Sometimes a photo pops up that you had forgotten existed. Those faces, still so young. How much has happened in the lives of these royals in eighteen years.
The photo was taken in 2006 during the 60th birthday party of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. Let’s go down the list.
Princess Madeleine
On the left, Princess Madeleine, who had just completed her studies in art history, ethnology and modern history.
She endured heartbreak and a broken engagement before marrying Chris O’Neill in 2013. She now has three children and three international moves with him.
Queen Maxima
In red in the opening photo was Crown Princess Máxima, mother of Amalia and Ariane and, in addition to her crown princess duties, busy with microcredit. That was the basis that brought her as a royal economist to a UN position and advocate for financial health.
Current position: Queen Consort of the Netherlands since 2013, mother of three young women, meeting tiger and known for her excellent taste in clothes (and love for Mambo).
Crown Princess Victoria
In light blue in the opening photo is Crown Princess Victoria, who was in a diplomat class in 2006 and had been in a relationship with her personal trainer Daniel Westling for four years. She would have to wait another four years before they could get married.
He is now Prince Daniel, and together they have two children. Victoria is still waiting for the big promotion: she is the only one in the company who will rule as queen.
Queen Mary
The woman with the narrow face greige dress is Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.
She had just become the mother of Prince Christian and would have daughter Isabella, son Vincent and daughter Isabella. On that day in Stockholm, she looked like she could use a sandwich and a nap.
This was Mary last week, back in Stockholm, as Queen Consort of Denmark.
Queen Mathilde
Next to Mary sits Mathilde of Belgium, then mother of Elisabeth, Gabriel and Emmanuel. She was feeling good at the time: experienced as a crown princess, happy as a mother and cherished by her husband, who through their relationship came to know the warmth that he himself had largely missed out on in the past.
Mathilde became Queen Consort of Belgium in 2013 and has actually been running flawlessly since 1999.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit
On the far right of the opening photo, Mette-Marit from Norway, then still in perfect health and mother of Marius, Ingrid-Alexandra and Sverre. At the time, in addition to the Norwegian royal agenda, she did a lot for UNAIDS as an International Goodwill Ambassador, other than that there was nothing at home but children, puppies and a lot of time outside.
In 2018 she was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, but since then she has been forced to take it easy.
Over the years, royalty vlogger Josine Droogendijk has seen many crazy outfits on the royals. From colored raincoats to a dress that looks more like a blanket for the couch… you can see them all in this video. Even Máxima makes a mistake sometimes.
