The best contemporary romance books featuring royalty

Written by Silke, updated 08 Jun 2021

There has been a bit of a renaissance when it comes to romance books featuring royalty. Sure, historical romance novels featuring haughty dukes and smouldering earls have never really gone out of fashion. In fact, regency romances might be the defining romance genre of all time.

However, in the last few years contemporary romance books about royalty have been gaining ground. Due to what might be called the Meghan effect, we have seen an abundance of new titles about kings and queens, princes and princesses falling in love in a new era.

We hope you enjoy our selection of our favourite books in this genre!

  • #1 Royally Matched - Emma Chase

    Royally Matched - Emma Chase

    funny contemporary royalty shy heroine virgin heroine

    Some men are born responsible, some men have responsibility thrust upon them. Henry John Edgar Thomas Pembrook, Prince of Wessco, just got the motherlode of all responsibility dumped in his regal lap.

    He’s not handling it well.

    Hoping to force her grandson to rise to the occasion, Queen Lenora goes on a much-needed safari holiday—and when the Queen’s away, the Prince will play. After a chance meeting with an American television producer, Henry finally makes a decision all on his own:

    Welcome to Matched: Royal Edition.

    A reality TV dating game show featuring twenty of the world's most beautiful blue bloods gathered in the same castle.. more

  • #2 A Prince on Paper - Alyssa Cole

    A Prince on Paper - Alyssa Cole

    funny multicultural contemporary bw/wm royalty

    The Reluctant Royals series returns with a good girl searching for the life that’s not too big, and not too small, and the bad boy prince who might be just right for her…

    Nya Jerami fled Thesolo for the glitz and glamour of NYC but discovered that her Prince Charming only exists in her virtual dating games. When Nya returns home for a royal wedding, she accidentally finds herself up close and personal—in bed—with the real-life celebrity prince who she loves to hate.

    For Johan von Braustein, the red-headed step-prince of Liechtienbourg, acting as paparazzi bait is a ruse that protects his brother—the heir to the throne—and his own heart.. more

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  • #3 Red, White & Royal Blue - Casey McQuiston

    Red, White & Royal Blue - Casey McQuiston

    funny enemies to lovers royalty m-m (gay) friends to lovers

    A big-hearted romantic comedy in which the First Son falls in love with the Prince of Wales after an incident of international proportions forces them to pretend to be best friends...

    First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz is the closest thing to a prince this side of the Atlantic. With his intrepid sister and the Veep’s genius granddaughter, they’re the White House Trio, a beautiful millennial marketing strategy for his mother, President Ellen Claremont. International socialite duties do have downsides—namely, when photos of a confrontation with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations.. more

  • #4 Hot Heir - Pippa Grant

    Hot Heir - Pippa Grant

    funny contemporary marriage of convenience royalty enemies to lovers

    If I had to pick a bride of convenience, my first choice would NOT be Peach Maloney. My fiftieth choice would NOT be Peach. Top spot on my list of occupational hazards? Yes.Royal pain in the crumpets? Yes. A bride of convenience? No.

    But I’ve unexpectedly gone from royal bodyguard to monarch, having inherited a crown that was stolen from my family long before my birth. The kicker of this unexpected royal gift? In order to take the throne I must find a wife.

    Have I mentioned Peach would NOT have been my hundredth choice? But I’ve no other options, and she needs a favor that my new position can fulfill quite nicely. So we’ve agreed to play the doting newlyweds out in public.. more

  • #5 The Princess Trap - Talia Hibbert

    The Princess Trap - Talia Hibbert

    multicultural contemporary bisexual bw/wm fake relationship

    He’s reckless, dominant, and deliciously dirty. This prince is no fairytale. Prince Ruben of Helgmøre knows exactly what he wants—and his current obsession is Cherry Neita. Everything from her rollercoaster curves to her fearsome attitude commands his attention. And best of all? She has no idea who Ruben is. Until the paparazzi catch them in a dark alley, her scarlet lipstick smudged, and his hands somewhere naughty…

    All Cherry wanted was a night or two with the hottest man she’d ever seen. Turns out, that man is actually a prince, and now he needs her to play princess. Well, princess-to-be. more

  • #6 Royal Player - Katie McCoy

    Royal Player - Katie McCoy

    sports funny royalty athletes contemporary

    Charlie Davenport is the bad boy of British sports - and third in line to the throne. He's a beast on the courts, and a wild animal in bed (according to all the tabloids). Girls are lining up for chance at his crown jewels, and when I stumble into the wrong Wimbledon dressing room and catch a glimpse of his game, set, AND match, I can see why. So what's a little good luck kiss between f̶r̶i̶e̶n̶d̶s̶ strangers?

    I know better than to get involved with a bad boy like Charlie. But now he's on a winning streak, he thinks I'm his lucky charm - and you know what's luckier than a kiss?

    Everything.. more

  • #7 The Royal Treatment - Melanie Summers

    The Royal Treatment - Melanie Summers

    funny contemporary enemies to lovers

    A gorgeously funny, romantic and seductive modern fairy-tale…

    Ultra-private, ridiculously handsome Crown Prince Arthur has always gotten by on his charm. But that won’t be enough now that the Royal Family is about to be ousted from power once and for all. When Prince Arthur has to rely on the one woman in the kingdom who hates him most, he must learn that earning the love of a nation means first risking his heart.

    Twenty-eight-year-old Tessa Sharpe, a.k.a. The Royal Watchdog, hates everything about Prince Arthur. As far as she’s concerned, he’s an arrogant, lazy leech on the kingdom of Avonia.. more

  • #8 Royally Pucked - Pippa Grant

    Royally Pucked - Pippa Grant

    sports funny contemporary royalty

    When you’re an heir so spare that getting attacked by a shark is more likely than you ever wearing the crown, you’re only allowed certain liberties. Yet still, those liberties can bite you in the ass. Good thing I’m such a charming devil.

    Even then, I’ve been banished to America for a year under the pretense of playing professional hockey while my father cleans up my latest mess. But trouble follows me wherever I go. Generally trouble of the beautiful female variety, and Gracie Diamonte is no exception. Or possibly, she’s the best exception.

    Until the dinosaur suit. The cookie incident. And the accidental pregnancy. Of course I’ll do the right thing.. more

  • #9 Heir Untamed - Danielle Bourdon

    Heir Untamed - Danielle Bourdon

    contemporary bad boys billionaire alpha male suspense

    Desperate for work to avoid eviction from her Seattle apartment, photographer Chey Sinclair accepts a rare opportunity to travel abroad and photograph Latvala Royalty. Encountering the Royals for the first time, Chey experiences an instant attraction to Mattias, second in line to the throne. He's charming, confident—and taken.

    During a horseback ride to clear her head, Chey finds herself in a scuffle with Sander Fisk, head of security. Rugged, determined and sharp tongued, Sander is infuriating as well as intriguing.

    Faced with conflicting emotions and a mystery unfolding in the castle, Chey must decide between men: a Prince of Latvala, or an arrogant rogue.. more

  • #10 A Veil of Vines - Tillie Cole

    A Veil of Vines - Tillie Cole

    christian contemporary love triangle friends to lovers young adult

    To most people, princes, princesses, counts and dukes are found only in the pages of the most famous of fairytales. Crowns, priceless jewels and gilded thrones belong only in childhood dreams.
    But for some, these frivolous fancies are truth.
    For some, they are real life.
    On Manhattan’s Upper East Side, people have always treated me as someone special. All because of my ancestral name and legacy. All because of a connection I share to our home country’s most important family of all.
    I am Caresa Acardi, the Duchessa di Parma. A blue blood of Italy. I was born to marry well. And now the marriage date is set.
    I am to marry into House Savona.. more

  • #11 The King's Innocent Bride - Alexa Riley

    The King's Innocent Bride - Alexa Riley

    contemporary pregnancy virgin heroine alpha male insta-love

    Kate was forced to live with her uncle when she was little and was kept locked away. Then one night she found out her uncle was going to use her as collateral in a bet, and she knew she had to break free. But when she did, she never imagined she’d run straight into trouble with the king.

    James is ruler of all that’s around him, and he has to keep the peace in his kingdom. When a trespasser is brought before him, he isn’t prepared for what happens next. He’s ready to stake his claim and take what he wants. He’s the king, after all.. more

  • #12 Playing to Win - Avery Cockburn

    Playing to Win - Avery Cockburn

    athletes m-m (gay) sports erotic romance royalty

    Colin MacDuff has nothing. Growing up in a Glasgow slum, he learned never to trust, never to cry—and never EVER to be at the mercy of anyone, especially rich men. So how did he end up half-naked at a rave with Scotland’s hottest young aristocrat?

    Lord Andrew Sunderland has everything. From ancestral castle to posh prep school, he’s spent his life wrapping others around his wee finger. With a social circle full of celebrities and politicians, nothing can stop Andrew’s rise to the top. Nothing, that is, save his desire for a dirt-poor, wolf-eyed footballer whose scars and tattoos tell unbearable tales.. more

  • #13 How to Catch a Prince - Rachel Hauck

    How to Catch a Prince - Rachel Hauck

    contemporary christian royalty

    Prince Stephen came to America to escape responsibility. But what he found complicates his life more than ever.

    Corina Del Rey is happy with her life in Melbourne, Florida. She spends her days engrossed in her career as a journalist and has her sights set on climbing the corporate ladder if for no other reason, to distract herself from her dissolving family. But when she is confronted with the past she fought so hard to put behind her, she struggles to make sense of her future.

    Prince Stephen of Brighton Kingdom has moved on since the tragic death of his buddies in Afghanistan.. more

  • #14 Royal Chase - Sariah Wilson

    Royal Chase - Sariah Wilson

    christian funny contemporary royalty friends to lovers

    Booking her client, Prince Dante of Monterra, on reality show Marry Me is a royal coup for PR agent Lemon Beauchamp. But thanks to a last-minute glitch, Lemon must pretend to be one of the contestants vying to win the playboy prince’s love and then live happily ever after—at least until the publicity tour ends.

    Prince Dante agreed to go on the show to find a wife, even though he already has the perfect candidate in mind. She’s smart, funny, sexy, and completely uninterested in wealth and fame. She’s also absolutely determined to keep him at arm’s length.

    Even if Lemon weren’t already engaged, she can’t trust a notorious flirt like Dante.. more

  • #15 Priceless - Raine Miller

    Priceless - Raine Miller

    contemporary royalty mystery alpha male bdsm

    Ivan Everley, 13th Baron Rothvale , will tell you himself he's the LAST person on earth who should have custody over a priceless collection of art, but since when does the irony of life ever fall in line with what somebody wants? Ivan might be a Lord according to British law, but he's just a regular guy with an appetite for speed...and women...and some dominating kink in the bedroom. Yeah, just a regular guy who happens have Olympic gold medals stashed away in his house. Riiiight. His public profile is merely a sham--his private life a carefully guarded secret borne out of the pain of betrayal.. more

  • #16 Royally Endowed - Emma Chase

    Royally Endowed - Emma Chase

    funny contemporary royalty forbidden love friends to lovers

    Logan St. James is a smoldering, sexy beast. Sure, he can be a little broody at times—but Ellie Hammond’s willing to overlook that. Because, have you seen him??

    Sexy. As. Hell.

    And Ellie’s perky enough for both of them.

    For years, she’s had a crush on the intense, gorgeous royal security guard—but she doesn’t think he ever saw her, not really.

    To Logan, Ellie was just part of the job—a relative of the royal family he’d sworn to protect. Now, at 22 years old and fresh out of college, she’s determined to put aside her X-rated dreams of pat-downs and pillow talk, and find a real life happily ever after.. more

  • #17 Risky Shot - Kathleen Brooks

    Risky Shot - Kathleen Brooks

    funny suspense contemporary cowboys royalty

    Danielle De Luca, an ex-beauty queen who is not at all what she seems, leaves the streets of New York after tracking the criminals out to destroy her. She travels to Keeneston, Kentucky to make her final stand by the side of her best friend, McKenna Mason. While in Keeneston, Danielle meets the quiet and mysterious Mohtadi Ali Rahmen, a modern day Prince.. more

  • #18 The Princess - Lori Wick

    The Princess - Lori Wick

    contemporary arranged/forced marriage marriage of convenience royalty christian

    In the Land of Pendaran, Shelby Parker lives a humble but good life. Her special qualities are eventually noticed by the king and queen of the House of Markham, who seek a new wife for their widowed son, Prince Nikolai.

    To uphold the tradition of their country, Shelby and Nikolai agree to an arranged marriage. But while Nikolai is a perfect gentleman in public, he remains distant at home, leaving Shelby to wonder what is in his heart.. more

  • #19 The Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot

    The Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot

    contemporary royalty sassy heroine high school

    She's just a New York City girl living with her artist mom...

    News Flash: Dad is prince of Genovia. (So that's why a limo meets her at the airport!)

    Downer: Dad can't have any more kids. (So no heir to the throne.)

    Shock of the Century: Like it or not, Mia Thermopolis is prime princess material.

    Mia must take princess lessons from her dreaded grandmére, the dowager princess of Genovia, who thinks Mia has a thing or two to learn before she steps up to the throne.

    Well, her father can lecture her until he's royal-blue in the face about her princessly duty--no way is she moving to Genovia and leaving Manhattan behind.. more

  • #20 The Swedish Prince - Karina Halle

    The Swedish Prince - Karina Halle

    funny new adult royalty billionaire alpha male

    I never believed in fairy-tales. Never held out for Prince Charming. Growing up poor in small-town California as the oldest of six siblings, I knew I would never ride off into the sunset with anyone. That was even more apparent when a senseless tragedy took the lives of my parents, forcing me to become the sole guardian of our dysfunctional household at the mere age of twenty-three.

    Then a fateful encounter literally brought Prince Charming to my doorstep.

    At first I thought Viktor was just your average businessman passing through, albeit obscenely handsome, six-foot-five, blue-eyed, and mysteriously rich.. more


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