In modern royal Europe, April really is birthday month. As well as the majority of monarchs on the continent blowing out candles in the coming weeks (you can find all of them here if you want to send a card) there's a plethora of princes and princesses - siblings, cousins and grandchildren - who do the whole cake and balloons thing in April, too. Plus, we've got a couple of landmark celebrations coming up too. It's a birthday bonanza, royal style. Here are the April royal celebrations (monarchs not included).
Infanta Sofia of Spain is 10 on April 29th
A landmark celebration at the end of the month for the second in line to the throne of Spain who turns ten. Sofia de Todos los Santos de Borbon y Ortiz, Infanta of Spain, was born on April 29th 2007 at the Ruber International Clinic in Madrid. The second child of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, she attends school in Madrid and is pretty likely this year to finally end up taller than big sister, Princess Leonor, having been nudging at it for ages.
Maud Behn is 14 on April 29th
Maud Angelica Behn might, in another life, have been a queen in waiting but instead she is fifth in line to the throne of Norway and unlikely ever to succeed. She was born on April 29th 2003 in Oslo, the first child of Princess Martha Louise and her husband, Ari Behn, and the first grandchild of King Harald V and Queen Sonja. Although her mother is older than Crown Prince Haakon Magnus it was decided that a change in law that passed succession rights to the eldest child regardless of gender wouldn't be retroactive so Martha Louise remained behind her brother in the line to the throne which means that Maud will be the cousin of a queen rather than a ruler herself.
Princess Benedikte of Denmark is 73 on April 29th
This year's birthday for Princess Benedikte, sister of Queen Margrethe, is likely to be muted to say the least after she unexpectedly lost her husband in March this year. Benedikte remains in mourning following the death of Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg at their home in Germany. She was born Benedikte Astrid Ingrid Ingeborg of Denmark on April 29th 1944 at the Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen during the Nazi occupation of her country. The second child of the then Crown Prince and Princess of Denmark, she had no succession rights but that changed after her father became King Frederick IX in 1947. Benedikte was second in line to her country's throne until the birth of her nephew, Frederik, in 1968. Princess Benedikte remains an active member of the Danish Royal Family although her agenda has been truncated for a time following her loss.
Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark is 31 on April 26th
Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark is the baby of the family of King Constantine of Greece and his wife, Queen Anne-Marie (younger sister of Princess Benedikte). He was born on April 26th 1986 in London where his family were living after going into exile when the Greek monarchy fell. He is understood to work in finance.
Princess Laetitia Maria of Belgium is 14 on April 23rd
As well as being a bumper birthday month, April is celebration time for a lot of royal babies of the family. Laetitia Maria Nora Anna Joachim Zita is the third daughter and fifth and youngest child of Princess Astrid of Belgium and her husband, Lorenz, Archduke of Austria-Este. She was born on April 23rd 2003 in Brussels and is currently eleventh in line to the Belgian throne and she made a high profile appearance as a bridesmaid when her big brother, Prince Amadeo, married Lili Rosboch in Rome in 2014.
Princess Isabella of Denmark is 10 on April 21st
They do like an April birthday in Denmark and this one was rather historic. Isabella Henrietta Ingrid Margrethe was born on April 21st 2007 at the Righospitalet in Copenhagen - the first girl born into the Danish Royal Family in over 60 years. As she marks the milestone that is her tenth birthday, Isabella already has several public engagements under her belt and is seen with her family on big occasions and for photocalls at holiday time. Isabella is third in line to her country's throne.
Prince Alexander of Sweden is 1 on April 19th
Currently the youngest grandchild of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, this little prince celebrates the landmark that is his first birthday in April in the knowledge that by the time he turns two he will have a brother or sister to steal all his presents. Alexander Erik Hubertus Bertil was born on April 19th 2016 at the Danderyd Hospital in Stockholm, the first child of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia who had married in 2015. He was given the title of Duke of Sodermanland by his grandfather and christened on September 9th 2016 at the Royal Chapel at Drottningholm Palace. Alexander is fifth in line to the throne of Sweden.
Prince Alexander of Sweden is 1 on April 19th
Currently the youngest grandchild of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, this little prince celebrates the landmark that is his first birthday in April in the knowledge that by the time he turns two he will have a brother or sister to steal all his presents. Alexander Erik Hubertus Bertil was born on April 19th 2016 at the Danderyd Hospital in Stockholm, the first child of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia who had married in 2015. He was given the title of Duke of Sodermanland by his grandfather and christened on September 9th 2016 at the Royal Chapel at Drottningholm Palace. Alexander is fifth in line to the throne of Sweden.
Prince Sebastien of Luxembourg is 25 on April 16th
And yet another royal baby of the family takes their place on the list of April births. Sebastien Henri Marie Guillaume was born on April 16th 1992 in Luexmbourg, the fourth son and fifth child of Henri, now Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and his wife, Maria Teresa. He was born on his dad's birthday which is rather nice all around so it's no surprise that he was given his middle names included that of his father. He is currently sixth in the Luxembourg line of succession.
Princess Eleonore of Belgium is 9 on April 16th
Another youngest child and almost another birthday present for dad. Eleonore Fabiola Victoria Anne Marie was born on April 16th 2008 at the Erasmus Hospital in Anderlecht. She is the second daughter and fourth child of the present King of the Belgians, Philippe, and his consort, Mathilde. Eleonore arrived a day after her dad's 48th birthday. She is currently fourth in line to the Belgian throne.
India Casiraghi is 2 on April 12th
The niece of Prince Albert II and granddaughter of Princess Caroline of Hanover, India Casiraghi was born on April 12th 2015 in London. She is the daughter of Caroline's eldest son, Andrea Casiraghi, and his wife, Tatiana, and she has an older brother, Sacha, born in 2013. India Casiraghi is sixth in line to the throne of Monaco and now has a new baby cousin to play with after her uncle and aunt, Pierre and Beatrice Casiraghi, welcomed a son, Stefano, in February.
Princess Ariane of the Netherlands is 10 on April 10th
Yep, it's yet another youngest child blowing out candles in April. Ariane Wilhelmina Maxima Ines was born on April 10th 2007 in The Hague, part of a royal baby boom across Europe that year and the first of three princesses born within weeks of each other. She is the third and youngest daughter of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands and she is third in line to her country's throne.
Maud Behn's sister arrived almost two years after her. Leah Isadora Behn was born on April 8th 2005 at her parents' summer home, Bloksbjerg in Hanko. The second daughter of Princess Martha Louise and Ari Behn and the third grandchild of King Harald and Queen Sonja, Leah Behn is currently sixth in line to the throne of Norway.
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