Swedish Princess Lilian has died at the age of 97, leaving behind one of the most romantic love stories of our time and following her 'Prince Charming' into the afterlife.

"A much loved and appreciated member of the royal family has now passed away," Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said of the death of the Swedish princess in a statement on Monday.

Princess Lilian was not always royalty, in fact she was a Welsh model before she met her Prince Charming, Sweden's Prince Bertil.

On her 28^th birthday Lilian met Prince Bertil at a cocktail party. The two hit it off immediately. Even though she was already married to British actor Ivan Craig, Lilian and Bertil became lovers and after two years, she divorced her husband to be with the Prince.

The pair lived together in the south of France for 30 years before finally getting married.

Because Sweden's succession rules at that time were very strict and did not allow a contender for the throne and a commoner to wed. Lilian and Bertil could not get the blessing to marry - two Prince Bertil's brothers had already renounced the throne by marrying commoners and the only other heir, his older brother Crown Prince Gustaf Adolph, died in a plane crash in 1947.

But Lilian and her prince did not give up hope and instead lived together discretely, but very much in love for several decades.

Finally, in 1976, times had changed and the pair were permitted to marry, some 33 years after they met, and Lilian became the Swedish princess.

Prince Bertil was very popular in the media and had developed the nickname 'Prince Charming' because of his love affair and heartwarming romance with his princess.

He died in 1997 aged 84 with Princess Lilian by his side.

The Swedish princess was also beloved by the public, not just because of the romance behind her story, but because of her various civic involvements.

In 2010 she was forced to withdraw from the public life due to advancing Alzheimer's disease.

Swedish Princess Lilian was a much beloved figure and cherished by many the world over. Her real-life fairy tale and marriage to Prince Charming are an inspiration to girls around the world and she will be greatly missed.