What Life Is Like For Other Royal 'Spares' Around The World

The terms "heir and spare" refer to a traditional concept, particularly within royal or aristocratic families. The "heir" is the direct successor to the throne or the family's inheritance, while the "spare" serves as a backup in case anything happens to the heir. In royal contexts, this strategy ensures the continuity of the dynasty or noble lineage.

The concept has never been more talked about as it has today, with Prince Harry's memoir "Spare" underscoring the significance of such a role, as well as the hardships the second-in-line to the throne often endures. Many say Prince Harry is whining and exceptionally privileged, while others take a more empathetic approach. Either way, the whole "Megxit" debacle has forced many other royal "spares" into the spotlight.

Heather Cocks, co-author of "The Heir Affair" and "The Royal We," told Vanity Fair, "They're famous from birth, whether they want it or not. With an heir and spare dynamic, you get one child who's born for the top job, and the second who probably grows up feeling like the understudy." She continued, "Learn the lines, know the role, but understand you'll probably never get called to do it. And if your personality more naturally pushes you toward the spotlight, that would be really hard on the spare." So, have you ever wondered what life is like for these charming royal spares around the world? We're diving headfirst into the glittering world of these lesser-known royals who are runners-up in the line of succession.

While the drama between Prince William and Prince Harry still hits headlines daily, another British royal spare has been quietly supporting her brother behind the scenes for decades. In the media, she is thought of as a "spare," however, Princess Anne found herself surpassed in the line of succession by her younger brothers, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

Prior to 2013, older sisters in the royal family would be moved down the order of succession if their parents had a younger son. However, the Succession to the Crown Act of 2013 brought about a substantial alteration in the rules of succession, eliminating this gender-based preference, and allowing royal daughters to retain their positions regardless of their gender, as is the case with Princess Charlotte. According to Robert Hardman, author of "Queen of Our Times: The Life of Elizabeth II," Princess Anne is an "example of how, even if you are clearly earmarked for a peripheral role, it doesn't mean you can't make a contribution" (via Express).

Princess Anne is widely regarded as one of the hardest-working members of the royal family, with a diary full of engagements every week. Her work on Save the Children has been one of her most notable charities since becoming president of the organization in 1970. According to Hardman, "It's also wise not to take on too many charitable patronages: focus on where you can make a difference."

Prince Carl Philip of Sweden was actually first in line to the throne for the first seven months of his life. However, on January 1, 1980, a change in the law stipulating that the first-born child would inherit the throne regardless of gender resulted in his two-year-old sister, Crown Princess Victoria, becoming the heir apparent.

In January 2023, the King of Sweden told local news station SVT (via the Daily Mail) that he felt it was unfair of them to change the law after his children were already born. At the time, the king opposed the ruling, saying, "You can accept the next generation — that's okay. But it was my son who was born, and they got rid of it all."

Prince Carl Philip married Sofia Hellqvist, a former model and reality TV contestant on June 13, 2015, and the pair have three children together. In October 2019, the King of Sweden removed the royal titles from Carl Philip's children in a bid to slim down the monarchy. The couple welcomed the move, stating that their kids would have "freer choices in life" (via the Mirror).

Born on September 22, 1971, Princess Märtha Louise of Norway is the eldest child of King Harald V and Queen Sonja, making her the "royal spare" because her younger brother, Crown Prince Haakon, inherited the throne. But being second in line didn't stop Märtha Louise from living life to the fullest.

Fast forward to today, Princess Märtha Louise is a fascinating blend of tradition and modernity and she's certainly not your average royal. In the name of love or perhaps just inspired by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Märtha Louise made headlines in 2020 when she announced she would take a step back from official royal duties.

She announced on Instagram that she will marry shaman Durek Verrett who appeared on the Netflix reality series "Bling Empire." The pair will wed on August 31, 2024, at the Hotel Union in Geiranger. The relationship has apparently created a bit of family strife for Märtha Louise as she told the BBC, and stepping down from her position had to do with how the Norwegian people reacted to her fiance. "The Norwegian people I guess ... have decided it's best for me to step down because of his views about things," the princess said.

Infanta Sofía of Spain is the younger daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, and she's making her own royal mark. Despite being a "spare" to her older sister Princess Leonor, Sofía is anything but ordinary. Born on April 29, 2007, this Spanish royal gem is currently pursuing her education at the prestigious UWC Atlantic College in Wales, dubbed the "Hippy Hogwarts," and also attended by several international royals as well as her big sister. 

Per Tatler, the Spanish royal family released several images of Sofía at the school and with her parents as they said goodbye. She could be seen posing surrounded by the castle walls of the stunning campus, whose past alumni include King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Princess Raiyah bint Al Hussein of Jordan, and Princess Elisabeth of Belgium. Prior to starting at the UWC Atlantic College, Sofía had a busy summer in which she attended the Women's World Cup and cheered Spain to victory along with her mother.

According to Express, Queen Letizia would prefer her daughters take on more intellectual pursuits and wants to distance them from their controversial aunts, Infanta Elena and Infanta Cristina who haven't given the royal "spare" title a great reputation. Per the publication, journalist Rosa Villacastín told a Spanish news outlet, "She wants her daughters to visit cultural centres, not to watch them stroll around the Náutico all day as the Infantas did."

Princess Isabella of Denmark, born April 21, 2007, is currently third in line to the Danish throne behind her father, Crown Prince Frederik, and her older brother Prince Christian, making her a royal "spare." Despite the moniker, Isabella appears to be focused on her education and just being a teenager at the moment.

While much of her life is kept quite private, the palace released professional photos shot by Franne Voigt in honor of Isabella's 16th birthday, something royals do often in a bid to keep the tabloids at bay. Isabella looked gorgeous in a beige turtleneck and black pants as she sat on a stool and smiled at the camera, looking like the perfect combination of her parents, Prince Frederik and Princess Mary.

However, in 2021, Princess Isabella was seen having an outburst at her mother in public. According to royal historian Oskar Aanmoen, the Danish spare is known to have a "strong personality" (via New Idea) — something an heir would be trained not to display on the world stage. Since then, media outlets have reported concerns from Queen Mary that Isabella's rebellious antics are due to her status as a "spare." 

Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, born on April 16, 1966, is a prominent member of Lesotho's royal family and the younger brother of King Letsie III, making him a royal "spare." Currently, Prince Seeiso is actively involved in charitable and humanitarian endeavors. He co-founded the charitable organization Sentebale with fellow "spare" Prince Harry in 2006. Sentebale focuses on improving the lives of vulnerable children in Lesotho, particularly those affected by HIV/AIDS.

Sentebale, which means "forget-me-not" in Lesotho, was established in memory of Princess Diana and Prince Seeiso's mother, both of whom passed away. Prince Seeiso's commitment to Sentebale is evident in his active involvement in the charity's initiatives. In an interview, with aidsfonds.org, he said, "If we can keep children free of HIV, that is half the battle. At the same time, interventions have to meet young people's needs. These youngsters reprimanded me that they are not the future, they are the present. They have to be there when we draw up strategies!"

After the birth of King Letsie III's second daughter, there was once again a conversation about the Act of Settlement laws that passed over women in favor of male heirs. Even Prince Seeiso himself is very much in favor of a change to the laws, telling Afrol News, "Some of us feel that the law of succession needs to be looked at [when it comes to gender]. I am personally in favour of equal opportunities for all."

Prince Joachim was born to Queen Margrethe II and the late Prince Henrik on June 7, 1969, in Copenhagen, Denmark as the younger brother to Crown Prince Frederik, making him a royal "spare." Prince Joachim of Denmark found himself at the center of a significant controversy when his mother, Queen Margrethe II, made the decision to strip his four children of their prince and princess titles in September 2022. This decision was part of a broader move by the Danish royal family to streamline the monarchy and reduce the number of working royals, making it more cost-effective and modern.

The controversy stemmed from the suddenness and surprise of the announcement. The titles had traditionally been bestowed upon Joachim's children, as they were members of the royal family. However, this change meant that Prince Joachim's kids would no longer have official royal roles and responsibilities. Prince Joachim expressed his disappointment and concern over the decision, stating that his children had been hurt by the loss of their titles (via Fox News). He also emphasized that he would continue to support them in their new roles and endeavors.

Prince Joachim also gave an interview to the French magazine Point de Vue (via New Idea) in which he lamented the difficulties of being a "spare," telling the publication, "Between us, it is more complicated. The Crown Prince simply has to follow the course of events. However, nothing is defined for the second-born son."