I agree Osipi and IMHO their looks are not as important. As long as she or he is neatly groomed and attired for the event, the focus should be on supporting their spouse with their role. As most monarchies are hereditary ones, I do believe that they should also be involved in raising and preparing their heir(s) for their future roles as well.The perfect consort in my book would be the one that brings out the absolute best in their spouse and wants them to be exactly who they are without wanting to change anything about them or change anything to appease someone else.
The rest as far as looks and fashion and suitability is just icing on the cake.
Like Prince Philip?
Yes, overseeing the almost 70 years as consort, he indeed did shut up and was pretty for 99.9% of the time. He completely moulded himself as the Queen's luggage.
Dream consort in a dream world: Commoner from a mega rich family who would look at her husbands wealth as nothing special. Her family are overachievers who admire education (not just through books) and a hard work ethic. She is college educated and speaks a variety of languages. Had an impressive career but was willing to give it up because she saw it as a career change and not a step down. Strong and tough to deal with the stress of royal life, but open to education from other royals who are there to guide her. Loves her husband but knows it takes more than love to make a marriage work. In her own right she is truly something special but she recognizes that in accepting to be a royal spouse she is not the star but he is.
Style, character, poise of Crown Princess Mary
Style beauty, and devotion to country of Princess Grace
Strength of Fabiola
Education and career of Maxima
Marriage like: Elizabeth II, Sophie Wessex, Queen Silvia, Paola, Fabiola, The Queen Mum, Queen Victoria
And before anyone gets insulted by my post :
1. Yes I do put a high value on college education
2. I do care about looks
3. Yes my ideal consort is a woman because I don't daydream in XY chromosome.
unfortunately that was how things were done with royal daughters in the day. Alexandra who went to boarding school in ascot was the first female British Royal to attend boarding school. Even with Anne she was schooled by a governess for the first years of school, unlike her brothers, she was thirteen when sent to boarding school.
Shame, as with continental royals we see a difference. Beatrix and margrethe both had proper educations, public and boarding, and spent time at university. Not sure margrethe ever finished any university, she went to a few including Cambridge, the Sorbonne and London school of economics, but Beatrix has a law degree.
I think education needs to be made a higher importance for the heir as well as younger siblings now a days. See royals I. Asia and the Middle East and they have amazing education backgrounds. Even a future king of queen wouldn't suffer for having a good education base. Same goes for their spouse.
The only issue with an educated consort is their career. we have to remember these consorts will have to give up their own career and ambitions when they wed. It would have been easier years ago when most brudesmaid would have been looking to be a housewife anyways. But if you marry the heir, or even the sPate in most monarchies, being a riyal is your life. A woman would really have to love a man, to give up a career she was passionate about. Happens, see it with Letizia, maxima and Mathilde, but not easy. Kate is educated but didn't have a career to speak of. Compared to the wives of the hours of Kent and Gloucester. They are married to a professor and pediatrician. Would a doctor be willing yo give up ekeven years of education to cut ribbons and attend parties?pethaps, but it would not be easy to find.
Its so disheartening how some posters on a royal forum think the only royalty are the British.
Dream consort in a dream world: Commoner from a mega rich family who would look at her husbands wealth as nothing special. Her family are overachievers who admire education (not just through books) and a hard work ethic. She is college educated and speaks a variety of languages. Had an impressive career but was willing to give it up because she saw it as a career change and not a step down.
It's just my dream ideal consort, in my head she is a commoner. IDK why.I totally second your post and (most) of your choices, but why must the consort necessarily be a commoner? If she had these exact qualities but was a princess or an aristocrat would that be a deal breaker?
[Its so disheartening how some posters on a royal forum think the only royalty are the British.]// quote
I agree, and I will add extremely IRRITATING to that!!
It's just my dream ideal consort, in my head she is a commoner. IDK why.
Though ironically in my pre 1900 dream world the royal consort is from a noble family. LoL
Being a Prince of Greece and Denmark and thereby belonging to the oldest dynasty still on a European throne I'd say if he doesn't fit the mould nobody does.Well pre 1900, it would be totally unrealistic to expect a royal consort to be from a non noble family. Mostly they would be expected to be from royal families.. anyway.
I think the Q mother was very good, as a consort. Philip didn't really fit the mould, but he is intelligent, hard working and strong willed and has managed to do the job of supporting the queen, without giving up his own itntersts or letting the whole thing eclipse his personality.....