All About Royal Families

October will be a fascinating month for royal watchers, with state visits, royal birthdays, historic commemorations and several exhibitions that bring royal history back to life. From Belgium and the Netherlands to Scandinavia, Spain and the United Kingdom, the royal calendar is once again filled with engagements. October is also an important month for the younger generation of European royals, with the birthdays of Crown Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, Crown Prince Christian of Denmark and Princess Leonor of Spain. For me, this month will have an extra touch of royal history. I will be travelling to Paris myself, following in the footsteps of Marie Antoinette and Napoleon and discovering some of the places where their stories unfolded.  So, let us take a look at the royal highlights, birthdays, anniversaries, books and exhibitions to watch in October 2026. Crown Princess Elisabeth of Belgium and Prince Emmanuel of Belgium Royal diary Breast Cancer Awareness Month. October 1st: BE:...

Norway has one of the most fascinating royal histories in Europe. The death of King Harald V in August 2026 and the accession of his son, King Haakon VIII, made me curious to look beyond the events of today and discover more about the royal history behind Norway's modern monarchy. Long before Haakon VIII became King of Norway, the country was ruled by Viking kings, medieval dynasties and monarchs from Denmark and Sweden. Names such as Harald, Olav and Haakon have appeared throughout that history. And perhaps that is what makes the Norwegian monarchy so fascinating: behind the Royal Family we know today lies a royal story that stretches back more than a thousand years. So, let's travel back in time and discover how Norway went from Viking kings to the modern monarchy of King Haakon VIII. The Viking kings of Norway The traditional story of the Norwegian monarchy begins with Harald Fairhair. He is remembered as the first king to unite Norway, traditionally after the Battle of Hafr...

September brings the royal families back into the spotlight after the quieter summer weeks, and this year the month begins with a particularly historic moment in Norway. From King Haakon VIII taking the Oath of Allegiance to the Constitution to Prinsjesdag in the Netherlands and the opening of the Swedish parliamentary year, September 2026 promises plenty of royal tradition and ceremony. Here are some of the royal highlights to watch this September. Royal Diary September 1st: NOR: His Majesty King Haakon VIII will take the Oath of Allegiance to the Constitution in the Storting Chamber at 1 pm.  September 1st - September 2nd: BE The King and Queen attend the 22nd informal meeting of the heads of state of the German-speaking countries - The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg will attend this meeting too.  September 5th: UK: The Braemar Gathering - Held at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park, this premier Highland Games event features pipe bands, h...

On 24 August 1838, Prince Philippe, Count of Paris, was born at the Tuileries Palace in Paris. As the eldest son of Ferdinand Philippe, Duke of Orléans, and Duchess Hélène of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, he was born into the heart of the French royal family. His grandfather was King Louis Philippe I of the French, who had been on the throne since 1830. A French prince with Belgian family ties Philippe's father, Ferdinand Philippe, was the eldest son of King Louis Philippe and Queen Marie Amélie. His younger sister Louise Marie of Orléans had married Leopold I, the first King of the Belgians, in 1832. Belgium's first queen was therefore Philippe's aunt. This also made Philippe a first cousin of Louise's children, including the future King Leopold II, Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, and Princess Charlotte, who would later become Empress of Mexico. The French and Belgian royal families were not simply neighbouring dynasties. They were close family. Philippe's future chang...

In Belgium, trains are such a familiar part of everyday life that we rarely stop to think about the history travelling with us. We take the train to work, to school, for a day out or perhaps to begin a journey abroad. Yet those railway tracks tell a story stretching back almost two centuries. And in 2026, there is an extra reason to look back. The National Railway Company of Belgium,better known as NMBS/SNCB, is celebrating its 100th anniversary. For me, this anniversary has a personal connection too. I am an avid train traveller myself and whenever possible, I love discovering places by rail. But there is another reason why this anniversary deserves a place on All About Royal Families: Belgian railway history also has a fascinating royal side. A century on the rails Belgium has always been a railway pioneer. As early as 1835, the first public railway on the European continent connected Brussels with Mechelen. The NMBS/SNCF itself was established in 1926, taking over the railway lines ...

Some exhibitions tell you a story through paintings, documents or photographs. Others have the remarkable ability to bring a person back to mind through the things they once wore. In July 2026, during my visit to London, I had the opportunity to visit Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style at The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace. For anyone who followed Queen Elizabeth II throughout the years, it is much more than an exhibition about royal fashion. It is a journey through a familiar life. Organised to mark the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth in 1926, the exhibition is the largest and most comprehensive display of her fashion ever staged. More than 300 items take visitors through all ten decades of her life, from childhood and her years as a young princess to her long reign as Queen. Many of the pieces have never been displayed before. A royal life told through clothes What I particularly loved was the way the exhibition follows the different stages of Elizabeth’s life. Her clot...

August has always been a month of contrasts in the royal calendar. While many royal families enjoy a well deserved summer holiday away from the public eye, royal life never comes to a complete standstill. National celebrations, historic anniversaries and royal birthdays continue to offer fascinating moments for royal watchers around the world. This month's Royal Highlights bring together the most notable events and commemorations from across Europe's royal houses and beyond. Duke and Duchess of Gloucester Royal diary August 1st to August 7th: UK: Cowes Week on the Isle of Wight - The Princess Royal will visit some activities of this wonderful Regatta. ⛵ August 5th: UK: The Duchess of Edinburgh Patron, Hallé Concerts Society, will attend a Promenade Concert at The Royal Albert Hall. August 11th: NL: The Princess of Orange will attend the opening of the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen , Zara Tindall, Princess Benedikte of Denmark and Infanta Elena of Spain, will atted this...