#Letizia Decade

[houseofbrat]

See! Those divorce/separation rumors were totally wrong!

Just because they never did anything so publicly cheesy in their first thirteen years of marriage, doesn't mean that they look stupid doing it now!

Gosh, why didn't Harald and Sonja do the same exact thing decades ago when there were rumors he was cheating on her?

Why didn't Haakon and Mette-Marit also do a video like this when there were rumors of her cheating on him within the last decade?

Why didn't Carl Gustaf and Silvia do this when The Reluctant Monarch was released?

Why hasn't Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako done something like this, after all the REAL HARASSMENT Masako has undergone?

Or Felipe & Letizia?

Or Willem-Alexander and Maxima?

Or Fred and Mary?

Hey, Fred, here's how you can stop people believing you're stepping out on your wife! Just film a cheesy video with your family that looks like a perfume ad!

[royal-confessions]

“According to the Spanish media and their "expert lip readers", after the Easter parade in Madrid or whatever that was was cancelled because of the rain, a woman told Letizia that she (woman) has been going to the thing every year and it has never rained and it only rained then because Letizia came. In my religion, the rain is actually seen as a blessing, but I'm assuming the woman did not mean it as a compliment and with everything she's been accused of in the past two decades Letizia is probably already used to it, but accusing someone of causing the rain is another level of crazy.” - Submitted by Anonymous

[transdimensional-void]

can i ask if you have any hcs about what myne does post WN?

hello, anon! i'm going to discuss this under a read more so that anyone who wants to avoid spoilers can do so.

first of all, i'm curious whether you are aware that kazuki-sensei has been posting a sequel series on narou already. it's called "hannelore's fifth year at the royal academy" and is from hannelore's POV. you can read it here (in japanese of course): https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4750dy/

it's not completed yet, but it picks up almost exactly at the point that the webnovel left off. it also ties up some loose plot ends that the WN didn't cover. kazuki-sensei has also mentioned a few tidbits about things that happened at the archduke conference post-myne's fourth year. i recommend checking out this tweet thread if you haven't seen it before: https://x.com/miyakazuki01/status/1528726797260451840?s=20

kazuki-sensei is also writing a ton of new content for the final volume of the LN, which will be published this december, so we are likely to learn more about post-WN events. kazuki-sensei has said that more than half of the final volume will be new content. SO EXCITED!!!!!!

so, if you are asking about my hcs, i want to preface them by saying that they take into account all of the above.

personally, i think myne will spend the first decade or so post-WN simply stabilizing the duchy and establishing her power base there. i think she is likely to marry ferdinand at the archduke conference immediately after she graduates from the RA, but they are likely to put off having children for several years. i like to think that they adopt letizia and benedicta (alstede and blasius's daughter) to be able to increase the number of archducal family members quickly without myne needing to take time out from her duties for pregnancy.

i do think that they will eventually have children together too, and they'll sneak them down to the lower city to meet their grandparents and aunts, uncles, and cousins. their kids will grow up easily moving between the worlds of commoners and nobles.

i don't think myne will take any additional husbands. she and ferdinand will work hard to build and maintain alliances in other ways.

i like to think that both sides work hard to maintain strong ties between ehrenfest and alexandria over the years and that there are regular visits. perhaps they occasionally meet at the duchy border gate for tea parties. (and there are occasional tea parties at the dunkelfelger border gate too uwu).

i think myne and ferdinand absolutely CLEAN UP during negotiations at the archduke conference. other archdukes' knees turn to jelly anytime they even think about having to meet with the archducal couple of alexandria. i mean, even the zent can't stand up to them. what hopes do mere aubs have? XD

i think that the minute they feel that myne's successor is ready to take on leadership of the duchy, they toss the archducal seat on over like a hot potato and retire to their joint library-research complex to live out the rest of their days doing what they love, sometimes separately but oftentimes together. :_)

i hope you found these interesting, anon! and if you'd like to share any hcs of your own, i'd love to read them <3

[duchessofostergotlands]

I feel like there's a running rumor in all royal families about certain members leaking news to the press because they don't like each other. It's obviously a common rumor in Britain but what about countries like Spain with Juan Carlos and Letizia or Sophia and Madeleine in Sweden. Is there any credence to these theories?

It is flattering that you think I would have that knowledge but is ultimately going to be disappointing for you lol. There are some things everyone knows like Diana was the source for a whole book of leaks. But it wouldn't be a very good leak if you knew who it came from so by its nature it's hard to know! Even where we can link stories to a particular team like the Bolland era (Charles and Camilla) that doesn't necessarily mean any leaking came with the consent or knowledge of the royals. People go rogue. And even if we could link it specifically to a royal, we still don't know if it's motivated by dislike. They could be leaking just out of pure self interest or because they are genuinely concerned and believe the public deserves to know.

Ultimately I don't think it matters. I was very surprised in recent years when people got so upset about accusations of leaking because for the entirety of the decade I've been blogging I've assumed royals leak stories. It's just not particularly relevant to me. I can't know the source of a story so I just analyse them all in the same way. Does the story make sense logically? Are there any factual details I can confirm i.e. whereabouts at a certain date or time? Does the story fit with previous articles we've seen? Is it actually anything to do with me or is it just gossip about their private relationships which aren't my business anyway?

[heir-less]

Based on excerpts of Spare, she didn't like the bridesmaid dress for her daughter but she didn't turn up for fitting the bride set up for fixation. She rejected it and took it to your preferred designer and then she's been copying her styles including every details like jewelry, shoes and hair. What logic or theory behind this behavior could make sense...? I.... 🫠

I'm pretty sure Kate did go to the fitting in the end, and just because she didn't like fit on the bridesmaid's gown it doesn't mean that her echoing Meghan's fashion is disproven.

Kate signals things with her clothes, it's how she communicates with people, and she's very shrewd with her fashion. Years before Meghan, Kate was known for paying homage to Diana with her clothes by wearing similar outfits and colours to similar events, this allowed her to present a desirable aesthetic. She does the same with Meghan's fashion choices for much of the same reason, especially when she wants to be perceived as ambitious, hard-working, and business minded. These outfits are never exactly the same, but they include similar aspects, accessories, and styling in order to make the audience make the connection in their minds. Unlike Diana, however, I think Kate is trying to prove she can appeal to the same audience that Meghan does (a younger, more progressive base), instead of nostalgia-baiting.

If we're willing to acknowledge the intent with this:

and this:

and this:

Why does that same intent suddenly vanish with this:

And this:

And this (notice the similarities with the bag, pointed shoes with flared pants):

Another thing to consider is timing Crown Princess Victoria dressed in pantsuits and pussybows for years, since the late 00s. Same with Letizia. These trends didn't suddenly come into fashion for high-profile women in 2018, they've been around for decades. However, Kate originally always had a very particular fashion trend. She preferred (and still does to an extent) LK Bennet and Catherine Walker. She typically wore dresses and coat dresses, but when she wore pants it was mainly for athletic and outdoor events, favouring skinny jeans from Zara to style with her blazers. Her fashion, drastically changed in 2019 once Meghan began getting attention (some of it negative) for her own fashion sense.

Kate has a history of doing this, so why deny what she's clearly trying to communicate herself?

[thepastisalreadywritten]

Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands

Princess Catharina-Amalia (born 7 December 2003) is the heir to the Dutch throne and is the eldest of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima’s three daughters.

Unusually, the monarchy in The Netherlands has been predominantly female-led, with three Queens reigning in succession from 1890-2013, when Catharina-Amalia’s father became King, so she’s in good company historically.

Unlike her parents who have committed a handful of regrettable gaffes (including going on holiday to Greece during a Covid-19 lockdown), Catharina-Amalia seems to have her finger on the pulse of the nation.

Case in point:

She rejected her rights to a yearly royal allowance when she turned 18, ostensibly because as a student (she’s studying politics, psychology, law, and economics at the University of Amsterdam), she’s not a “working” royal but also because it felt wrong during a cost of living crisis.

Much like Prince William here, the Princess is keen to have a normal university experience and lived in shared housing with other students until she was threatened with kidnap by a criminal gang.

She also attended a public primary school and even worked in a beach bar in The Hague during her summer break.

Like many Gen Z-ers, she has spoken candidly about mental health, revealing she sometimes sees a therapist, and while making no direct comments about it, she was the focus of new legislation that means LGBTQIA+ royals would be able to marry anyone they chose without forfeiting their right to the throne.

The House of Orange is in need of good PR, as its popularity rankings have dropped in recent years, with Catharina-Amalia hopefully just the fresh face it needs.

Princess Elisabeth of Belgium

Princess Elisabeth (born 25 October 2001) will make history when she ascends to the throne as the country’s first Queen Regnant.

A decade before her birth, the primogeniture was altered to allow for female succession, and she will be the first monarch to benefit.

Had it not been changed, her younger brother, Prince Gabriel, would have been the next King.

The 22-year-old is the eldest daughter of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. She has a second younger brother, Prince Emmanuel.

She spent her formative years in Brussels, before attending “Hippie Hogwarts,” UWC Atlantic College in Wales.

After completing her education, she undertook a year of military training at the Royal Military Academy in Brussels, following in the footsteps of other heirs to the throne.

She’s now studying at Lincoln’s College at Oxford University, where she has competed in the rowing team.

She’s a confident public speaker, having had lots of practice: her first speech was at the age of nine when she opened a children’s hospital named in her honour.

She’s also becoming increasingly recognised for her fashion choices, with reports of the “Elisabeth” effect in Belgium, where her fans rush out to buy what she’s wearing, drawing comparisons to our very own Princess of Wales.

In recent years, Belgium, like many other Western nations, has had to confront its colonial past.

How the Princess decides to acknowledge and apologise for Belgium’s part remains to be seen, but will be vital for how she’s viewed both at home and on the world stage.

Princess Leonor of Spain

The world has been gripped by so-called “Leonormania” in recent weeks, after the heir to the Spanish throne turned 18.

The eldest of King Felipe and Queen Letizia’s two daughters, Princess Leonor (born 31 October 2005) is fast-becoming a national obsession, with her every fashion choice (and potential boyfriend) documented and dissected.

Her rising public profile is in contrast to her closely guarded childhood, during which she made very few public appearances.

After attending primary school in Barcelona, she moved to Wales to complete her education at UWC Atlantic (the same school as Princess Elisabeth of Belgium), where she graduated earlier this year.

She is now enrolled in a military academy undergoing officer training, which will last for three years.

Ahead of her 18th birthday, she presented her inaugural Princess of Asturias Awards, managing to appear decidedly unstarstuck when meeting Hollywood icon Meryl Streep and Japanese author Haruki Murakami.

Much like her father, Leonor will be keen to distance herself from the fiscal scandals of her grandfather, the ex-King Juan Carlos, which also implicated her aunt and uncle, and have played out telenovela-style in Spain over the last decade.

She will do well instead to emulate her mother and grandmother, the beloved Queen Sofia, whose chic style she has already clearly inherited.

In terms of politics, one issue she may have to face head on is the rise of Catalan separatism – an issue that her father made a rare public statement against in 2020 – and which he has been widely criticised on.

Princess Victoria of Sweden (and Princess Estelle)

The 46-year-old Princess Victoria (born 14 July 1977) is another European royal who has benefitted from the modernisation of primogeniture.

In fact, she was second-in-line to the Swedish throne at birth and leapfrogged over her younger brother, Prince Carl Philip, upon the change in the constitution.

It caused something of a controversy at the time, as her father, King Carl XVI Gustaf, objected to the change – not because he didn’t want women to succeed but because of his sympathy towards his son, who was suddenly stripped of his Crown Prince status.

In Sweden, the monarch has even less of a role in public life than in the UK, and as such, King Carl XVI Gustaf has largely kept out of the spotlight.

However, similar to other royals of her generation, Victoria has been more candid about her personal life. She was open about her struggles with anorexia in the 1990s.

Speaking about her experience in 2002, she said:

“I, Victoria, didn’t exist. It felt like everything in my life and around me was controlled by others. The one thing I could control was the food I put in me.”

She leapt to the defence of her now-husband, personal trainer Daniel Westering, when the couple’s early relationship came under close scrutiny.

Princess Victoria’s 11-year-old daughter, Princess Estelle (born 23 February 2012), is next in line to the throne after her mother.

She has similarly benefitted from the change in the law, as she has a younger brother, Prince Oscar.

Commentary in the Swedish press questioned the appropriateness of their match, something which Victoria spoke out against.

[ifreakingloveroyals]

Through the Years → Felipe VI of Spain (2,282/∞) 6 December 2018 | Spain's Queen Letizia, Spain's King Felipe VI and Spain's Princess Sofia and Princess Leonor attend a celebration marking 40 years of democracy in Spain at the Spanish Congress in Madrid, Spain. Constitution Day marks 40 years of democracy in Spain following four decades of dictatorial rule under Francisco Franco. (Photo by Juan Naharro Gimenez/Getty Images)

[jordanianroyals]

19 June 2023: King Abdullah II reiterated Jordan’s keenness on working with Spain, through its upcoming European Union presidency, to help create a political horizon that would preserve the prospects of just and lasting peace, for the Palestinians and the Israelis.

At a meeting with King Felipe VI of Spain in Madrid, attended by Queen Rania and Queen Letizia, King Abdullah said, “Our joint commitment to peace is evident in supporting the two-state solution as the path forward in resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict”.

His Majesty noted in the meeting, attended by Prince Hashem bin Abdullah, that peace on the basis of the two-state solution is key to ensuring peace and prosperity in the entire region, and beyond.

“We will continue working with Spain to resolve the crises facing our wider Euro-Mediterranean region, out of our shared belief that dialogue and cooperation must be the way forward for mutual progress”, the King added. (Source: Petra)

In addition, His Majesty said Jordan and Spain are taking an important step in building partnerships, out of the realisation that “the only way forward is together. We cannot overcome the multitude of challenges facing our world alone”.

The King added that so much has happened in the world over the past eight years since his last visit to Spain, adding that despite crises, conflicts, and the pandemic, the relationship and the warm friendships “between our families, our peoples, and our countries have stayed true, and continued to grow from strength to strength”.

“It is such partnerships that form the foundation of global stability that is much needed for our regions, and our world. And today, this visit is yet another building block in solidifying this relationship, which has continued to grow over the past seven decades,” His Majesty said.

The King highlighted the fruitful talks held with King Felipe VI and President of the Government of Spain Pedro Sánchez, adding that he looks forward to launching a strategic partnership between the two countries.

His Majesty noted that elevating the ties between Jordan and Spain to the strategic level will enable both countries to work more closely on the issues that matter to both peoples and to the world.

In addition, the King said Jordan and Spain are partners in the pursuit of regional and global peace and prosperity, working together to counter the impact of climate change on food and energy security, pointing to a longstanding partnership in the economic, development, and humanitarian spheres.

“We are truly grateful for Spain’s support for our development efforts, and we look to expand our cooperation in education, tourism, cultural exchange, as well as water and energy,” His Majesty said, adding that both countries are equally dedicated to building a more stable world for future generations.

Turning to fighting terrorism, the King underlined that Spain and Jordan have come together to co-organise the latest round of the Aqaba Process meetings, which will take place on Tuesday in Cordoba, noting that he looks forward to fruitful discussions there with friends and partners, on strengthening global coordination in the fight against terrorism and extremism.

His Majesty also congratulated the Spanish Monarch on the anniversary of his coronation.

For his part, King Felipe VI commended the deep-rooted relations between the two countries and peoples, noting that King Abdullah’s visit marks his ninth coronation anniversary.

He underlined the strong ties between Jordan and Spain and their joint aspiration to democratic co-existence, progress and modernity, in addition to their keenness on actively contributing to peace in the region and across the globe.

The Spanish monarch reiterated the centrality of the Palestinian cause in the region, commending Jordan’s continuous efforts to reach just and lasting peace, on the basis of the two-state solution.

King Felipe VI also highlighted the pivotal role of the Hashemite Custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, which has international and Spanish support.

In addition, he expressed his country’s keenness on enhancing its partnership with Jordan within the Union for the Mediterranean, and through Spain’s rotating presidency of the EU.

King Felipe VI commended Jordan’s efforts in hosting Syrian refugees, as well as Palestinian and Iraqi refugees in the past, highlighting the importance of Jordan’s efforts towards reaching a solution to the Syrian crisis.

Describing Jordan as a centrepiece to a regional balance that is of strategic importance to Spain and Europe, the Spanish monarch highlighted Spain’s keenness on enhancing investment cooperation, especially in the water, renewable energy, and tourism sectors.

He also underlined the importance of elevating relations between the two countries to a strategic level to enhance cooperation in various fields.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, Jordan’s Ambassador to Spain Areej Hawamdeh, and a number of senior Spanish officials attended the meeting.

[newsssc]

The story of Paloma Rocasolano, mother of Queen Letizia, which had not been told

The Queen Letizia (51 years old) was raised among progressive, cheerful and energetic women. Her paternal grandmother, Menchu ​​Álvarez del Valle, worked in a union organization that depended on the Franco regime, and for decades was a well-known voice on Asturian radio. Her mother, Paloma Rocasolanoworked as a nurse in Oviedo, where she began her union activism and, during the first half of the…

[regalfille]

King Felipe and Queen Letizia opened a special exhibition ‘ Felipe VI’ at the Royal Collection Gallery to mark the 10th Proclamation anniversary

King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain visited the exhibition: "Felipe VI: A Decade in the History of the Spanish Crown”

Queen Letizia wore a Mango Suit with white top, PDPAOLA Large Sugar Earrings, Coreterno ring and Vivobarefoot Geo Court III Trainers at the Proclamation Exhibition opening. More details on RegalFille. 

[alaturkanews]

King Felipe VI celebrates 10 years as Spain's head of state

To mark the celebrations of his 10 years of reign, King Felipe VI appeared on the balcony of the Royal Palace of Madrid, accompanied by Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor, and Infanta Sofía on Wednesday. A decade ago, Felipe VI ascended to the throne following the turbulent abdication of his father, Juan Carlos I, due to numerous public and private scandals. Since then, the monarch has focused his…

[redcarpetbiz]

Before Auld Lang Syne, we share the ‘Gowns of the Year’: the most glamorous dresses of 2023

As the year draws to a close, tinsel-clad living rooms across the country become think tanks mulling over the achievements and events of the past trip around the sun. And while current affairs may spark more heated debate around the dinner table, another topic is sure to inspire more glittering conversation – 2023’s style stars and their decadent regalia. JANUARY QUEEN LETIZIA OF SPAIN WEARING…

[xtruss]

Cost of the Crown: Windsors v Borbones: Comparing the Public Pay of European Filthy Royal Families

Stipends, palace maintenance, staff costs and taxes all differ, but the British royals are given the most taxpayer money

King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort; Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II; Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia; and Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. Composite: Guardian Design/AFP/Getty Images/ SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock/PA

— By Rupert Neate, Henry Dyer and Ashifa Kassam | Wednesday 5 April 2023

Comparing the cost of Europe’s royal dynasties is akin to comparisons between apples and oranges. Each family is unique, and each government has a different way of paying for them. Some royal budgets cover the cost of maintaining palaces, staff and security; others are limited to annual stipends to individual kings or queens.

Tax is paid by some European royals but not others. Some countries are highly transparent, providing detailed breakdowns of how public money is spent on individual royals. Others are more opaque, with royals supplementing an official government lump sum with other quasi-private sources of income. One thing, at least, is clear: European royal families come with vastly different price tags.

United Kingdom 🇬🇧

Members of the British royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the trooping the colour ceremony in June 2018.

Members of the British royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the trooping the colour ceremony in June 2018. Photograph: Shutterstock

Family name/House: The Windsors

Monarch: King Charles III

Approximate Public Funding: £86m-£127m

The most famous of Europe’s grand hereditary families, and probably the richest and most powerful too. Many Britons wrongly assume their monarch fulfils purely ceremonial roles, and has no real power. However, an archaic procedure known as “consent” allows the monarch, or heir, to secretly vet laws before they are approved by the elected members of parliament.

It was once used by Queen Elizabeth II to persuade ministers to change the law to conceal her “embarrassing” private wealth from the public.

There is no breakdown of how much individual members of the royal family receive for their official duties. The monarch does receive a lump sum – the sovereign grant –which has risen dramatically over the last decade. The UK taxpayer gave £86.3m towards the cost of the British royal family last year. Of that, £34.5m was spent on refurbishing Buckingham Palace as part of a 10-year restoration programme. The core cost to the taxpayer, for the royal household’s operating costs, travel and maintenance on other residences, was £51.8m.

Controversially, the new king and his heir, Prince William, also receive income from two hereditary estates – the Duchy of Lancaster and the Duchy of Cornwall – which pay no corporation tax or capital gains tax. There has been a centuries-old debate over whether that money – currently more than £40m a year – should really go to the public. Buckingham Palace insists the revenue is “private income” buts says part of it goes towards official duties.

From 1993, the monarch agreed to pay “voluntary” income tax, although they are exempt from inheritance tax, meaning the late queen passed her fortune to the king without any deductions for the public good.

Spain 🇪🇸

Clockwise from top left: King Felipe, Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia pose for their 2021 Christmas card. Photograph: Zuma/Alamy

Family name/House: The Borbones (or Bourbons)

Monarch: King Felipe VI

Approximate Public Funding: £7.4m

Spain’s royal family ranks among the most beleaguered on the continent. Marred by accusations of corruption, extramarital affairs and a precipitous fall from grace, the former king Juan Carlos I abdicated in 2014 and eventually left the country.

Investigations into his financial dealings were eventually shelved and the former king’s lawyers noted he had been cleared of “any illicit conduct susceptible to criminal reproach”. However, the scandals led to an intense debate among Spaniards about their royal family, who this year will receive €8,431,150 (£7.4m) from the state budget.

Seeking to present a new era of transparency, Juan Carlos’ son, King Felipe VI, made public his personal assets of €2.6m (£2.28m). He renounced his personal inheritance from his father in 2020 and removed him from the royal family’s payroll.

From the public grant, Felipe receives €269,296 (£236,214.10) in an annual personal allowance, while his wife, Queen Letizia, gets €148,105 (£129,911). His mother, Juan Carlos’s estranged wife, Sofía, receives an annual stipend of €121,186 (£106,299). Spanish royals pay tax on their income.

Sweden 🇸🇪

L-R: King Carl XVI Gustaf, Prince Daniel, Queen Silvia and Crown Princess Victoria attend the Nobel prize ceremony in Stockholm in December 2022. Photograph: Christine Olsson/TT News Agency/AFP/Getty Images

Family name/House: The Bernadottes

Monarch: King Carl XVI Gustaf

Approximate Public Funding: £11.5m

Sweden was the first monarchy to change its rules on succession from agnatic primogeniture (the eldest male son) to absolute cognatic primogeniture (the eldest child). The change was passed by the Swedish parliament in 1980, and led to Crown Princess Victoria becoming heir apparent instead of her brother Prince Carl Philip.

The Swedish royal court received a total grant of 147.9m Swedish krona (£11.5m) in 2021 (the latest figure available). Of this, 73.9m kr (£5.8m) covered the cost of the king’s official duties, travel, staff and stables. Within this, 13.6m kr (£1m) was allocated to the king and other titled royals who carry out official duties to cover costs of a “non-official nature which are connected with, or caused by, the royal position”, according to the court’s annual report.

Individually, Carl Gustaf and his wife, Silvia, get 8m kr (£625,423) between them, while Victoria and her husband collect 4.5m kr (£351,800), and Carl Philip and his wife get 1.1m kr (£85,995). In 2019, the king stripped five of his grandchildren of their royal titles in order to reduce the total cost of “appendages” to serving royals.

Belgium 🇧🇪

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde with their children (L-R) Princess Eléonore, Prince Gabriel, Crown Princess Elisabeth and Prince Emmanuel at 2022 National Day celebrations in front of the Royal Palace in Brussels. Photograph: Rex/Shutterstock

Family name/House: Van België, De Belgique, or Von Belgien (or “of Belgium”)

Monarch: King Philippe

Approximate Public Funding: £12.5m

Like the British royals, the Belgian monarchy ditched its previous surname, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, in 1920 in response to fierce anti-German sentiment after the first world war. The new name – van België (Dutch), de Belgique (French) or von Belgien (German) – means “of Belgium” in the country’s three official languages.

The Belgian monarch has had no direct power since 1951, although the king has kept the right “to be consulted by his ministers, to encourage them, and to caution them”.

King Philippe, or Filip, is granted an annual civil list to cover the cost of performing official duties. The amount is established at the start of each reign. Philippe, who acceded to the throne in 2013, received €12.5m (£11m) in 2021, according to the Belgian government’s latest report. The amount is set to increase with the consumer prices index measure of inflation. As well as the £11m paid to Philippe, other members of the royal family receive yearly “emoluments”. Philippe’s father, King Albert II, who abdicated in 2013, receives €980,000 (£862,635); Albert’s eldest child, Princess Astrid, receives €341,000 (£300,161), slightly more than her younger brother, Prince Laurent, who gets €327,000 (£287,838). Their half-sister, Princess Delphine, who had Albert’s paternity recognised by the court in 2020, does not receive any royal funding. The payments are subject to income tax.

Denmark 🇩🇰

Queen Margrethe II (centre) with Crown Prince Frederik, his wife, Mary and their children (L-R) Vincent, Isabella, Josephine and Christian at Fredensborg in April 2022. Photograph: Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images

Family name/House: The Glücksburgs

Monarch: Margrethe II

Approximate apublic Funding: £14m

On average, each Dane cycles 1.4km a day, according to the Denmark tourist board, and those cyclists include the royal family. Frederik, the crown prince and heir apparent, competed in the Tour de Storebælt cycle race near Copenhagen; he and his wife, Mary, ferry their children around town on a cargo bike.

Queen Margrethe II, 82, Europe’s longest-serving monarch, receives about 91.1m kroner a year (£10.7m) in civil list payments. The government says this covers expenses “relating to staff, operation of the royal household, administration and properties as well as the queen’s expenses of a more private nature”.

Separately, Frederik receives 22,434,876 kroner (£2.64m) a year, 10% of which goes to his wife. Frederik’s younger brother, Prince Joachim, the sixth in line to the throne, gets 3,965,400 kroner (£467,045) a year. All the money is received tax-free.

Queen Margrethe has stripped Joachim’s four children – Nikolai, Felix, Henrik and Athena – of their royal titles in a move designed to slim down the size of the family. The palace said the queen wanted to “create a framework for the four grandchildren, to a much greater degree, to be able to shape their own existence without being limited by the special considerations and obligations that a formal affiliation with the royal house as an institution implies”.

Luxembourg 🇱🇺

L-R: Crown Prince Guillaume, Princess Stephanie, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Grand Duke Henri, Princess Alexandra, Prince Louis and Prince Gabriel outside Luxembourg Cathedral in June 2022. Photograph: Sylvain Lefevre/Getty Images

Family name/House: Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg

Monarch: Grand Duke Henri

Approximate Public Funding: £16.9m

The Windsors are not the only royals to deliver a Christmas speech. The grand duke’s message is broadcast from the yellow room in the Grand-Ducal Palace every Christmas Eve.

The latest government budget for 2023 shows payments to the Maison du Grand-Duc (House of the Grand Duke) totalled €19,257,155 (£16.9m). Of that, €15.9m (£13.9m) was spent on day-to-day expenses, and €3.3m (£2.9m) on capital projects, such as renovations.

In addition to the civil list payments for staffing costs, the grand duke and his heir receive endowments for personal expenditure: in 2022, Henri received €523,103 (£460,381) and Crown Prince Guilluame received €217,985 (£191,848).

From July, legislation drafted by the prime minister, Xavier Bettel, will peg future changes to the personal allowances to the public sector. Bettel has said the centralisation of royal funding will provide more transparency, after anger at the blurring of public and private budgets. “Now we have a monarchy that moves out of the 19th century and into the 21st century,” he said.

Norway 🇳🇴

Princess Ingrid Alexandra (C) stands between her grandparents King Harald and Queen Sonja for a family photo to mark her Covid-delayed 18th birthday celebrations in Oslo in June 2022. Photograph: Lise Åserud/AP

Family name/House: The Glücksburgs

Monarch: King Harald V

Approximate Public Funding: £24m

The Norwegian monarchy dates back more than 1,000 years. Harald Fairhair is regarded as the first Norwegian king, who united several “petty kingships” into a single realm in about 885. The current king belongs to the House of Glücksburg, which has held the Norwegian throne since 1905.

The royal court’s latest annual accounts say the Norwegian royal family received 312m Norwegian kroner (£24m) in 2022 in the civil list. It is unclear how this is distributed. A previous report from 2015 states that “the king and queen and the crown prince and crown princess all receive an allowance” to cover “the management, operation, maintenance and development of the private properties and households, as well as appropriations for private expenses and official attire”.

The Netherlands 🇳🇱

(L-R): Queen Maxima, Princess Amalia, King Willem-Alexander, Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane pose at the New Church in Amsterdam in November 2022. Photograph: Koen van Weel/ANP/AFP/Getty Images

Family name/House: Van Orange-Nassau

Monarch: King Willem-Alexander

Approximate Public Funding: £44.2m

The Dutch royals are among the monarchies exempt from paying income tax. This year, the prime minister, Mark Rutte, rejected opposition demands to scrap the exemption. His government proposed an annual royal budget of €50.2m (£44.2m) for 2023.

That includes €1,035,000 (£911,162) for King Willem-Alexander, and a further €5.37m (£4.7m) to pay for his staff and other expenses. His wife, Máxima, collects €411,000 (£361,823), and an additional €700,000 (£616,245) for staff and expenses. The king’s mother, Beatrix, who abdicated in 2013, receives €1.73m (£1.52m).

Princess Amalia, the 19-year-old heir to the throne, has been granted €1.72m (£1.51m), of which €307,000 (£270,235) is salary and the rest is for staff and expenses. However, she has waived her right to the allowance, saying it would make her feel “uncomfortable” to accept it “until I incur high costs in my role as Princess of Orange”.

[felipeandletizia]

Letizia’s tiara appearances throughout the decade (2010-2019)

June 19, 2010 - Wedding of Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling in Stockholm, Sweden (1, 2)

March 7, 2011 - Gala dinner offered to the president of Chile Sebastian Pinera

April 29, 2013 - Dinner hosted by Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands ahead of her abdication at Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 

June 9, 2014 - Gala dinner offered to the Mexican president Peña Nieto.

October 29, 2014 - Gala dinner offered to the president of Chile, Michelle Bachelet (1, 2) 

March 2, 2015: Gala dinner offered to the president of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos Calderón (1, 2) 

April 15, 2015: Celebration of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark’s 75th birthday in Copenhagen, Denmark (1, 2) 

July 7, 2015: Offered a gala dinner to Peruvian President Ollanta Humala Tasso and first lady Nadine Heredia Alarcon at la Zarzuela in Madrid.

February 22, 2017: Gala dinner offered to Argentina’s President Mauricio Macri and wife Juliana Awada at the Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain. (1, 2)

April 5, 2017: State banquet offered by Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo (1, 2, 3)

July 12, 2017: State banquet offered by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

July 13, 2017: Banquet offered at Guildhall in central London (1, 2, 3)

November 6, 2017: Gala dinner offered to Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and wife Nechama Rivlin.

April 16, 2018: Gala dinner to the Portuguese president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

November 28, 2018: Gala dinner offered to Chinese president Xi Jinping and wife Peng Liyuan.

February 27, 2019: Gala dinner offered to the President and First Lady of Peru, Martin Alberto Vizcarra and Maribel Díaz Cabello. (1, 2, 3)

October 22, 2019: Banquet to celebrate Emperor Naruhito’s enthronement (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) 

Letizia’s decade 01/??

Dedicated to my dear friend and bling enthusiast, @maximafiles

[kameliendame]

Letizia Galloni, Guillaume Diop, Awa Joannais, Isaac Lopes Gomes and Jack Gasztowtt for M Le Magazine du Monde

ph. Karim Sadli

[heir-less]

I think Sofia of Spain is the only other royal that has idiot stans that are like ohmagah that btch Letizia will never be the REAL Queen, the REAL Queen is our baby Sofia regal blood from birth to death to other universes btch Letizia could never be this elegant, this pure, this blue blooded blah blah blah. They're so pathetic and irritating it's like they're fucking mosquitos. When Meghan first joined I remember being confused by the sudden increase of the adjective elegant to describe Kate, so many account names had the word in it and it wasn't until I really started following the brf that I understood what was happening. I'm sure the piano playing is the palace's way of saying see she can actually do things she's very talented and better than the biracial, as the fail immediately announced back in Christmas. Suddenly pretty dresses and pretty hair isn't nearly enough to make people fawn over a princess but her beauty still is her main weapon so her stans act accordingly. Very curios to see how things will be for her in a decade or two.

Yeah, you're right, Queen Sofia fans are nuts and, unlike Kate, Sofia has outrightly aligned herself with right-wing politics, being homophobic and pro-life.

It's interesting to see a mother-in-law and daughter relationship that has such heavy speculation in the modern era. A lot of historical Queens and Queen Mothers have had rocky relations, but Letizia and Sofia are the only modern example I can think of besides I guess QEII and Camilla. A lot of the feud rumors are speculation, but I think there's some truth to them, personally.

What makes Sofia a better queen than Letizia I'll never understand. Sofia is literally just the archetype of a Queen who did nothing and turned a blind eye to her husband's misdeeds. I guess Sofia's more inbred, but I don't see how that's a positive.