Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau was born Mabel Martine Los on August 11th 1968 in The Netherlands. Her parents are Hendrik and Florence Los (nee Kooman). Sadly her father passed away when she was just 9 years old and her father remarried to Peter Wisse Smit. Mabel and her younger sister Nicoline (1970) decided to adopt their father's surname. In 1982 Mabel gained a half-sister named Eveline.
Mabel studied at The University of Amsterdam and earned a degree in economics and political science. Mabel speaks Dutch, English, Spanish and French. These language skills gained her an internship with the UN and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs whilst studying.
Even before joining the Dutch Royal Family Mabel has always been an activist. She co-founded the European Action Council for Peace in the Balkans as well as the organisation War Child Netherlands. Mabel has also been heavily involved in the Open Society Institute and the World Economic Forum. Mabel is a member of the Interpeace Governing Council and the European Council for Foreign Relations.
Mabel became engaged to Prince Friso, the second son of Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands in 2003. This was met with controversy as she has a past relationship with a Dutch drug lord. The government would not give permission for the marriage as they believed she has given false information about the extent of her contact with her ex. Prince Friso decided to marry Mabel despite this and they got married on 24th April 2004 and Mabel became Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau. The couple had two children together;
1). Countess Luana (26th March 2005)
2). Countess Zaria (18th June 2006)
Sadly her husband was involved in a skiing accident in 2012 and was buried under an avalanche. On 12th August 2013 after some improvement the month before Prince Friso passed away of complications and Princess Mabel was left widowed. She currently lives in London and is raising her two daughters.
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