As 2023 gets under way, special anniversaries loom for several of Europe’s consorts. Two will mark a decade as queens of their country while another has a special royal celebration ahead of her. As a new year begins, we look at Europe’s current consorts.
Queen Silvia of Sweden
(Photo: Linda Broström/The Royal Court of Sweden)
Queen Silvia of Sweden is the longest reigning consort in Europe.
Silvia Renate Sommerlath was born on December 22nd 1943 in Heidelberg, Germany, the daughter of Walter Sommerlath and Alice Soares de Toledo. She married King Carl XVI Gustaf on June 19th 1976 and became queen consort from the moment their marriage was solemnised. She is the longest reigning consort in Swedish history.
Queen Sonja of Norway
(Jørgen Gomnæs / Det kongelige hoff)
Queen Sonja of Norway is now the oldest consort on the continent of Europe.
Sonja Haraldsen was born on July 4th 1937 in Oslo, the daughter of Karl Haraldsen and Dagny Ulrichsen. She married Harald, then heir to the throne of Norway, on August 29th 1968 and became consort on his accession on January 17th 1991.
Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg
(© COUR GRAND-DUCALE / LOLA VELASCO )
Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg has been consort for 22 years.
Maria Teresa Mestre was born on March 22nd 1956 in Havana, Cuba, the daughter of Jose Mestre y Alvarez and Maria Teresa Batista y Falle de Mestre. She married Henri, then heir to the Grand Ducal throne of Luxembourg, on February 14th 1981 and became consort on his accession on October 7th 2000.
Princess Charlene of Monaco
Princess Charlene is the last person, to date, to become consort of a European country on their marriage.
Charlene Lynette Wittstock was born on January 25th 1978 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, the daughter of Michael Wittstock and Lynette Humberstone. She married Prince Albert II of Monaco in a civil ceremony at the Prince’s Palace in Monaco on July 1st 2011 followed by a religious ceremony at the Palace on July 2nd 2011. She became consort of Monaco on the day of her first wedding.
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands
(© RVD – Erwin Olaf)
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands is the first South American to become a consort in Europe.
Maxima Zorreguieta was born on May 17th 1971 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her father, Jorge Zorreguieta, was part of the government in the last military dictatorship in Argentina. Her mother was Maria del Carmen Cerruti. She married Willem-Alexander, then heir to the throne of the Netherlands, on February 2nd 2002 and became consort on his accession on April 30th 2013.
Queen Mathilde of the Belgians
Queen Mathilde was the first consort of Belgium to be born in the country.
Mathilde Marie Christine Ghislaine d’Udeken d’Acoz was born on January 20th 1973 in Uccle, Belgium, the daughter of Count Patrick d’Udekem d’Acoz and Countess Anna Maria Komorowska. She married Philippe, then heir to the throne of Belgium, on December 4th 1999 and became consort on his accession on July 21st 2013.
Queen Letizia of Spain
Queen Letizia was the first consort of Spain to be born in the country for over a century.
Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano was born on September 15th 1972 in Oviedo, Asturias, the eldest child of Jesus Jose Ortiz Alvarez and Paloma Rocasolano Rodriguez. She married Felipe, then heir to the throne of Spain, on May 22nd 2004 and became queen consort of Spain on his accession on June 19th 2022.
Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom
(Image Licensed to i-Images Picture Agency)
Queen Camilla is the newest consort on the continent of Europe.
Camilla Rosemary Shand was born on July 17th 1947, the eldest child of Major Bruce Shand and Rosalind Cubitt. She married Charles, then heir to the throne of the United Kingdom, on April 5th 2005 and became Queen Consort of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of 14 other Commonwealth realms on September 8th 2022.
