How royal families across the world are trying to avoid a repeat of Megxit by giving their ‘spares’ more to do – from Princess Alexia of the Netherlands to Sofia of Spain
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping down as working royals was one of the biggest scandals in modern monarchical history.
In what became known as ‘Megxit’ the Duke and Duchess of Sussex decided to part ways with the firm in early 2020 and in the three and half years since have launched Netflix and Spotify deal to a somewhat mixed success.
In his memoir Spare, Harry said that everyone from his parents to the Queen and Prince Philip referred to him and Prince William as ‘the Heir and the Spare’.
And – perhaps in a bid to avoid Megxit round two – royal families from around the world have given their ‘spares’ more and more to do – even though some of them are still teenagers.
Princess Alexia of the Netherlands will likely never sit on the throne.
Princess Alexia of the Netherlands will likely never sit on the throne. The royal, who recently celebrated her 18th birthday, is the second child of Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.
The royal recently underwent her first solo engagement , as she christened the Vox Alexia, a ship by Dutch manufacture Van Oord, in Rotterdam
The royal, who recently celebrated her 18th birthday, is the second child of Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.
Her eldest sister Catharina-Amalia is the heir – but that hasn’t stopped the Dutch royals from making sure Amalia gets her time in the limelight.
The royal recently underwent her first solo engagement, as she christened the Vox Alexia, a ship by Dutch manufacture Van Oord, in Rotterdam.
Rather than shy away from the spotlight, the princess looked poised and professional throughout the solo event.
Following the christening, Alexia gave a tour of the ship and chat to the crew, as well as speak to members of the Young Van Oord association.
Alexia recently graduated from UWC Atlantic College in South Wales in May this year, with her parents travelling to the prestigious school to celebrate.
The school is often referred to as ‘Hippie Hogwarts’ thanks to its progressive approach to education and picturesque castle setting.
Meanwhile, the Spanish royal family have made a song and dance over their ‘spare’ Infanta Sofia attending the academy.
Meanwhile, the Spanish royal family have made a song and dance over their ‘spare’ Infanta Sofia attending the academy
At just 16, the teen isn’t doing solo engagements just yet, but Queen Letizia and King Felipe were sure to share many snaps of her on her first day
At just 16, the teen isn’t doing solo engagements just yet, but Queen Letizia and King Felipe were sure to share many snaps of her on her first day.
The royal family released photos of the King and Queen beaming as they posed with their daughter, who was sat on the boot of the vehicle.
Meanwhile, Princesses Leonor and Sofia have made appearances without their parents.
The sisters recently attended a workshop on innovation and creativity led by the Spanish chef Ferran Adrià in Gironda in the Galicia region – without their parents.
Another teen royal coming to the forefront is Danish spare Princess Isabella, also 16.
While Queen Margrethe, 82, recently stripped titles from her youngest son Joachim’s four children Nikolai, 23, Felix, 20, Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10 – Isabella, and her brother (the heir) Christian, kept their titles.
Last year, the Danish royal family assembled at Fredensborg Castle Church in Fredensborg, to mark Isabella’s confirmation – with Crown Princess Mary and Prince Frederik joined by their four children.
She has also taken centre stage at the Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen for her grandmother’s birthday standing front and centre of all the shots.
The Spanish King and Queen beamed as they posed with their daughter, who was sat on the boot of the vehicle
Sofia, 16, left her residence at ‘Prince Pavilion’ near Zarzuela Palace to start school at the UWC Atlantic College in Wales
In snaps released yesterday by the palace, Sofía grinned as she walked through the grounds of the school in her casual checked shirt, black crop top and relaxed trousers
Sofía will follow in her sister’s footsteps by attending the Welsh school, as Princess Leonor graduated with the International Baccalaureate from the UWC Atlantic College in May
Infanta Sofía of Spain, 16, appeared excited to start the new school year as she toured the grounds of Hippie Hogwarts in photographs released yesterday
In the photographs released yesterday, the teenager could be seen strolling around the grounds in her casual outfit
Another teen royal coming to the forefront is Danish spare Princess Isabella, also 16. While Queen Margrethe, 82, recently stripped titles from her youngest son Joachim’s four children Nikolai, 23, Felix, 20, Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10 – Isabella, and her brother (the heir) Christian, kept their title
Unveiled: Princess Isabella wore a Max Mara blazer for her confirmation ceremony
Meanwhile, in Monaco ‘Spares’ Princess Caroline and Princess Stephanie often attend royal engagements.
Prince Albert, 65, attended the screening of the film Rainier III Par Lui Meme at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco to mark the centenary of his late father’s birth.
He donned a suit as he smiled in front of the poster next to his sister, Princess Stephanie of Monaco, 58, who was joined by her son Louis Ducruet with his wife Marie, and daughter Camille Gottlieb .
Meanwhile, Princess Caroline , 66, came along with her elder son Andrea Casiraghi and his wife Tatiana Santo Domingo and her daughter Princess Alexandra of Hanover with her partner Ben Sylvester Strautmann.
In Sweden, Prince Carl Philip often attends royal gatherings.
This week the the handsome Prince and his wife Princess Sofia attended the State Opening of Parliament in Stockholm.
Interestingly, Prince Carl Philip was born an heir and then ‘became a spare’.
Prince Albert was pictured alongside his sisters, Princess Stephanie of Monaco and Princess Caroline of Hanover
However, Princess Charlene, 45, was not at the event and their eight-year-old twin children Jacques and Gabriella, also did not appear to be there
The King of Sweden has said he felt it ‘wasn’t fair’ that his daughter was made to heir-to-the-throne when a change in succession laws happened in 1980 – stripping his son of his position as King in waiting.
Crown Princess Victoria was two-years-old when the new law was introduced and updated the natural order of succession by stating that the eldest child, regardless of gender, should inherit the throne.
Up until then, her younger brother Carl Philip, who was seven months old, was meant to become King, because the previous law favoured male heirs.
However he was stripped of his Crown Prince title under the new law and Victoria became the heir apparent.
And in an interview released last year with local news channel SVT, the Swedish King, 76, said he felt it had been unfair to apply the new law to his children after they were already born
Also at the opening of parliament was Prince Carl Philip of Sweden, 44, and his wife, Princess Sofia, 38
When the King’s first child Victoria was born in 1977, the law of succession meant that if the King had a son, she would be succeeded to the throne.
So when he was born in 1979, Carl Philip became the heir apparent.
However on January 1 1980, a change in the law stated that the first born child should be the heir, regardless of whether they were a boy or a girl.
It was decided that although the King’s children were already born, the law would be applied to them retroactively, placing the future of the Monarchy in Victoria’s hands and stripping Carl of his Crown Prince title.
Carl Gustaf opposed the decision at the time, and voiced that he still believes the decision to have been unfair in the recent interview.
Carl Gustaf said in the interview, which was recorded in the autumn, that his issue was with the fact that the law had been retroactively applied to Victoria and Carl Philip, when the prince was seven months old.
‘It’s tricky to have laws that work retroactively. It doesn’t seem wise,’ he said.
‘You can accept the next generation – that’s okay. But it was my son who was born, and they got rid of it all,’ he said, adding: ‘It’s quite strange. You can’t do that.’
When the interviewer asked him if it had been unfair to strip his son of his title after he’d already been born, he replied: ‘Yes, I think so.’
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