Today's Young Royals Range from Rebels and Iconoclasts to Fabulously Glamorous Dilettantes and Very Regal Class Acts, Writes S
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Young, Rich Today’s young royals range from rebels and iconoclasts to fabulously glamorous dilettantes and very regal class acts, writes Sue Russell heir antics are as captivating as And monarchies are modernising their Crown Prince Carl Philip, to second in line. In those of soap opera stars, replete images. Britain’s future King, Prince William, 1990, Norway took a similar step, but it will with glitter, glamour, gossip, doesn’t like to be called “Sir,” let alone “Your affect future heirs only. Prince Haakon retained fairytales and scandals. But, in Royal Highness.” What’s more, today’s royals his existing position, despite having an older fairness, the parents of some of are trying to stay relevant by venturing beyond sister, Princess Martha Louise. Belgium set the today’s young royals were questionable role their palace walls – and not just on formal, stage for crowning the first-born, irrespective T models in their time. organised state visits. of gender, way back in 1991. Take Monaco’s Grimaldi family for Noel Cox, law professor at Auckland The luxurious lifestyles of young roy- instance. Princess Stephanie cavorted in a University of Technology and president als don’t come cheap; so just how rich are mobile home with a circus ringmaster; while of New Zealand’s branch of the royalist various royal families? The finances are bachelor Prince Albert failed to give his anx- Monarchist League, describes the newcom- notoriously tricky to pin down. In 2003, ious countrymen an heir, despite fathering ers as “ ... probably a reflection of the radical Queen Elizabeth II’s personal fortune was two children out of wedlock. Even the teen- changes in society. We may or may not approve estimated at US$1.6 billion dollars; but aged Princess Caroline was the first royal to of them, but perhaps it is better for these royals in 2004, another source put it at a com- go topless on the beach. to follow today’s trends rather than be com- paratively paltry $680 million. The royals Nowdays, commoners often co-star pelled to adhere to standards that are increas- of Monaco and Luxembourg are rolling in fairytale royal love stories. Mary of ingly ignored by the rest of us.” in money, while Norway’s are considered Denmark, Letizia of Spain and Maxima of Of course, the British monarchy had female rather poor. Yet, the Norwegians are bet- the Netherlands were all transported from power long before anyone coined the word ter off than the Swedes, who in turn are the real world into lofty regal households. feminist, yet the male bias in succession rules wealthier than the Spanish and Belgians. Crown Princes Frederik of Denmark and has also loosened in other countries. Sweden However, all of them can still afford their Royal Felipe of Spain both dated lingerie models changed its law in 1980 to give equal prece- palaces, pomp and ceremony. It just remains before marrying, and Felipe actually wed a dence to first-born females like Crown Princess to be seen how the next generation will & former topless model. Victoria. That suddenly relegated her brother, wear their crowns. Young, Rich& Royal Opposite page: Princess Caroline persuaded her father, Prince Ranier, not to give her children royal tiltes; Charlotte Casiraghi and Andrea Casiraghi Nicole Coste, a former flight attend- with Pierre Casiraghi in the background, taken ant from Togo. at the Monaco National Day Celebrations This page clockwise from above left: Princess In 2003, when Albert still hadn’t pro- Stephanie; the bachelor Prince Albert fathered two duced a legitimate heir to the throne, children out of wedlock; Charlene Wittstock, the South African beauty dating Prince Albert Prince Rainier III changed Monaco’s constitution so that the succession can now pass to Albert’s sisters and their chil- Andrea & Charlotte Tragedy struck Andrea and Charlotte’s lives Princess Caroline persuaded her father, the the Grimaldis may have too much free- dren. Andrea is third in line, Pierre fourth, Casiraghi (Monaco) when they were aged six and four, respec- late Prince Rainier, not to give her children dom and too much money. and Charlotte fifth, but Princess Stephanie’s A BOHEMIAN PRINCE, tively. Their father, Italian businessman and royal titles. “She wanted them to have some “They are the wildest of today’s young children are non-starters. A BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS playboy Stefano Casiraghi, died in a speed- peace and normal childhoods,” says author royals, as well as the most glamorous “There’s no way illegitimate children Andrea and Charlotte Casiraghi are Monaco’s boat accident. Because he was a commoner, Catarina Hurtig. and interesting, along with William and could succeed,” explains journalist Patrick hottest paparazzi magnets. They and their young- they do not have titles. “They are trying to protect their kids,” says Harry. Charlotte moves in a very exclusive group, Middleton. He’s noticed some changes in the er brother Pierre are the children of Princess Charlotte, 20, is a stunning beauty often likened Middleton. Yet, Charlotte and Andrea are pho- but she also hangs around with her brother a lot. older Grimaldis, though. “Even Stephanie Caroline, married since 1999 to Queen Elizabeth to her grandmother, the late Princess Grace. She’s tographed extensively. “Anyone like Andrea, You often see them together at parties.” marrying Prince Ernst, Princess Stephanie has likes to give the impression of being a proper II’s cousin, Prince Ernst of Hanover. They grew passionate about designer brands like Christian who appears as though he’s cast as Prince They also party with Ernst August Jr, who is given Andrea, Charlotte and Pierre a half-sister, royal now,” he says. “She went off to Switzerland up with an aunt and uncle, Princess Stephanie Dior, Chanel and Gianni Versace, and loves show Charming, is going to attract a certain amount something of a playboy and one of their stepfather Alexandra of Hanover, now aged six. to baptise a dolphin. They’re doing the kinds and Prince Albert, who were simultaneously jumping, swimming and skiing. of attention,” he adds. Ernst’s two sons from a former marriage. Their Prince Albert might be getting into a seri- of things traditional royals do.” glamorous, intriguing and scandalously shocking. Andrea, 22, is sometimes called “the “A lot of girls and older women are inter- rarefied social circles mean that Andrea flew to ous relationship with Charlene Wittstock, 28, Andrea loves the beaches of Ibiza and St Some question the Grimaldis’ royal clout, Bohemian prince,” thanks to his long blond ested in Andrea,” reports Hurtig. “He once the UK to attend the lavish Windsor Castle 18th a South African beauty and Olympic swim- Tropez, but he recently upped his philanthrop- because, as Patrick Middleton of The Riviera- hair and chiselled good looks. He’s like a hip- had a relationship with a woman around birthday party of Princess Beatrice, the daughter mer, but who knows if he’ll marry? The two ic cred like William and Harry by making a Reporter explains, “Ruling an area the size of per Prince William, with a sexy, continental air 15 years older, which was very good for his of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. children he fathered out of wedlock are 14- poignant visit to impoverished children in the Hyde Park doesn’t really impress everybody. But and rock star charisma. Tall and slim, he plays image. He frequents clubs, drinks a lot of Andrea and Charlotte have apartments in Paris, year-old Californian Jazmin Grace Rotolo, Philippines. Princess Grace started working they make up for it with fabulous wealth. In the guitar and wears snake-hipped trousers. champagne and goes to many parties. Like where they study, and they also sometimes reside the daughter of a former waitress, and a there 40 years ago with Amade, a children’s terms of real estate, they own a lot of Monaco.” Although he smokes, he’s very athletic. Sweden’s young Princess Madeleine, I think in their mother’s nearby Parisian mansion. Since three-year-old son, Alexandre, his child with charity. Princess Caroline is now its president. Young, Rich& Royal Andrea saw a children’s halfway house and Gabriella Windsor’s parents are Queen events scheduled to take place in Hong Kong. dreadful, stench-filled shantytowns outside Elizabeth’s cousin, Prince Michael of Kent, Zara lives with her boyfriend, six feet and Manila. In one, families lived in cardboard and his controversial wife Princess Michael. two inches-tall rugby star Mike Tindall. They shacks beneath a mountain of rubbish. The Nicknamed Princess Pushy, Princess Michael met in Australia and became – as the earthy children’s warmth and strength touched him recently made headlines by tactlessly announc- Yorkshireman says – “really good mates.” so deeply he kissed them, saying: “I am lost ing that her children were more educated than Things snowballed from there. It helps that for words. My legs are shaking.” He left with other royals. Also, after calling her marriage Princess Anne and Mark Phillips are resolutely promises to return. “one long snooze,” she cavorted in Venice down to earth. Even so, Zara recalls Mike’s first Charlotte’s current beau is a cutie called with a wealthy Russian furniture mogul. He’s meeting with them as nightmarishly intimi- Felix Winckler; but at 17 she fell for Hubertus 40, she’s 61. They held hands publicly, but say dating for him. Zara and Mike are both fun Herring-Frankensdorf, an Austrian business their relationship is platonic. loving, competitive and passionately dedicated student eight years her senior. Andrea is the Until Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson’s to their sports. kind of boyfriend who gives gifts ranging daughters, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, now “Zara is our real glamour girl, because she is from a miniature pot-bellied pig to a $48,650 16 and 18, finish studying, Zara Phillips and a truly natural beauty,” insists Judy Wade, royal diamond ring.