From Kate Middleton to Jetsun Pema: Commoners Who Became Queens and Princesses [PHOTOS]

It isn't only in fairy tales that a Prince marries a commoner; it happens, more often than you may think, in real life, too.

When Britain’s Prince William married his longtime girlfriend Kate Middleton, a commoner, in April, the world witnessed something like a fairy tale come true.

More recently, Jetsun Pema, a 21-year-old student of London's Regents College, became the Queen of Bhutan, after her marriage to King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. The two were wed at Bhutan's ancient capital, Punakha, on Oct. 13.

Start the slide show to view other commoners who were transformed into members of royal families.