Teenagers set to be Europe’s most eligible royals! Meet the younger siblings of the future Kings and Queens who can enjoy all the perks of royal life without the burden of official duties

As Crown Prince Christian of Denmark celebrated his 18th birthday last year, a photo from the dazzling gala thrown to celebrate the occasion showed the royal alongside other heirs to European thrones in an exciting glimpse into the future of European monarchies.

But while young royals including Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands and Princess Elisabeth of Belgium are preparing to one day sit on the thrones of their respective countries, their younger siblings, also known as ‘spares’, will have a little more freedom in their future exploits.

Royal watchers will no-doubt be eager to see what this bright young generation of royals will do next as their older siblings are primed to become ruling monarchs.

With fantastic connections and incredible wealth at their disposal, Europe’s young royals can, in theory, do anything they want – however, having been raised within their respective monarchies, they will likely also possess a strong sense of duty to their countries.

Here, FEMAIL explores what might be in store for Europe’s young royals…

Infanta Sofia of Spain, 16 

Infanta Sofia is the younger sister of Princess Leonor of Spain; and the second daughter of Queen Letizia and King Felipe. 

She is currently following in her sister’s footsteps while carrying out her studies at the so-called ‘Hippie Hogwarts’ school – officially named UWC Atlantic College in the Welsh county, the Vale of Glamorgan.

The young royal commenced her studies at the picturesque international school in August last year, confirmed when the Spanish Palace released photos of her beaming on the campus.

Much like her sister, Sofia is likely also studying for the International Baccalaureate at the school.

However, despite remaining committed to her studies in Wales, Sofia is often pictured at important royal events back in Madrid with her sister and parents – perhaps a signal that she plans to maintain a role as a working royal once her studies are complete.

Sofia was by her sister Leonor’s side last November when the future Queen turned 18 and, as is tradition for the Spanish royal family, pledged allegiance to the nation’s flag.

Sofia’s dedication to duty was also reflected when an Italian pop star, of whom Sofia and Leonor are both fans, revealed the sisters cut a meeting with him short so that they could get back to work.

Speaking to Hola, Teo Bok said he met the royals after a concert in Madrid which they attended, but their conversation was cut short when Infanta Sofía announced they would soon have to leave. 

He claims she told him: ‘In half an hour, we will have to go. We would like to stay but we have work.’

Princess Alexia of the Netherlands, 18 

Princess Alexia of the Netherlands will likely never sit on the Dutch throne (unless her older sister Princess Amalia decides ruling is not for her) – but that hasn’t stopped her taking on a bigger royal role since she turned 18.

The royal, who is the spitting image of her mother, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, carried out her first solo engagement in September last year. 

She donned a gorgeous navy-blue dress with frilled detailing to christen the Vox Alexia, a ship by Dutch manufacture Van Oord, in Rotterdam.

The previous May, Alexia graduated from UWC Atlantic College in South Wales, with her parents travelling to the prestigious school to celebrate.

However, although Alexia remains committed to her royal duties, she’s also known as something of an environmentalist.

In 2021 when she was studying at ‘Hippie Hogwarts’, Alexia donned a high-vis jacket and attended a climate change protest in Llantwit Major.

Footage showed the young Royal on the climate march along with other pupils wearing yellow and orange vests and holding up signs.

Princess Alexia carried a banner showing the Earth in the seaside demo following the conclusion of COP26 in Glasgow.

She was at the end of the line, responding to chants of ‘What do we want?’ ‘Climate justice!’ and ‘When do we want it?’ ‘Now!’

A source said: ‘The college’s philosophy is strictly attached to social issues like climate change.

‘However, it has to be remarked that it is extremely unusual to see a royal family member take part in a demonstration so clearly designed to protest something rather than to promote something.’

So perhaps a future in climate conservation may be on the cards for the Netherlands’s ‘spare’… 

Princess Ariane of the Netherlands, 16

The youngest child of Queen Máxima and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands is 16-year-old Ariane.

Much like her older sisters, and other European royals, Ariane is currently studying at United World College – however in a break from her sisters, she chose to study at the Adriatic branch in Italy rather than Wales.

Instead, she follows in the footsteps of her father King Willem-Alexander who studied at the Adriatic College when he was younger.

The Dutch Palace announced last summer: ‘Her Royal Highness Princess Ariane of the Netherlands will continue her secondary education after the summer at the United World College Adriatic in Italy.

‘She will go there for her International Baccalaureate.’ 

At just 16-years-old, Ariane has a lower public profile than her adult sisters, so it is unclear which path she will choose to follow in later life.

Princess Isabella of Denmark, 16 

One could be forgiven for thinking Princess Isabella of Denmark is a queen-in-waiting following her regal appearances at royal events over the last year.

But in truth, she is the younger sister of heir apparent Crown Prince Christian of Denmark, so will never sit on the throne.

Isabella is the second child of newly-crowned King Frederik and Queen Mary, following Queen Margrethe’s shock abdication at the beginning of this year. 

Despite only being 16-years-old, Isabella certainly understands a thing or two about regality – something she demonstrated at her older brother’s 18th birthday last year.

Isabella made a glamorous appearance at Christiansborg Castle in a sapphire gown made by one of Kate and Meghan’s favourite designers, Safiyaa.

She accessorised with her mother Crown Princess Mary’s J.Furmani silver clutch and dazzling amethyst and diamond drop earrings. 

Princess Isabella’s dress was complemented by a pair of earrings from her mother’s personal collection.

They featured a briolette amethyst, suspended from a line of sparkling diamonds, making for a statement piece.

These earrings have been worn by Princess Mary since early 2006 and it is thought they were a gift to mark the birth of Prince Christian in late 2005.

Although Isabella still has a while to wait before reaching adulthood, she is likely to remain close with her family – although if her impressive style is anything to go by, she may yet become a budding fashionista.

Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine of Denmark, 13 

Crown Prince Christian’s youngest siblings are twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.

Following in their older siblings’ footsteps, the twins were educated at Tranegårdskolen in Hellerup – a state school, as were the wishes of their parents.

However when they reached secondary school age, Vincent remained at Tranegårdskolen and Isabella attended Kildegård Privatskole.

At just 13-years-old, it is currently unknown how the young royals’ futures will pan out, but at third and fourth in line to the throne, it’s very unlikely they will ever have to think about ruling.

When the twins were born in 2011, Professor of Danish history at Copenhagen University, Jes Fabricius Moller, told Adelaide Now that the twins would have ‘freedom to a much higher degree than their father.

He said: ‘They can have many different and unusual careers, but they cannot do anything considered immoral… because what they do in the public eye, will reflect back on the entire royal family.’

Prince Gabriel of Belgium, 20

Although he is second in line to the throne of Belgium, Prince Gabriel has kept a very low public profile so far in life.

In another life, he would have been heir to the throne over his older sister, Princess Elisabeth – however the Belgian Royal Family changed its primogeniture rules in 1991, meaning female heirs can ascend the throne before their younger brothers.

Prince Gabriel, currently enrolled at the Royal Military Academy of Belgium, appears to be a model student who is fluent in three languages, enjoys sports and plays his part for charity. 

Prince Gabriel spent his earlier years studying at St John Berchmans College in Brussels before finishing his secondary education at the International School of Brussels, an English-language private school.

During this time he lived at the Royal Palace of Laeken in Brussels, the main residence of the Belgian Royal Family.

From September 2021, Gabriel undertook a one-year preparatory A-level course in mathematics, further mathematics, and physics at the National Mathematics and Science College, in Warwickshire.

A year later, the Palace announced that Prince Gabriel would enrol at the Royal Military Academy of Belgium to study social and military sciences.

In September 2022, the Prince was presented with his blue beret after he successfully completed his military initiation phase under the name ‘Gabriël van Saksen-Coburg’.

During this year’s Belgian National Day, both Gabriel and Elisabeth joined their fellow Royal Military Academy students to parade through the streets of Belgium.

This is not the only royal engagement by the Prince who is fluent in Dutch, French and English – as he has joined his parents on a number of public engagements.

The 20-year-old also regularly volunteers in his home country. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Prince Gabriel had conversations over the phone with isolated elderly people in residential care centres.

He is an accomplished pianist and sportsman with interests in hockey, sailing, skiing, cycling, tennis and sailing.

Although Gabriel has many talents that may guide him in his future, the royal’s commitment to attending public engagements with his family suggests he may lean towards being a working royal. 

Prince Emmanuel, 18, and Princess Eleonore of Belgium, 15

The youngest siblings in the Belgian Royal Family are Emmanuel and Eleonore. 

Although they are still young, the brother and sister have previously revealed their musical talents to the world.

They appeared in a Christmas concert in 2020, which was broadcast to the nation amid strict coronavirus restrictions.

During the concert Eleonore, who was just 12-years-old at the time, played the violin, while Emmanuel showed off his skills on the saxophone.

It is thought that, outside of schooling and music, Eleonore cycles, swims and sails. Emmanuel enjoys the same sports and is also fluent in French, Dutch and English.

Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway, 18

The third-in-line to the Norwegian throne, Prince Sverre Magnus is the younger brother of Princess Ingrid Alexandra and youngest son of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit.

He is already enjoying the freedom that comes with being a more junior royal, which can be determined from his cheeky displays during appearances with his family.

The young prince sent royal fans into a frenzy when he ‘dabbed’ on the balcony of the Royal Palace during a celebratory event for King Harald and Queen Sonja.

Luckily his cousin, 12-year-old Leah Isadora Behn, was on hand to give him a sharp nudge in the side. 

He currently attends the same school his older sister went to, CCC where his studies focus on Information Technology and Media Production – suggesting a career in media or tech may be on the horizon for him.

However royal fans will surely hope that, wherever his career takes him, the Prince will continue to steal the show on the Palace balcony.