# How many princesses are there? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 3, 2009, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-princesses-are-there/501820 "2009-07-03T15:56:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ianjohnson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a3d4f5/32.png) [@ianjohnson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianjohnson)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-princesses-are-there/501820/1 "2009-07-03T15:56:47Z")
Having two young girls, this is a subject that comes up. How many princesses are there in the world today? Are any of them under 30? William and Phillip certainly fit the Prince Charming archetype, do they have any female counterparts? ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-princesses-are-there/501820/2 "2009-07-03T16:00:13Z")
Well, their cousins Princess Beatrice and Eugenie come to mind. Wikipedia is quite good for this. There is a family tree on the British Royal Family page: [British royal family - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Royal_Family) and a general Royal Family page which links to the various current Royal families down the bottom: [Royal family - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_family) ---
**Author:** ![Ourrah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9de0a6/32.png) [@Ourrah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ourrah)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-princesses-are-there/501820/3 "2009-07-03T16:02:36Z")
How 'bout [Princess Anne?](http://www.freakingnews.com/pictures/33000/Prince-Charles-Princess-Anne--33213.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-princesses-are-there/501820/4 "2009-07-03T16:51:59Z")
[Victoria](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria,_Crown_Princess_of_Sweden) and [Madaleine](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Madeleine,_Duchess_of_H%C3%A4lsingland_and_G%C3%A4strikland) ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-princesses-are-there/501820/5 "2009-07-03T16:59:08Z")
Princess [Isabella](http://www.merryroyals.com/2007/07/03/denmarks-princess-isabella-henrietta-ingrid-margrethe/) of Denmark. Princess [Maxima](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_M%C3%A1xima_of_the_Netherlands) of Holland. Crown Princess [Mette-Marit](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mette-Marit,_Crown_Princess_of_Norway) of Norway and her daughter Princess [Ingrid-Alexandra](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Ingrid_Alexandra_of_Norway) ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-princesses-are-there/501820/6 "2009-07-03T17:01:04Z")
[Ingrid Alexandra](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingrid_Alexandra) ETA: I might have been 30 seconds late, but I don’t have an erroneous hyphen. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![acetylene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@acetylene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/acetylene)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-princesses-are-there/501820/7 "2009-07-03T17:07:58Z")
Saudi Arabia has thousands of princes and princesses. Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-princesses-are-there/501820/8 "2009-07-03T17:08:15Z")
Let us cover Europe: 9 Belgian Princesses. > **[Monarchy of Belgium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_monarchy)** > > Belgium is a constitutional, hereditary and popular monarchy. The monarch is titled King (or Queen) of the Belgians (Dutch: Koning(in) der Belgen, French: Roi/Reine des Belges, German: König(in) der Belgier) and serves as the country's head of state and commander-in-chief of the Belgian Armed Forces. There have been seven Belgian monarchs since independence in 1830. > The incumbent, Philippe, ascended the throne on 21 July 2013, following the abdication of his father Albert II. > When the Belgian... 5 Britain: > **[British royal family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Royal_Family)** > > The British royal family comprises King Charles III and his close relations. Charles is the head of the House of Windsor. There is no strict legal or formal definition of who is or is not a member, although the Royal Household has issued different lists outlining who is a part of the royal family. Members often support the monarch in undertaking public engagements, and pursue charitable work and interests. The royal family are regarded as British and world cultural icons. > The Lord Chamberlai... 8 Bulgaria (Deposed)) > **[Bulgarian royal family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_Royal_Family)** > > The last Bulgarian royal family (Bulgarian: Българско царско семейство, romanized: Balgarsko tsarsko semeystvo) is a line of the Koháry branch of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, which ruled Bulgaria from 1887 to 1946. The last tsar, Simeon II, became Prime Minister of Bulgaria in 2001 and remained in office until 2005. Members of the royal family claim the titles of Prince (Princess) of Bulgaria and Duke (Duchess) in Saxony, with the style of Royal Highness. > Coburg Peak on Trinity Peninsul... 6 Danish > **[British royal family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Royal_Family)** > > The British royal family comprises King Charles III and his close relations. Charles is the head of the House of Windsor. There is no strict legal or formal definition of who is or is not a member, although the Royal Household has issued different lists outlining who is a part of the royal family. Members often support the monarch in undertaking public engagements, and pursue charitable work and interests. The royal family are regarded as British and world cultural icons. > The Lord Chamberlai... 6 Dutch: > **[Monarchy of the Netherlands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Royal_Family)** > > The Monarchy of Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy. As such, the role and position of the monarch are governed by the Constitution of the Netherlands. Consequently, a large portion of it is devoted to the monarch. Roughly a third of the document explains the succession, mechanisms of accession and abdication to the throne and the roles and duties of the monarch. This includes the formalities of communication between the States-General and the monarch's role in creating laws. > The Kingdom of... 8 Greek (deposed) > **[Greek royal family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Royal_Family)** > > Prince MichaelMarina, consort of Prince Michael > The currently deposed Greek royal family (Greek: Βασιλική Οικογένεια της Ελλάδος) was the ruling family of the Kingdom of Greece from 1863 to 1924 and again from 1935 to 1973. The family is a branch of the Danish royal family, itself a branch of the House of Glücksburg. Upon its accession to power, It replaced the House of Wittelsbach that previously ruled Greece from 1832 to 1862. The first monarch was George I of Greece, the second son of King... 13? Liechtenstein (Hard to tell, sometimes daughters of Princesses are not given the title Princess automatically) > **[House of Liechtenstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princely_Family_of_Liechtenstein)** > > The House of Liechtenstein, from which the principality takes its name, is the family which reigns by hereditary right over the principality of Liechtenstein. Only dynastic members of the family are eligible to inherit the throne. The dynasty's membership, rights and responsibilities are defined by a law of the family, which is enforced by the reigning prince and may be altered by vote among the family's dynasts, but which may not be altered by the Government or Parliament of Liechtenstein. > The ... 10 Luxembourg (one or two may be included in other lists, I think one is also a Princess of Liechtenstein) > **[Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Ducal_Family_of_Luxembourg)** > > The Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg constitutes the House of Luxembourg-Nassau, headed by the sovereign Grand Duke, and in which the throne of the grand duchy is hereditary. It consists of heirs and descendants of the House of Nassau-Weilburg, whose sovereign territories passed cognatically from the House of Nassau to the House of Bourbon-Parma, itself a branch of the Spanish Royal House which is agnatically a cadet branch of the House of Capet that originated in France, itself a derivative d Or... Several Italian and Yugoslavian.?? 5 Norway (with a few daughters not yet made Princesses) > **[Norwegian royal family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Royal_Family)** > > The Norwegian royal families are the families of either previous or present Norwegian monarchs. The current family who holds the throne are members of the House of Glücksburg and ascended the throne after the election of Prince Carl (regal name Haakon VII) during the dissolution of the Swedish-Norwegian union in 1905. > In Norway there is a distinction between the Royal House (kongehuset) and the royal family (kongelige familie). The Royal House includes only the monarch and their spouse, the he... 7 in Spain (assuming you’d consider "Infanta= Princess) > **[Spanish royal family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Royal_Family)** > > King Juan Carlos IQueen Sofía > Children of the late Duchess of Badajoz: > The Duchess of Soria and HernaniThe Duke of Soria and Hernani > The Dowager Duchess of Calabria 7 Swedish > **[Swedish royal family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_Royal_Family)** > > The Swedish royal family (Swedish: Svenska kungafamiljen) since 1818 has consisted of members of the Swedish Royal House of Bernadotte, closely related to the King of Sweden. Today those who are recognized by the government are entitled to royal titles and styles (manner of address), and perform official engagements and ceremonial duties of state. The extended family of the King (Swedish: Sveriges kungliga familj) consists of other close relatives who are not royal and thus do not represent the... And of course a number of other deposed Royal houses. Thus at least 80, and a good number are children or under 30. Quite a few outside Europe, Japan has like 14 “Princesses”. The current King of Saudi has a good number of wives (styled “Princess” by many) and 15 daughters! I’d hazard a guess there are at least 100 “Princesses” in that family. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-princesses-are-there/501820/9 "2009-07-03T17:09:28Z")
Can you qualify the OP? Which of the following count: British royal family only. European royals only. Daughters of reigning kings or queens only. Women of current royal houses only (as opposed to scions of deposed monarchies). Youths only. Unmarried women only. Princesses by birth only (as opposed to by marriage). For instance, would you consider Princess Michael of Kent, a woman who is married to a cousin of Queen Elizabeth, in your list? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-princesses-are-there/501820/10 "2009-07-03T17:11:26Z")
**ianjohnson** –just Brit princesses, or are you including others, such as the Japanese Imperials? ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-princesses-are-there/501820/11 "2009-07-03T17:29:38Z")
Europe is awash in princesses, including some with a very shaky claim to the title. Take [Princess Olga Andreevna Romanoff](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Olga_Andreevna_Romanoff), for example. How can she insist she’s still a princess? There hasn’t been a Russian ruling house for the best part of a century. She’s a commoner now, whether she likes it or not. Same deal with all these ex-royals. You can’t claim to be a king, a prince, a princess, a duke, etc when you rule diddly-squat, or at least you can claim it but nobody else should pay any attention to you. ---
**Author:** ![ianjohnson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a3d4f5/32.png) [@ianjohnson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianjohnson)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-princesses-are-there/501820/12 "2009-07-03T17:40:20Z")
I’m thinking modern day equivalents to fairy tale princesses, so non-deposed monarchies, with a strong bias toward Europe. The ideal would be the immediate family of ruling monarchs, the sort who might have a chance of becoming a queen. If not the direct descendant of a ruling monarch, then one with enough status to be considered a suitable bride to a prince who is in line to the throne. The closest equivalent in fiction would be Princess Mia from The Princess Diaries. ---
**Author:** ![ianjohnson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a3d4f5/32.png) [@ianjohnson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianjohnson)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-princesses-are-there/501820/13 "2009-07-03T17:49:27Z")
Looks like Princess Elisabeth of Belgium would be a good match. 8yrs old, she is in line to inherit the throne. Belgium passed a law that does not prohibit first-borns who are female from succession. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-princesses-are-there/501820/14 "2009-07-03T18:03:29Z")
Among the titled princesses of functioning monarchies (and I don’t see Monaco listed here; Caroline and Stephanie are the ones I know about), how many are at least commendable role models? I cringe at little girls who emulate Disney princesses for the same reason I cringe at boys who emulate professional wrestlers. ---
**Author:** ![runcible\_spoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc29f/32.png) [@runcible\_spoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runcible_spoon)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-princesses-are-there/501820/15 "2009-07-03T18:11:25Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > Among the titled princesses of functioning monarchies (and I don’t see Monaco listed here; Caroline and Stephanie are the ones I know about), how many are at least commendable role models? I cringe at little girls who emulate Disney princesses for the same reason I cringe at boys who emulate professional wrestlers. Princesses use steroids? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-princesses-are-there/501820/16 "2009-07-03T18:44:19Z")
BTW, why exclude royals from deposed monarchies? The rationale is that they have royal genes, not active political power. Prince Phillip, a deposed Greek royal, married the eventual Queen of the UK; why should this board’s rules be stricter than hers in these matters? ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-princesses-are-there/501820/17 "2009-07-03T22:30:36Z")
> [@ianjohnson](#): > > Having two young girls, this is a subject that comes up. How many princesses are there in the world today? Are any of them under 30? > > William and Phillip certainly fit the Prince Charming archetype, do they have any female counterparts? Charming is not something that [Phillip](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/416992.stm) usually gets called. You meant Harry. Krokodil: it’s probably a little different when said monarchy’s only just been deposed, and Elizabether and Phillip was a love match. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-princesses-are-there/501820/18 "2009-07-03T23:08:46Z")
This might help: > **[Category:Royal children](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Royal_children)** > > This category has the following 4 subcategories, out of 4 total. > The following 44 pages are in this category, out of 44 total. This list may not reflect recent changes. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-princesses-are-there/501820/19 "2009-07-04T00:03:37Z")
Well, Isabella of Denmark is the crown price’s daughter, so she’s in line to be queen someday. She’s about 2 now, so you’ll have to wait a while. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-princesses-are-there/501820/20 "2009-07-04T00:10:29Z")
There’s Prince Edward’s daughter [the Lady Louise Windsor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Louise_Windsor). Legally she’s still entitled to the style _Her Royal Highness Princess Louise of Wessex_ since the Queen hasn’t altered the letters patent that govern titles for royal family members. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-princesses-are-there/501820.md?page=2)