Want to marry a royal like Kate and Meghan? Here are 7 rules to finding your prince

As Prince Harry gets ready to marry American actress Meghan Markle on May 19, more than a few of us have to admit we've been dreaming of falling in love with our own real-life Prince Charming. With Kate Middleton, Queen Letizia and Princess Sofia of Sweden on a growing list of the non-royal ladies who have married handsome Princes, HELLO! documents how these girls next door found their royal happily ever afters... Photos: Getty Images

Rule 1: Study hardKate Middleton, the first commoner to marry a British heir to the throne in more than three centuries, crossed paths with Prince William in college at St. Andrews nine years before he actually proposed. Italian journalist Beatrice Borromeo, a member of the ancient aristocratic House of Borromeo, met her prince not at a ball, but while studying with him at Bocconi University in Milan.Seen here: Kate  and Prince William on the day of their graduation ceremony at St Andrew's University in Scotland in 2005.Photo: Getty Images

Rule 2: Don't be afraid of a break up.After Prince William and Kate and broke up in 2007, Kate was famously spotted out and about having a great time. Kate later said, “I think you can get quite consumed by a relationship when you are younger and I really valued that time for me (the months apart) although I didn't think it at the time.” Seen here: Just days after she split with Prince William temporarily in April 2007, Kate proved she was just fine on her own, stepping out on the town with a smile.Photo: Getty Images

Rule 3: Give backAfter meeting on a blind date, what really brought Meghan Markle and Prince Harry together was their mutual passion for making the world a better place. "It was really one of the first things we connected on, it was one of the first things we started talking about when we met – just the different things that we wanted to do in the world and how passionate we were about seeing change," Meghan said during the royal couple's post-engagement interview in 2017. She added with a laugh, "I think that's what got date two in the books, probably." Seen here: In her role as United Nations Women's Advocate, Meghan spoke at the Dove Self-Esteem Project event held in October 2015 at Earl Bales Community Centre in Toronto, Canada. Photo: George Pimentel/WireImage

Rule 4: Get sportySince Princes are obviously looking for good role models to represent their nation, elegance and grace seem to be high on their list of priorities. Case in point: Prince Albert's wife Princess Charlene of Monaco, an accomplished Olympic swimmer who dove right into her role, and even sometimes evokes comparisions to her late mother-in-law, Grace Kelly.Seen here: Olympic swimmer Princess Charlene looking fit and fabulous in 2001. Photo: Getty Images

Rule 5: Excel in your career.Queen Letizia of Spain, who commentators describe as settling into her royal role in a "wonderful way,” was well-known TV anchorwoman Letizia Ortiz before she tied the knot with King Felipe VI in 2004. Princess Tatiana of Greece and Denmark – formerly Tatiana Blatnik – was a successful event planner for fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg and had a flourishing social life before meeting her husband, Prince Nikolaos of Greece in 2003.Seen here: Letizia Ortiz in her role as a top Spanish news anchor before she married now-King Felipe VI.Photo: Getty Images

Rule 6: Remember, you can meet your Prince anywhere.You probably won't find him on an internet dating site or at the local discount store – but also keep in mind that Crown Princess Mary, then marketing executive Mary Donaldson, did meet Prince Frederik in a Sydney pub. And when fun and exuberant Argentinian Maxima Zorreguieta – now Queen Maxima – met future Dutch King Willem-Alexander, who was heir apparent to the crown at the time, during the Seville Spring Fair in Spain, she had no idea he was a Prince. In fact, she thought he was joking when he finally told her the truth. Seen here: Crown Prince Frederik presents his girlfriend – now wife, Crown Princess Mary – for the first time in 2003. Photo: Getty Images

Rule 7: Be yourself.In a true royal fairytale, there's no need to be anything but real. Case in point: Crown Princess Mette Marit, who was a never-married single mom to son Marius when she fell in love with Crown Prince Haakon Of Norway. Princess Sofia was also an unconventional royal bride, making her name as reality TV star Sofia Hellqvist before she became a royal, marrying Prince Carl Philip of Sweden.Seen here: Mette-Marit's son Marius from a previous relationship is center stage during her royal wedding.Photo: Getty Images