The Royal Women Whose Beauty Became Part of Their Legacy
Throughout history, queens have captured people's attention for far more than their royal titles, political influence, and famous love stories. Some became legendary for their striking features, elegant fashion choices, and carefully maintained public appearances, while others were remembered through portraits, sculptures, and stories that survived for centuries. Of course, beauty standards have changed considerably over time, and historical descriptions don't always tell us exactly what someone looked like.
1. Cleopatra VII of Egypt (69–30 BC)
Cleopatra is probably one of the most well-known queens who have ever lived. She was said to be extremely beautiful, but we will never know exactly what she looked like. Many believe that Cleopatra had a great personality and mind that attracted men to her.
2. Nefertiti of Egypt (c. 1370–1330 BC)
Nefertiti is an Egyptian queen that most people know when it comes to beauty. There is a famous bust of her that many people recognize today. With her slim neck and the shape of her face, this is one of the best-known examples of ancient Egyptian beauty. Nefertiti was married to Akhenaten, who was a pharaoh.
3. Elizabeth I of England (1533–1603)
Elizabeth I wore her red hair up and kept her skin looking light in color. She was always wearing expensive clothing that displayed her royalty. Most paintings of Elizabeth show her looking her best and displaying all of her beautiful jewelry.
4. Marie Antoinette of France (1755–1793)
Marie Antoinette is known for wearing many fabulous clothes and was considered beautiful. She was from Austria and became queen of France. Many thought she was pretty and would dress like her and copy her hairstyles.
Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun on Wikimedia
5. Empress Elisabeth of Austria, Sisi (1837–1898)
Elisabeth, or Sisi, was known for her beauty, extremely long hair, and slim body. She is said to have spent hours taking care of her hair and exercising to stay in shape. She would eat very little to keep her figure. There are many pictures of Sisi showing off her beauty and long hair.
6. Queen Nefertari of Egypt (c. 1290–1255 BC)
Nefertari was the beautiful queen of Egypt and was loved by many. Her tomb shows many beautiful paintings of her. From her jewels to the outfit she was wearing, everything about her was stunning.
7. Catherine the Great of Russia (1729–1796)
Catherine the Great had a very elegant look to her. She was considered beautiful by many because of her bright eyes. She wore lavish dresses with jewelry to show that she was royalty.
After Alexander Roslin on Wikimedia
8. Mary, Queen of Scots (1542–1587)
Many thought Mary, Queen of Scots, was beautiful. She stood tall and was pretty. With her long red hair, she knew how to dress fashionably. She spent most of her life in France, so she took many things from there when she came back to Scotland.
Unidentified painter on Wikimedia
9. Queen Soraya Tarzi of Afghanistan (1899–1968)
Soraya was very beautiful and graceful. She knew how to wear European clothing and displayed it proudly. After marrying the king of Afghanistan, she became famous for allowing women to go to school and stand up for themselves.
Unknown authorUnknown author, cropped by Officer on Wikimedia
10. Empress Josephine of France (1763–1814)
Josephine was Napoleon's first wife and was thought of as a very beautiful woman. She had a love for fashion and helped create the Empire style, which consisted of long gowns and beautiful jewelry. Josephine knew how to please those who surrounded her, including Napoleon.
11. Queen Rania of Jordan (1970–Present)
Queen Rania is known for wearing beautiful gowns. She has become one of the prettiest queens in modern times. Not only does she have a beautiful wardrobe, but she also loves to help those who need it, from opening schools to bettering children's lives.
Jordanian Royal Hashemite Court on Wikimedia
12. Queen Noor of Jordan (1951–Present)
Born in America as Lisa Halaby, Queen Noor married the king of Jordan in 1978. Many say she is beautiful and loved by all. She is known for her charitable work as well as caring for the environment. Queen Noor became royalty after marrying into the Jordanian royal family.
Steve Jurvetson. Original uploader was BorgQueen at en.wikipedia on Wikimedia
13. Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom (1844–1925)
Queen Alexandra was known for being one of the prettiest women of her time. She loved to wear beautiful jewels and fancy gowns. Many women would copy Queen Alexandra's fashion style. Even when she was queen consort, she knew how to look elegant and was well known for her beauty.
W. & D. Downey / J. Russell and Sons on Wikimedia
14. Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain (1887–1969)
Queen Ena was the granddaughter of Queen Victoria and became queen of Spain in 1906. She was thought to be beautiful and would dress like it. Her wedding was a huge production but became infamous because a bomb went off. Ena was a beautiful woman who knew how to carry herself.
Unknown authorUnknown author on Wikimedia
15. Queen Consort Marie of Romania (1875–1938)
Marie was considered one of the prettiest queens. Not only was she beautiful, but she also had a lovely personality. Marie was a member of the British royal family and became queen consort of Romania. She loved wearing gowns that showed off her beauty.
16. Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands (1880–1962)
Wilhelmina became queen of the Netherlands at the age of 10. As she got older, she became known for her beauty and grace. When she was young, her pictures would portray her as a beautiful girl with nice features. When Wilhelmina got older, she changed many things about her appearance but remained known for her beauty.
Unknown authorUnknown author on Wikimedia
17. Queen Consort Farida of Egypt (1921–1988)
Farida was beautiful and knew how to display that beauty. When she was young, she had many admirers. Farida would dress like a queen and knew how to stand out. She was one of the most beautiful queens of Egypt.
Unknown authorUnknown author on Wikimedia
18. Queen Letizia of Spain (1972–Present)
Letizia is a beautiful woman who wears many stylish clothes. Before becoming queen, she was a news reporter. She became one of the most stylish royals by mixing different types of clothing. Queen Letizia is also known for helping others through charity work and bettering lives.
LuisCarlos Díaz, de FlickR on Wikimedia
19. Queen Máxima of the Netherlands (1971–Present)
Máxima is a pretty woman who loves to wear brightly colored dresses and large jewelry. She became queen of the Netherlands after marrying the prince. She is also known for her charitable work and efforts to better lives around the world.
RVD, Jeroen van der Meyde on Wikimedia
20. Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom (1947–Present)
Camilla is always wearing a coat and pretty jewelry. Since becoming queen, she has worn many outfits that fit with royal tradition. She has gained much respect over the years for her charitable work. While beauty standards and public perceptions have changed throughout her lifetime, her place in modern British royal history is firmly established.
Roger Harris/House of Lords on Wikimedia
