Prince Consorts: In the Shadow of the Crown

Royals in the 21st century? A job for power couples! While it’s hard to imagine the British royal family without the Queen, her successors have long since taken the reins. In Spain, Felipe and Letizia are already shouldering the responsibility. In the United Kingdom and Sweden, two more power couples—William and Kate, as well as Victoria and Daniel—are waiting in the wings.

Over the centuries, it has been put to the test time and again: the Swedish monarchy, one of the oldest in the world and, at the same time, one of the most modern. What is the secret to the success of the Swedish royals, who enjoy such great popularity? “Moving with the times for Sweden”: King Carl Gustaf has made this the motto of his reign. As a result, gender equality has long been a part of the Swedish royal family. In 1980, the law of succession was amended to grant men and women equal inheritance rights. Marriages to commoners have also become a tradition. Sweden’s royal children are free to marry whomever they choose. The king himself set the example when he married Silvia Sommerlath from Heidelberg in 1976.

Royal family expert Julia Melchior takes a multifaceted look at three memorable departures from Europe’s royal families and sheds light on the background stories, offering new insights into the royal system and the biographies of Harry, Friso, and Märtha Louise. The “Megxit” in January 2020 is still causing a stir. Prince Harry is working through his fate in a way that grabs media attention: the press, the expectations, the conventions. He felt “trapped in the system” of the royal family, from which he has now freed himself and his small family. No official role in sight, yet still in the spotlight. Hardly any duties, but many privileges. On the surface, the siblings of the heirs to the throne seem to lead easier lives, but does that also make them happier people?

As crown princes, Haakon and Frederik were born for the roles that await them, but they are shaped by the women by their sides. Mette-Marit and Mary serve as advisors, representatives, and sources of support for their husbands. The two crown prince couples see themselves as equals and view their roles as a team effort. This is how they navigate the balancing act between the crown and family, duty and self-determination, old traditions and new issues—albeit in very different ways in both kingdoms. Who are the two crown princes who will ascend the throne in Norway and Denmark in the foreseeable future? In “My Husband, the Crown Prince,” ZDF royal expert Julia Melchior offers a personal look at the two heirs to the throne and the role their wives play in their lives.

She is one of the longest-serving first ladies in the world: Silvia of Sweden. On December 23, the queen beloved by many Germans will celebrate her 80th birthday. To mark the occasion, she shares insights into her life with Julia Melchior in an exclusive interview for Terra X History. The marriage of King Carl Gustaf to Silvia, a commoner from Heidelberg, marked the beginning of a new chapter for the Swedish crown in 1976. Calls for a republic were loud at the time, but Silvia helped usher in a renaissance for the monarchy and restored the royal family’s luster. Silvia herself always saw herself as a working mother. Her job: queen. For this self-image, she is considered a trailblazer in the royal scene.

The Spanish public knew the award-winning journalist as the anchor of their main newscast. Her meteoric rise in the media ended with her wedding, after which a completely different life began for Letizia—first as crown princess, then as queen. Yet some of her compatriots still see her as the ambitious journalist she once was. From the very beginning, Letizia has sought not only to take on patronages but also to delve deeply into issues close to her heart: health, nutrition, education, and women’s rights. In doing so, she openly takes a clear stance. This is a new development for a Spanish queen, and it doesn’t always go over well.

Queen Silvia is an icon; Crown Princess Victoria is a superstar. Mother and daughter bring glamour and good news. Constant public scrutiny and a life dictated by others are the price they pay. Would the Swedish monarchy even have a future without them? This film by royal expert Julia Melchior examines the role of strong women in one of Europe’s most popular royal families. Royals have no power, but they do have influence. Strictly speaking, Queen Silvia, as the wife of the reigning king, is merely the “queen consort.” There is no official job description for First Ladies; representing the monarchy is generally expected. Queen Silvia, however, has filled her role with a mission. She breaks taboos to give a voice to the most vulnerable members of society. With diplomatic skill, she defuses many a precarious situation. And with courage and poise, she also overcomes challenges within her own family.

Since her husband Willem-Alexander became King of the Netherlands in 2013, Queen Máxima has become a prominent figure of the Dutch monarchy. Her role seems perfectly suited to her: as Queen of the Netherlands and a former economist, she combines her royal duties with a strong commitment to financial inclusion and development. As a United Nations Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, Máxima works to improve access to financial services, consumer protection and financial education for people around the world. Her schedule takes her from meetings with political and business leaders to official engagements and international events. The documentary follows Queen Máxima in her demanding role and offers an intimate look at her work, public responsibilities and life as a mother of three.

She has a clear agenda to which she is tirelessly committed: fighting poverty, education, health, and strengthening the rights of women and children. As a trained psychologist, she is a leading figure in the fields of mental health and child welfare. From the Royal Palace, this mother of four has taken up the fight against cyberbullying with a video message she produced herself: “Cyberbullying is despicable!” As honorary president of the “Child Focus” foundation, she advocates for missing and sexually exploited children—an issue that has deeply affected Belgian society since the horrific crimes of Marc Dutroux in the 1990s. As honorary president of UNICEF, she is committed to promoting children’s rights worldwide.

Daily cooperation between the generations is a challenge. As we learn from the royal family, this is no different in the royal household than it is in a family business. Carl Gustaf is (after fifty years on the throne) an experienced monarch, and Victoria is a strong-willed woman. She proved this when it came to the most important decision of her life: her husband, Daniel.

It marks the beginning of a new era in Denmark’s monarchy when Frederik X becomes king on January 14, 2024. On that day, the spotlight will also turn to him: Christian, the new Crown Prince. More duties, more public appearances, and more responsibility now await the royal, who has just come of age. Not much is known about Christian and his siblings—Isabella, Vincent, and Josephine—who are now also stepping more into the spotlight. Although they live in the heart of Copenhagen and attend public schools, there are no photos of them outside of official appearances. The Danes respect the privacy of their royal family and the princes’ and princesses’ right to a childhood. So far, Denmark’s young royal children have grown up without media pressure and with plenty of family warmth, able to develop freely and confidently in a protected environment.

The House of Lippe: The family’s ancestors fought alongside Henry the Lion and negotiated with Napoleon. An entire region in the far northeast of North Rhine-Westphalia was named after them, and the coat of arms of this noble dynasty—the Lippe Rose—now adorns the state flag of North Rhine-Westphalia. The family looks back on a proud and eventful history.

They are the most famous sisters in the Netherlands: the so-called “A-Team”—Amalia, Alexia, and Ariane, the daughters of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. As they come of age, the younger daughters are also drawing public attention. However, only the eldest, Princess Amalia, bears any responsibility. Her path is predetermined as the future Queen of the Netherlands. Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane, however, have a choice. Will they dedicate themselves to serving the royal family, like their great-aunt Margriet, for whom this has been a life’s work for more than 60 years? Or will they follow the example of King Willem-Alexander’s brothers, who went their own way as “freelance royals”?

It used to be the most powerful royal house in the world. Today, it is the most modern. Former King Juan Carlos once helped restore legitimacy to the Spanish monarchy—as a guarantor of democracy, unity, and peace. Today, King Felipe must prove whether he can live up to the responsibilities of his office and reconcile the country amid the most severe crisis in its 40-year history of democracy. At the start of the major anniversary year of 2018 and in the midst of the Catalonia conflict, the film takes a close look at father and son and looks back at the history of the Spanish monarchy.

Like a fairy-tale castle, Anholt Water Castle stands majestically in the western Münsterland region. In the new episode of the WDR series *Adelsdynastien in NRW* (Noble Dynasties in North Rhine-Westphalia), Julia Melchior visits the princely family of Salm-Salm. Against a wintry backdrop, the host, Carl Philipp, Prince of Salm-Salm, welcomes her and guides her through the history of the castle and his family.