A Modern Princess: Mabel Van Oranje, When you hear princess, what do you think of? Do you think of long-haired maidens locked in tall towers, glass slippers, jewels, or tiaras and intricately embroidered gowns? Or do you think of a modern, sleek, Kate Middleton-esque person, with impeccable fashion sense and perfect hair? The definition of Princess is slowly changing, and one Princess helping it along is Her Royal Highness (HRH) Princess Mabel Van Oranje.Before she was Princess Mabel, she was Mabel Wisse Smit, a committed, passionate and energetic young woman ready to change the world for the better. Mabel grew up in the central Netherlands, before heading to the University of Amsterdam, where she planned on studying law, but ended up studying political science and economics instead.