It’s a landmark moment in any royal career. For those born to reign, a life of public duty beckons and that means the moment to fly solo comes sooner rather than later.
Princess Catharina-Amalia of Orange had her first solo outing with the 22 year old royal launching a naval ship without her parents. It was a confident start to her royal career and follows the path of several other firsts in line to a throne.
A big trip down under
Prince William, now the Prince of Wales, carried out his first solo trip on behalf of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 2005 when he visited New Zealand for Second World War commemorative events.
He was 23 at the time and still second in line to the throne behind his father, now King Charles. By the time William became heir, his royal career was well established.
The royal who headed out solo at just fifteen
Princess Leonor of Asturias, the heir to the Spanish throne, carried out her first solo engagement in 2021 when she was 15 and visited the Cervantes Institute to mark its 30th anniversary.
Although very young, the princess carried out the engagement with confidence. Leonor has been heir to the throne of Spain since the age of 9 with her father succeeding as King Felipe VI in 2014.
Shipshape for a princess who will make history
Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant, had her first official solo public engagement in 2022 but she was already used to appearing without her parents. Before the then-21 year old took to the seas, christening a new vessel herself, she had begun her military training and was often seen performing her army duties.
Elisabeth became heir to the throne in 2013, at the age of 11. She will be Belgium’s first queen regnant.
Flying the flag, an historic Crown Princess
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden took her first official solo trip as a 24 year old in 2001.
She travelled to Japan for the “Swedish Style” event to help promote Swedish culture, food, and tourism.
