THEto real of the year? No doubt: Kate Middleton. Last November, at the Festival of Remembrance in Londonappeared in public with Prince George next to him, in his first official role as a companion. A very powerful image, symbol of continuity and rebirth. The most praised? Felipe and Letizia of Spain, protagonists of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the democratic monarchy in the same month.
The royal look that has gone around the world was worn by Máxima of Holland at the NATO summit last June. Finally, the former Prince Andrew ended up falling from the tower: he lost his title and is now just Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor. These are the snapshots of the European royals 2025. The most relevant, at least judging by those who deal with monarchies every day.
The Rose of England stands out among European royalty
«This was the year of the return of Catherine, the Rose of England. After months of silence and apprehension, his public reappearance, after his recovery from the illness, had the flavor of a national rebirth” explains Enrica Roddolo, journalist for Corriere della Sera and author of The Book of Kingdoms. Kings and queens of the world (Neri Pozza)an updated fresco of the monarchies of Europe and the rest of the world. «The main scene is always London.
It is there that every gesture takes on a symbolic weight. Even King Charles, between care and state commitments – three official trips in the same year, a record – showed an energy that disproved many worries” he maintains.
The sovereign, in fact, spoke openly about his cancer remission in a speech to the nation on December 12, calling the disease “a blessing”. Words much appreciated by many Britons in his same condition. «The Crown, which many thought was damaged, has started moving again. Of course, despite Andrea» specifies Enrica Roddolo.
Disgraced European Royals: Former Prince Andrew
Among European royalty, former Prince Andrew has fallen out of favor
If Elizabeth II had branded 1992 as “annus horribilis”, due to the separation of Charles and Diana, the problems with the press and the fire at Windsor Castle, what happened to her favorite son Andrea appears, in comparison, like a real cataclysm. Since last October 31st, Charles III’s brother has been a commoner, i.e. a common citizen, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Before him, the title was taken over in 1919 by Prince Charles Edward, Duke of Albany, one of Queen Victoria’s nephews: he had fought on the German side during the First World War. Even earlier, in the sixteenth century, to the daughters of Henry VIII, Princesses Mary and Elizabeth, declared illegitimate after the annulment of their marriage to their respective mothers.
Information leak
Could it have been done differently? «Andrea’s fall is not only linked to the terrible sex scandal and the accusations of Virginia Giuffre, which also resurfaced from her posthumous memoir Nobody’s Girl» says Natalia Augias, Rai correspondent from London and author of Once upon a time there was a kingdom (Einaudi).
«Behind King Charles’ decision there would be even more disturbing reasons: according to recent revelations, Jeffrey Epstein, the financier convicted of sexual crimes, was in the habit of selling the secrets of his contacts to secret services all over the world, including the Russian one. Andrea, a key figure in the British establishment, was the perfect bait. Buckingham Palace fears the leak of confidential information where it should not have ended up.”
A process that creates embarrassment among European royalty
Problems among European royals: Marius Borg Høiby, son of Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, in a recent photo
But there is no shortage of problems among the European royals. Norway also has its controversial character. He is not a prince, but part of the royal family Marius Borg Høiby, the 28-year-old son of Princess Mette-Marit, born from a previous relationship before her wedding to Prince Haakon. Last August, the scion was officially charged with 32 crimesincluding four rapes, vandalism and violating restraining orders against an ex-partner.
«The trial against him will open in February. It won’t do any good for the popularity of the Norwegian court” comments the journalist Lavinia Orefici, author of the rotogravure The Royal Saga on Mediaset. “Among other things, they say that the mother put pressure to make her son’s position less burdensome.” Her sister, future queen Ingrid Alexandra, spoke of the family’s grief in an interview. «It’s difficult for everyone. For us. But above all for the victims.”
Máxima in lime green, queen of queens among European royalty
What shone in this 2025, among the European royals, was, among all, Máxima of Holland: she goes the prize for the royal look of the year: impossible not to notice her in a lime green jumpsuit in the opening photo of the June Nato summit at her “home”, at Huis Ten Bosch, in the Netherlands. «The real strength of the Netherlands is not the quiet King Willem-Alexander, but it.
With his charisma and his history as a finance professional, Máxima is the true queen of European soft power. The Dutch royal couple opened palaces, welcomed heads of state, “softened” international tensions and reminded the world that modern monarchies often influence more with a gesture than with an army. Even the pragmatic President Trump succumbed to the charm of Dutch ceremonial” specifies Enrica Roddolo.
Furthermore, on that occasion, Máxima went viral with a short video in which she turns to the cameras with a smile and says “thank you very much” and then imitates Trump’s unmistakable pose.
Solid Monegasques and Spaniards
Madrid experienced an almost regal year in the most classic sense: dignity, composure, continuity. Again according to Roddolo, King Felipe VI has consolidated his role as a reliable sovereign, modern but not too much, capable of managing the long shadow of his father Juan Carlos without turning it into a state case. Letizia, impeccable but always observed with a magnifying glass, has definitively achieved the status of respected queen.
«The Spanish monarchy, 50 years after Franco’s death, is today one of the most solid on the continent». The Grimaldis also did well. The 20 years of Prince Albert’s reign were celebrated in the Principality in an impressive way, with the almost complete presence of the family. «The size of the territory matters little: activism counts and Monaco is very present on the global scene» concludes Roddolo, who also looks to Sweden with Princess Victoria, ready for the throne.
Harry and Meghan return to London
Among the European royals, Harry & Meghan could return to London in 2026
For Orefici, the return of the prodigal son Harry with his family from the United States can be expected in 2026. For two reasons. «The Court of Appeal admitted his appeal against the decision that revoked his escort, so he could get it back. Then – in April – there will be the 100th anniversary of the birth of Elizabeth II. A moment that will unite everyone.”
And among monarchies? Roddolo always bets on Japan. «The problem of the Chrysanthemum Throne is succession: women are excluded, and if they marry a bourgeois they leave the imperial family. A solution to this impasse will be the challenge of the near future.”
From the Gulf, divorce on Instagram
Orefici instead looks to the monarchies of the Gulf, the Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar. There are characters that will make people talk. One has already succeeded: Mahra bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, princess of Dubai, 30 years old. Faced with her husband’s infidelity, she announced her divorce on Instagram in 2024. And a month ago she got married to the American rapper French Montana. Voila.