The pages of history have long been dominated by Kings. Since as early as 2900BC, Kings have ruled kingdoms from the Mediterranean to modern Europe. Women, however, have been the exception – not the rule. We have glimpsed some powerful Queens throughout time; Queen Nefertiti ruled Egypt, Queen Elizabeth I the ‘Virgin Queen’ was a formidable monarch, and even our own current Queen Elizabeth II holds her own.
But with the coming generation of monarchs, the tides are set to turn. No longer will women be the minority in the European monarchies, they will be in equal numbers to the boys. The rule. Not the exception.
Out of 10 inheritable monarchies, women will rule five. The Princesses of the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Spain and Norway will join Prince Christian of Denmark, Prince Jacques of Monaco, Prince William of Britain, Prince Alois of Liechtenstein, and the Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg.
Meet the Princesses who will one day rule Europe.
Netherlands: 11 year old Catharina-Amalia, the ‘Princess of Orange’, is only the second girl to become second-in-line for the Throne of the Netherlands. Her father, King Willem-Alexander, became King when his mother, Queen Beatrix, abdicated in 2013.
Catharina-Amalia is fluent in Dutch, English, and Spanish, and will be given a seat on the Council of State of the Netherlands when she turns 18.
Spain: Princess Leonor is first in line to succeed her father, King Felip VI, on the Throne of Spain. She became heir apparent, or the ‘Princess of Asturias’, when her father ascended the throne in 2014. She is 9.
Sweden: Older than her queenly counterparts at 37, Crown Princess Victoria could inherit the throne of Sweden a lot earlier than the rest. If Victoria inherits her father, King Carl XVI Gustaf’s throne, she will become the fourth Queen Regnant to reign in Sweden.
Sweden: Carrying on this new tradition of Swedish Queens, Crown Princess Victoria’s first born child, three-year-old Princess Estelle, is second in line and will ascend the throne after her mother.
Belgium: Princess Elisabeth, 13, is the heir apparent to the Belgian throne after her father, King Philippe of Belgium. Elisabeth is the eldest of four siblings, and holds the title ‘Duchess of Brabant’.
Norway: At 11 years old, Princess Ingrid Alexandra is third in line to inherit the throne, after her father, Crown Prince Haakon. Not satisfied with the Norwegian throne, Princess Ingrid is also 74th in line to the British crown.
