With Queen Margrethe of Denmark's abdication in January, Europe's monarchies are predominantly led by kings, including King Felipe of Spain and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, who both marked ten years on their thrones in 2023. Queen Mary of Denmark has joined Queen Camilla, Queen Letizia, Queen Maxima and Queen Mathilde as the newest queen consort. But the next generation of royal consorts is already emerging.
Kate Middleton, now Princess of Wales, met Prince William at the University of St Andrews in 2001. After a brief breakup in 2007, William proposed in Kenya in 2010, and they married at Westminster Abbey on 29 April 2011. The couple have three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway was a controversial figure when she became engaged to Crown Prince Haakon in 2000, as she was a commoner and single mother to a son from a previous relationship with a convicted felon. She married Haakon in 2001 and has two children. In 2018, she was diagnosed with chronic pulmonary fibrosis but continues her royal duties as much as possible.
Prince Daniel of Sweden, a former personal trainer and gym owner, married Crown Princess Victoria in 2010. They have two children, Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar. Daniel made history as the first royal to take paternity leave with both children, and he will likely become prince consort when Victoria becomes queen.
Other future consorts include Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie of Luxembourg, who married Guillaume in 2012 and has two sons; Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein, married to Alois since 1993 and president of the Red Cross; and Princess Rajwa of Jordan, a Saudi-born architect who married Crown Prince Hussein in June 2023.
