very public lives, his wife-or wives-were never seen outside the palace walls.

Grand Duke Jean is descended from the kings of France, and his godfather was a Pope. He and his family fled Europe during WWII in a warship sent by President Roosevelt. Jean and his father, Prince Felix, volunteered for the British Army and subsequently aided in the liberation of the concentration camps. Today, the Crown Prince Henri and his family carry on the family legacy.

Few royals are as bold and outspoken as Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. Known as "The Father of the Modern Thai Medical Profession," he's also a husband, father, defender of the Buddhist faith, and saxophone player-having once played with Benny Goodman! In this intriguing profile, we'll take a rare glimpse into the lives of Thailand's royal family, with its charismatic leader and his children.

Amidst the beautiful land of Jordan reigns one of the most fascinating monarchies in the world. King Hussein and his beautiful American wife, Queen Noor, shared one of the greatest royal romances of the 20th century. Since the King's passing, his eldest son, Abdullah, has become king and continues to carry on the strength of his father in leading Jordan into the twenty-first century.

While the Danish royal house is the oldest in Europe, the sovereign, Margrethe II, is only the second woman to hold the title of reigning queen. With the help of her husband, the Prince Consort Henrik, and her two sons, Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim, Queen Margrethe II continues to defy conventions, impressing the Danes with her artistic talents and charismatic personality.

Once extending over half the continent of Europe, the Habsburg family epitomized the powerful monarchy until its empire ended with World War I. Today, the powerful players of this family continue to be influential in both European politics and the international art world. Although left without an empire, its descendants continue to embody the legacy of their famous family.