In the forthcoming years, the continent of Europe will witness the emergence of a cohort of young princesses who possess the capacity to assume the mantle of queenship in their respective nations. The relinquishment of Queen Margrethe's reign in Denmark represents the lamentable demise of a female monarch in the European realm; however, this occurrence shall prove evanescent. It is foreseen that the youthful princesses, hailing from esteemed countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Sweden, will soon ascend to the esteemed positions of sovereigns within their respective realms.
Princess Elisabeth of Belgium (born in 2001), Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands (born in 2003), Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway (born in 2004), Princess Leonor of Spain (born in 2005), and Princess Estelle of Sweden (born in 2012) may potentially lead half of the monarchies on the continent as queens.
These princesses will become the first reigning queens in their respective countries after changes in inheritance laws, allowing the eldest daughter to ascend to the throne ahead of her younger brother. Previous queens, such as the late Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, did not have younger brothers when they inherited the throne.
According to Roger Lundgren, a notable Swedish authority on royal matters, Sweden took the pioneering step of implementing a gender-neutral succession order in 1980, with Crown Princess Victoria superseding her brother to assume the position of heir apparent. Lundgren is of the opinion that gender will not exert a substantial influence on the future responsibilities of female monarchs.
The current princesses differ from earlier generations of queens, as many of them have served in their respective countries' armed forces. For example, Princess Leonor of Spain participated in skiing training last year and engaged in activities in the Pyrenees Mountains alongside the military. Other princesses have studied at prestigious schools both domestically and internationally, focusing on global affairs and issues such as the women's rights movement and climate change risks.
Future queens may place greater emphasis on media management to convey information to the public in different ways. Lundgren pointed out that some members of royalty have already established WhatsApp groups, while Queen Margrethe of Denmark takes pride in not having a smartphone. Expert Ebba Kleberg von Sydow stated that modern monarchs need to have a voice on multiple platforms to maintain the relevance of the monarchy in modern society.
The future queens of Europe will face new challenges that their ancestors once faced. Lisa Castro, a royal historian, noted that issues concerning women, the LGBTQ+ community, and the environment will become tools to ensure public support. She believes that the next generation is most capable of responding to these issues as they understand the needs and challenges of their era. Spanish journalist Pilar Eyre stated that the modern era has influenced the monarchy, citing the example of Prince William and Catherine's image management. Additionally, Prince Harry and Meghan moving to the United States is one of the latest cases of modern monarchs marrying commoners.
There have already been instances, such as that of Queen Letizia of Spain, in which she was working as a journalist when she met her future spouse and recently paid a visit to an organization that offers support to women involved in sex work. Through these acts, contemporary royalty has the ability to capture the love and esteem of their subjects, instead of solely depending on extravagant ceremonies and opulent garments.
In summary, future European queens will face the challenges of monarchy in new ways. They will focus on contemporary issues and interact with people through different media platforms to ensure the success of the monarchy. At the same time, they will face questioning from the public regarding the relevance of the monarchy, but by addressing social issues and showcasing a modernized image, they have the potential to win public support and respect.