Smiling, waving, nodding—these are the tasks of royalty! GALA shows you again this year the royal appearances of princes and queens from around the world.
In the Presidential Palace of Colombia, President Gustavo Petro and his First Lady Verónica Alcocer greet the Queen. While smiling, waving, and nodding are certainly part of royal etiquette, they are not the only duties fulfilled by royal families at public events. Our royals are sought-after speakers, guests at international events, or at charity events. Some members have more obligations than others. Often, the King and Queen, as well as the Crown Prince and Princess, undertake the most engagements. Most European monarchs now have purely representative duties, without influencing state affairs.
Royal Calendar 2024: Europe’s Monarchies
There are still twelve royal houses in Europe. The British royal family is perhaps the most well-known. With around 3500 appearances annually, the British royals lead the pack in public engagements. You can find the packed schedule of the Windsors, including Prince William and Catherine, the Princess of Wales, and others, here. Yet, the other royal houses also keep pace with event visits. At least, these monarchies are also often seen at official events.
Spain
Since 2014, the Spanish monarchy has been represented by King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and their daughters Leonor, Princess of Asturias, and Infanta Sofía. Spain’s king follows in large footsteps, as his father Juan Carlos previously abolished the dictatorship and paved the way for democracy and parliamentary rule. The Spanish monarchy holds the highest office in the country and, therefore, must attend many public events. Other official members of the royal family include the King and Queen, Juan Carlos I and Sofía de Greci, and Felipe’s older sisters Elena de Borbón and Cristina de Borbón.
Denmark
Denmark’s monarchy is not only the oldest in the world but also highly popular. The Danish royals disdain outdated rules and emphasize adapting to modern times. Queen Margrethe II and her husband Prince Henrik, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 83, were frequently seen at diplomatic and charitable events. Their eldest son, Crown Prince Frederik, and his wife, Crown Princess Mary, now largely continue this duty. The couple has four children, leading to a full calendar both within and outside their royal obligations.
Norway
Since 1991, Norway’s monarchy has been led by King Harald and Queen Silvia. Their son, Crown Prince Haakon, is the first heir from the Norwegian royal family. With his wife, Mette-Marit Høiby, he has two children, Ingrid Alexandra and Sverre Magnus. Mette-Marit also brings a son from her first marriage into the royal family, Marius Borg Høiby. The family promotes blended happiness and enjoys immense popularity among the Norwegian people. Unfortunately, due to her pulmonary fibrosis, Mette-Marit can now attend fewer engagements than before.
Sweden
Not only Norwegians, but also Swedish royals are celebrated for being close to the people. This may be because not all members of the royal family have blue blood. The Swedish royal family consists of King Carl XVI Gustaf and his German-born wife Silvia, along with their children Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip, and Princess Madeleine. All three royal children are married to non-noble partners and have already started their own families. When the royal offspring attend events, it is usually vibrant and lively—very endearing!
Netherlands
Compared to other monarchies, the Dutch monarchy is not particularly old, having existed since 1815. Until 2013, Princess Beatrix reigned as Queen, then succeeded by her eldest son, the current King Willem-Alexander. Since then, Willem-Alexander and his wife, Queen Máxima, have largely managed the packed calendar on their own. Occasionally, their three daughters join them.
