The Duke and Duchess of Sussex aren't the first royals to seek out a more financially independent life. Their European cousins have been doing it for years, carving out careers while still remaining part of 'The Firm' – and they’ve all been pretty successful, too.
Prince Nikolai of Denmark
Prince Nikolai’s grandmother is Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and he’s seventh in line to the throne. Luckily for Nikolai, his smouldering good looks and razor-sharp cheekbones led him being signed in 2018 by Scoop Models (who first launched Cara Delevingne’s career), which saw him walk for Burberry and Dior (more recently his younger brother, Prince Felix, has also been making his first foray into the industry). When not occupied with the fashion world, the dashing Dane studies business in Copenhagen.
Charlotte Casiraghi
Charlotte is Princess Caroline of Hanover’s daughter and 11th in line to Monaco's throne. She’s dabbled in various careers including reportedly once interning at the Independent on Sunday before turning her focus to modelling, working with luxury brands including Gucci, Montblanc, Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel – memorably opening the maison's SS22 couture show on horseback. Casiraghi is also a brilliant showjumper and writer of philosophy, recently publishing a book with Robert Maggiori called Archipel des Passions.
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway
Princess Märtha, the Norwegian King Harald V’s eldest, has a very modern royal life. Firstly, she gave up her HRH title in 2002 for her first marriage and is currently engaged to Gwyneth Paltrow’s shaman, which she announced on Instagram. She’s a qualified physiotherapist and studied holistic medicine, claiming she can communicate with animals and angels and in 2007 started her own alternative therapy centre named Astarte Education which Norwegians nicknamed ‘angel school.’ Princess Märtha became the first member of the Norwegian Royal Family to ever appear in a court of law as she wanted to halt sales of a book entitled Martha's Angels.
Princess Madeleine of Sweden
Much like Harry and Meghan, Princess Madeleine, the youngest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, turned to life across the pond for independent living away from the Swedish palace. Before meeting her husband, Madeleine was living and working in New York as a philanthropist and writer (she’s also a successful equestrian). The family briefly lived in Stockholm and London before moving to Miami in 2018 where Madeleine now works for the World Childhood Foundation which was founded by her mother.
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
He’s been the King of the Netherlands since his mother’s abdication in 2013 and it turns out, along with his royal duties, the King is also a commercial pilot. After his military career as both a naval captain and Air Commodore, Willem-Alexander loves nothing better than flying planes. The King revealed in 2017 that he had served as a first officer on KLM flights for 21 years, flying KLM Cityhoppers twice a month, even after his accession to the throne. He’s reportedly rarely recognised in his pilot’s uniform and never gives his identity away on-board.
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