It’s not had a monarchy for over 200 years and as it welcomed the world for the Olympics, France reminded everyone of that with a rather alarming depiction of its last queen, minus her head. However, it was a brief moment of rebellion against all things regal for in 2024, Paris was all about royalty. Kings, queens, princes and princesses flocked there and the city of light was ready for its majestic close up.
The king who was kept waiting
The build up to the Olympics seemed, at one point, to have more royal receptions than actual sporting events as various landmarks in the French capital served as the backdrop to yet another regal meeting. However, one got off to a false start when the King of the Netherlands turned up early and was told to wait.
(You Tube still/ fair use)
King Willem-Alexander hopped out of his car and on to the red carpet for an event at the Louvre, only to be told his close up wasn’t for another ten minutes. He ‘joked’ that he was just too Dutch as he was left kicking his rather expensive heels until Paris was ready for him.
Wine o’clock on a Friday night
You know what it’s like. You turn up to a works do and bump into old friends and suddenly the prosecco is flowing and someone gets out a camera. Yes, it happens to royals as well.
Just before the official opening ceremony, there was (yet another) reception for royal guests and, perhaps bored by now by the number of welcomes they’d been given, three of Europe’s consorts settled down to wine o’clock. Queen Mathilde of the Belgians, Queen Letizia of Spain and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg were snapped on socials having a good old chat and trying to put as much distance between themselves and the vino glasses as possible.
The Olympic love birds on date night
King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark met during the Sydney Olympics and so the Games have a special place in their hearts. They were so keen to get to Paris 2024 that they left their 18 year old in charge of their country and headed to the Place de Trocadero for a date night.
While Crown Prince Christian got to grips with being regent, his mum and dad cosied up for a selfie with the Eiffel Tower in the background. Even new monarchs and consorts need a night off, even if they do have to hand power to a teenager to get it.
The Bourbon revolution
While the last Bourbon queen of France, Marie Antoinette, made a ghostly appearance, sans tete, at the Opening ceremonies, two more young women from the same dynasty had a much better Olympics. Princess Leonor, future queen of Spain, and her sister, Infanta Sofia, spent the first week of the Games cheering on their country’s athletes and everyone loved them for it.
Wearing all kinds of official team leisurewear and watching all kinds of sports (break dancing was just about all they missed), Leonor and Sofia became the royal darlings of the early Olympics. Leonor was all grace and smiles but it was her sporty sister who stole the show.
Princess Anne takes practical to new levels
She is the eternally practical princess and the Olympics were no exception. Princess Anne demonstrated so much common sense during Paris 2024, it was almost made a discipline for the next Games.
First, she took a swerve on a seat at the opening ceremony. Practical Anne decided in advance to watch it on the TV at the British embassy and so missed out on being utterly drenched in a torrential downpour and on cameras getting close ups of her as decapitated royals and controversial depictions of famous paintings were played out in front of VIPs. Then, when the weather warmed up, she dusted down a bucket hat to prevent sunstroke and sunburn. Gold medal stuff.
The next generation of royals win Paris
Monarchy might be old hat in France but Paris 2024 provided the perfect spring board for a whole new generation of royals. Many dynasties sent their up and coming representatives to be seen on the world stage supporting their countries and what a good move it proved to be. The rise of social media meant that great photo ops were easy to come by, an almost instant showcase for royal families wanting to prove just how much they love their countries.
Spain’s Leonor and Sofia were followed by Belgium’s new royals. Heir to the throne, Princess Elisabeth, took along siblings Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel and Princess Eleonore for some cheerleading and it worked wonders while King Willem-Alexander got over being ”too Dutch” and returned with his wife and three daughters with 20 year old heir, Princess Amalia, grabbing the headlines. And once his parents had got back, Denmark’s future king, Christian, handed back power and headed to France to do what every young royal worth their throne was doing last summer – being seen at the Olympics in Paris.
