With more than 70 millions households watching worldwide, Netflix’ record-breaking ‘The Crown’ has been a reminder how much royal families still captivate viewers.
Betting on a similar success, Amazon Prime is launching a new drama series on Valentine’s Day, Harald & Sonja, about the current monarchs King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway and the love story they had to fight for, she being a commoner.
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Although their reign is today incontestable, their relationship and their wedding in 1968 deeply shook Norway’s monarchy and sparked controversy within the country. Just like their son, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, heir apparent to the Norwegian throne, when he tied the knot in 2001 with Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby, a commoner and single mother; and just like their daughter, Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, did last year, when she married American ‘Shaman’ Durek Verrett, a self-professed shaman, conspiracy theorist and convicted felon.
And they are far from being the only ones. Did you know that there are currently 26 monarchies in the world? Whether they already reign or will get their crown in the coming years, these figures represent a new generation of monarchs who are bound to continue to fascinate the public. Let’s meet some of them!
Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway
Crown Prince Haakon is the second child and only son of King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway. He married Crown Princess Mette-Marit in 2001 after a controversial engagement. Not only was she a commoner, a lower status that was not a real issue given the past of the current monarchs, but she had a son from a previous relationship. They married nonetheless and the Crown Princess has since gained the favors of the Norwegians.
Back in January 2024, King Harald V, 87, confirmed that he was planning to stay on the throne until his death, with no intention of abdicating like his cousin, Margrethe II of Denmark. However, his declining health has led Crown Prince Haakon to take more and more royal duties to replace his father.
Norway having adopted absolute primogeniture in 1990, Crown Prince Haakon’s daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, 21, is now heir apparent to the throne.
Crown Prince Hussein and Crown Princess Rajwa of Jordan
Crown Prince Hussein is the eldest son of King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan. The story of his parents rise to the thrown captivated the world in the 1990s: Abdullah’s uncle was supposed to inherit the throne but his father changed his mind shortly before his death in 1999, making his already-engaged son his successor. Now the son’s romance with Rajwa Al Saif and both their good looks have made them a very popular royal couple, beyond Jordan. The way they share their life and pose for photos often draw comparisons to Britain’s Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Crown Princess Rajwa, whose mother is related to some degree to King Salman of Saudi Arabia, was a trained architect. Crown Prince Hussein married her in Amman in June 2023. On 3 August 2024, they welcomed their first child, Princess Iman, who will never be in line of succession, as the throne currently passes according to agnatic primogeniture (first son).
Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden
Crown Princess Victoria is the first child of Queen Silvia and King Carl XVI Gustaf. Succession laws of male primogeniture made it so her younger brother, Prince Carl, arrived first in the line of succession. However, after the latter’s birth in 1979, the Constitution was amended so she could become heir apparent.
She married her personal trainer Daniel Westling in 2010 in a ceremony then described as “Europe‘s biggest royal wedding since the Prince of Wales married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981″. They have two children: Princess Estelle Silvia Ewa Mary, 12, first-born second in line for the throne, and Prince Oscar Carl Olof, 8.
Crown Princess Victoria is one of Europe’s most popular royals and annual polls in Sweden place her as the favorite royal member, before her father. King Carl XVI Gustaf, 78, is the longest-reigning monarch in Swedish history and he has repeatedly said he was not planning on stepping down.
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan
Often called the ‘most attractive’ royal couple in the world, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan have brought the spotlight on this small kingdom located in the Eastern Himalayas between Tibet and India.
Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, 44, began his reign in 2006 after his father Jigme Singye Wangchuck abdicated the throne. In 2011, he married Jetsun Pema, who became Queen Ashi Jetsun Pema Wangchuck and the youngest queen consort in the world. She was soon heralded the “Kate Middleton of the Himalayas” because of her photogenic charm and fashion touch. The couple’s progressive values, approachability and kindness has won over hearts around the globe and each of the diplomatic visits has not gone unnoticed.
The couple has three children: Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, born in 2016, Prince Jigme Ugyen Wangchuck, born in 202, and Princess Sonam Yangden Wangchuck, born in 2023.
William and Catherine, Prince and Princess of Wales of Britain
Prince William, the Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, first met in 2001 while studying at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Their friendship blossomed into a relationship, though they briefly split in 2007 before reconciling. They married in a grand ceremony in 2011, becoming one of the most high-profile royal couples. Together, they have three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—who are central to the modern image of the royal family.
Despite their public image of unity, William and Catherine have faced challenges, including tensions within the royal family. Reports suggest strained relations with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, particularly following Harry’s departure from royal duties and his criticisms of the institution. Catherine’s health has become a concern after she underwent abdominal surgery in early 2024 for cancer. She recently announced her cancer was in remission.
Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala and Crown Princess Sinaitakala of Tonga
Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala (Siaosi George) Manumataongo ʻAlaivahamamaʻo ʻAhoʻeitu Konstantin Tukuʻaho), became heir apparent to the throne in March 2012 upon the accession of his father, Tupou VI, as King of Tonga. In July 2012, at the age of 26, he married Sinaitakala Fakafanua, his second cousin.
Though the practice of marrying closely related cousins to preserve a noble bloodline has been continuously followed, their union caused controversy, even within the royal family, over a protocol now judged obsolete and dangerous. Opposed to this wedding, Queen mother Halaevalu Mataʻaho ʻAhomeʻe and the king’s sister, Princess Royal Salote Pilolevu Tuita, refused to attend the ceremony.
On January 28, Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala was named minister for defense and foreign affairs for the Pacific Islands nation a week after prime minister ‘Aisake Eke was appointed by King Tupou VI.
King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark
During her New Year’s Eve address on December 31, 2023, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark announced she was stepping down in favor of her son, Frederik. The news of the abdication of their beloved monarch came as a shock for many Danes, but the ascension to the throne of the new King was widely approved as he shares a similar popularity among his people.
Frederik met Australian marketing consultant Mary Donaldson while attending the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. They married in 2004. Like in Sweden and in the Netherlands, marrying a commoner is actually quite common among Danish royals. Together, they have four children, Crown Prince Christian, 19, Princess Isabella, 17, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, 14.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands
Willem-Alexander, 57, became King in April 2013, after his mother, Queen Beatrix, abdicated. He also became the first man to take the throne since 1890. In 2002, he married Argentine Máxima Zorreguieta, who the Dutch have quickly embraced, especially after she became Queen, despite a growing loss of confidence in the monarchy.
A series of controversies during the pandemic has led to heavy criticism and the King has been registering decreasing approval ratings. Queen Máxima’s, however, have remained stable and she is today Netherlands’ favorite royal.
The couple has three daughters, Crown Princess Catharina-Amalia, 21 – who has been accompanying her parents on royal duties recently, Princess Alexia, 19, and Princess Ariane, 17.
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco
The second child and only son of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace, Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi became sovereign prince after his father died in 2005. He married South African Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock in 2011. They have twins: Jacques, hereditary Prince of Monaco and Princess Gabriella.
Albert II’s illegitimate children, Jazmin and Alexander, as well as Princess Charlene numerous glum-looking pictures have often put the family under international scrutiny fueled many rumors about its unity.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain
Felipe, 56, ascended the throne on 19 June 2014 upon the abdication of his father Juan Carlos I, who was embroiled in multiple controversies. As Spanish monarch, he is also head of state and commander-in-chief of the Spanish Armed Forces. In 2004, he married TV news journalist and divorcee Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, with whom he has two daughters, Princess Leonor, heir presumptive, and Infanta Sofía.
Although the monarchy is often questioned in Spain, polls continuously show that the majority of the Spaniards are still in favor. The King and Queen consort also benefit from a stable popularity, despite the many personal and financial scandals involving the former King who fled the country in disgrace. Felipe VI made a point of distancing his reign from his father’s, prompting more transparency and renouncing his inheritance.
Prince Guillaume and Princess Stéphanie of Luxembourg
The son of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, and regent of the country since October 2024, Guillaume is set to become Grand Duke on 3 October 2025 upon the abdication of his father, reigning since 2000. In 2012, he married Belgian Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy with whom he has two sons: Prince Charles, born in 2020 and second in line of succession, and Prince François Henri Louis Marie Guillaume, born in 2023.
Prince Guillaume has been appreciated for his honesty and for prioritizing a work-life balance to stay as present as possible for his family.
As head of state, the Grand Duke participates in legislative power, promulgating laws, and exercises executive power jointly with the government. However, Luxembourg’s constitution and recent reforms do not provide for a formal role of the Great Duchess, spouse of the reigning monarch. Crown Princess Stéphanie is thus expected to define her own involvement on social issues.
