Though Prince William was born with gilded birthrights to fame, wealth and beauty, he had to wait 25 years for another title. The Prince's international intrigue and unparalleled media attention earned him the top spot this year on Forbes' annual ranking of the world's Hottest Young Royals.
The eldest son of the late Princess Diana and present heir apparent Prince Charles, Prince William is a press favorite--photogenic with a graceful public persona. His mother's high-profile life and the drama surrounding the royal family since her death keeps him in the global spotlight.
In Pictures: Forbes' 20 Hottest Young Royals
For Prince Harry, No. 2 on our list, it's the same story, though all sorts of un-royal behavior--broadcast, of course, in Britain's tabloids--have earned him a reputation as the more carefree of the two siblings. Both he and his brother have garnered headlines recently for their military service.To compile the ranking, Forbes counted international Web and media presence as well as family wealth. Only unmarried royals under the age of 35 were considered.
The 20 royals on Forbes' Hottest Young Royals list represent nearly $60 billion in wealth and 15 royal lineages. While a few own or operate their own businesses, the majority are students or involved in serving their countries through, for example, diplomacy, athletic competition or military service--proving there's more to hotness than wealth, power and good looks, though none of those things hurt.
Zara Phillips, No. 3 on our list, is a princess by blood, if not by name. Her mother, Princess Anne, wanted her children to live without formal titles to make their lives easier. An impressive equestrian, Zara won the gold medal in the World Equestrian Games in 2006 and hopes to compete in the 2008 Olympics. She's reportedly dating professional rugby player Mike Tindall.
The youngest member on the list is Princess Beatrice of York, in fourth place. At just 19 years old, Princess Beatrice inherited the spotlight from her mother, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York. Beatrice attracts press for hobnobbing in elite fashion circles and for her reported friendship with paparazzi favorite Kate Moss.
Charlotte Casiraghi, No. 5, is equal parts celebrity and royalty. She's known for her impeccable taste in fashion and her good looks--much like her grandmother Grace Kelly and mother Princess Caroline. Though she was raised in France, she remains fourth in line to the throne of Monaco.
Of course, our list of single young royals wouldn't be as hot without their long lists of reported romances. The beautiful blue bloods have been linked to heiresses, models, celebrities, athletes and some very special members of the hoi polloi. Many, like Princess Victoria of Sweden (No. 7), endure constant scrutiny and speculation about marriage. In 2003, the princess received a public apology from a German gossip magazine that had published claims of a private wedding to Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark.
But alas, Princess Victoria may soon relinquish her spot on our young, hot royals list. If the tabloids are correct, marriage to longtime beau-in-residence Daniel Westling is on the royal calendar for later this year.
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