Time flies so fast!Â
It feels like only yesterday that we're sitting in front of our televisions, watching the wedding of the Prince of Asturias, the Prince of Orange, the Crown Princess of Sweden, and the young Duke and Duchess of Brabant, announcing the birth of their first child.
And now, look at their kiddos, all grown up! and some of them making wardrobe choices as stylish and as glamorous as their moms!
Future Queens
Europe has currently four princesses who are heir-apparent. They will be Queen regnant someday.Â
1. Victoria, The Crown Princess of Sweden
Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Vastergotland, born Victoria Ingrid Alice Desiree on July 14, 1977, she is the eldest child of King Carl XVI Gustav, and Queen Silvia. She has a younger brother, Prince Carl Philip, and a younger sister, Princess Madeleine.
Before 1980, The Crown Prince of Sweden was Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Varmland (who was born in May 1979). But on January 1, 1980, the succession law was altered to Absolute succession and was implemented retroactively, thus, Carl Philip was displaced as the heir-apparent by his older sister.
Crown Princess Victoria married Daniel Westling in 2010. They have two children together. Princess Estelle, Duchess of Ostergotland, born on February 23, 2012, and Prince Oscar, Duke of Kane, born on March 2, 2016.Â
The Crown Princess's eldest child and heir-apparent is so grown up now.
Princess Estelle, Duchess of Ostergotland, is now 10 years old! And currently in her fifth year as a primary school student at the Campus Manilla School, a primary and secondary school located in Djurgarden, just outside the inner city of Stockholm.
Four of her godparents are King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, and her maternal uncle, Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Varmland.
2. Princess Elisabeth, the Duchess of Brabant. She was born Elisabeth Theresia Maria Helena on October 25, 2001, to then Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant, and Princess Mathilde, Duchess of Brabant.Â
In July 2013, her grandfather, King Albert II of Belgium, abdicated due to health reasons. Her father ascended to the Belgian throne as King Philippe, making her the heir-apparent. She has been given the title, Duchess of Brabant.
Princess Elisabeth continued her secondary school at the United World College of the Atlantic in Wales, England, dubbed the real-life "Hogwart school of the hippies". She also attended the Royal Military Academy in Belgium and underwent military service training.
In October 2021, she began a three-year course in history and politics at Lincoln College, Oxford University in the United Kingdom.Â
Princess Eleonore is currently attending secondary school at Heilig Hart College in Brussels. She is a goddaughter of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.
3. Catharina-Amalia, The Princess of Orange. She was born Catharina-Amalia Beatrix Carmen Victoria on December 7, 2003, is the eldest child among the three daughters of King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands and Queen Maxima who married on February 2, 2002.
One of her godparents is Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. She has two younger sisters: Princess Alexia, born on June 26, 2005, and Princess Ariane, born on April 10, 2007.Â
She lived with her parents and sisters at Huis Ten Bosch in The Hague, one of the three official residences of the Dutch monarch.
Princess Catharina-Amalia assumed the title, The Princess of Orange on April 30, 2013, upon the accession of her father to the Dutch throne. She is the heir-apparent and a member of the Dutch Council of State since she turned 18.
Princess Alexia is currently attending the United World College of the Atlantic in Wales, England, and attended the same classes as Princess Leonor of Spain.Â
Princess Ariane, who just turned 15 this month, is attending Christelijk Gymnasium Sorghvliet, a public secondary school in The Hague.
4. Leonor, the Princess of Asturias. Prince Felipe, the Prince of Asturias, and TV anchor, Letezia Ortiz Rocasolano, got married on May 22, 2004. More than a year later, on October 31, 2005, their eldest child, Leonor de Todos los Santos de Bourbon y Ortiz, was born.
The Spanish Succession Law has not changed from male-preference primogeniture to Absolute, just like most of the European monarchies, thus, Princess Leonor is only heir-presumptive. And can be replaced if her parents will have a son.
There was at least one occasion in 2006 when the Spanish parliament began debating the issue of changing the succession law, however, on April 29, 2007, when then Princess of Asturias gave birth to another girl, Infanta Sofia, the Members of the Parliament did not see any reason to rush the changes.
The Princess of Asturias began taking royal engagement in 2018 when she was only 13 years old. She gave her first public speech on her 13th birthday held at the Instituto Cervantes in Madrid, Spain.Â
She delivered a speech during the October 2019 Princess of Asturias Awards, an award she will chair once she turns 18.Â
It was established in 1980 as the Prince of Asturias Awards headed by then Prince Felipe. It was changed to Princess of Asturias Awards in 2014 when King Felipe ascended the throne, and because his heir-presumptive is a female.
She continued her secondary school at the United World College of the Atlantic in Wales, England, where she attended the same classes as Princess Alexia of The Netherlands.Â
If she ascends to the Spanish throne someday, Leonor would be the first Queen regnant of Spain since Queen Isabella II (reigned 1833-1868), whose accession to the Spanish throne triggered a civil war known as Carlist Wars due to succession dispute.
Her younger sister, Infanta Sofia (she is titled Infanta because she is not in direct succession to the throne), will turn 15 this coming April 29.Â
She is currently attending a secondary school in Madrid, Santa Maria de los Rosales School.
Infanta Sofia was named after her paternal grandmother, Queen Sofia of Spain who was born Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark.
The style evolution of Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia stuns us. They're as glamorous as their mom!
Infanta Sofia's godfather is Konstantin-Assen, Prince of Viden, Duke of Saxony, the fourth son of Tsar Simeon II of Bulgaria.
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