Guest post written by Hot Young Royals author Katy Birchall
Katy Birchall is the author of several young adult and teen novels, including The It Girl series, the Hotel Royale series and Morgan Charmley: Teen Witch. She is the co-author of the middle grade Lightning Girl series and Star Switch and Girls Rule with Alesha Dixon, plus a retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma for the Awesomely Austen series and Sex Education: The Road Trip. Katy lives in London with her husband, daughter and rescue dog.
About Hot Young Royals (out 8 May 2025): Wardrobe? Couture. Classmates? London’s Elite. Parties? Scandalous. The most glamorous and steamy romance of the year, where girlmeets boy with a royal twist.
When I was writing Hot Young Royals, my new YA book about teenager Ruby who suddenly finds herself in the company of London’s social elite, including the heir to the throne, I thought a lot about what it means to be royal, and specifically what it means to be a princess.
It’s not unusual to wish you were royal – a lot of people grow up reading and watching tales of princes and princesses, and those stories stick with us. We find ourselves daydreaming about glamorous makeovers and dancing with dashing partners across glittering ballrooms, we think about how nice it must be to live in a grand palace with butlers and maids, and we hope for that elusive happy ever after, all of which comes hand-in-hand with a crown. Or so we’re told.
In reality, being a princess isn’t so easy. Whether you’re born into it or drawn into it, the role takes hard work and comes with intense pressure, the likes of which I don’t believe anyone outside of the royal circle could ever fully understand. No matter what you do or how you feel, if you’re a princess then every day the whole world is watching. So a princess is faced with a choice: what to do with this kind of platform? A platform that comes with both responsibility and power, the kind of power that has the possibility to affect real change.
There are princesses out there now and throughout history – all different, all exceptional – who have risen to the challenge and changed the world, and below I’ve listed five of my favourites. They may live in palaces and dance across ballrooms, but they also give a voice to those who need it and they use the influence of the crown to make the world that bit brighter. That’s what makes them a princess. Long may they reign.
Queen Elizabeth II of England
Before ascending the throne, Princess Eliabeth proved both her devotion to her country and her resolve by insisting that her father, King George VI, let her join the forces during the Second World War, even though it wasn’t expected of her. She signed up to the Auxiliary Territorial Service and became a truck mechanic, and was promoted to Junior Commander within five months. Princess Elizabeth was the first female member of the British royal family to join the Armed Services.
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand
Known for her dazzling intelligence and impressive talent for photography, Princess Maha has been an unwavering force of change in Thailand when it comes to education, healthcare, agriculture, arts and environmental conservation – to name a few. Carrying a notebook wherever she goes so she can jot down everything she learns along the way, this is a princess dedicated to detail, seeking new knowledge to develop successful and sustainable projects that serve underprivileged communities. One of her initiatives is supporting schools in growing vegetables for their school lunch program, ensuring children get fresh food whilst also learning about farming.
Kiko, Crown Princess of Japan
Kiko Kawashima wasn’t born a princess – she met her prince while studying in the library at university and went on to achieve her degree in psychology and a PhD in humanities around her new royal duties. Whilst renowned for her devotion to social causes, Crown Princess Kiko is extremely passionate about actively supporting and raising awareness for the deaf community. She is a skilled sign language interpreter and has often used sign language in her speeches, as well as working with the Japanese Federation of the Deaf and attending conferences and events that support the hearing impaired.
Diana, Princess of Wales
One of the most famous royals of all time, Diana captivated the world with her beauty, charm and style, but it’s her kindness and charitable work that people mostly remember her for. She used the significant global interest in her to bring focus to a variety of causes, such as raising awareness for HIV and AIDS patients. By simply shaking their hands and taking the time to talk to them, she challenged the severe stigma, fear, shaming and ignorance surrounding the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s. Princess Diana was in the unique position of being powerful enough to change the public’s perception and bring hope to those who felt forgotten.
Queen Seondeok of the ancient kingdom of Silla
Lastly, I’m going rather a long way back in time to one of the most remarkable figures in royal history: Sendeok, who ruled Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, from 632 to 647. Born Princess Deokman, one of three daughters, she was chosen to ascend the throne by her father who recognised her intelligence and commitment to the welfare of her people. She became incredibly popular amongst her people by reducing taxes, focusing on education and promoting peace, and was instrumental in a literary renaissance. She was also fascinated by the stars. When she decided to build an astronomical observatory, Cheomseongdae, she was met with strong opposition from the male aristocracy, but she held fast, and thank goodness she did. Not only did the tower help farmers at the time forecast the weather, but it became one of her most historically significant contributions. It still stands today.
