#royal horn

[theancientwayoflife]

~ The Norwegian Royal Horn (drinking horn).

Date: 14th century

Place of origin: Skalholt Cathedral

[glassshine]

I don't like Icewings cause they all look the same to me so I drew some

[florencechase]

can we just talk about how august is one of the most well-written antagonist characters in modern media? he’s done some unforgivable things but you still see him as human. he’s not just an evil person to make the storyline more interesting, he’s so much more complex than that. from a writer’s perspective i absolutely love his character and his storyline so much. also props to malte gårdinger for playing him so well. wow. just. wow.

[bigalockwood]

What’s even better about Augusts fate is that Wille didn’t give him the title out of spite, as a final fuck you of some sorts. No. He’s forgiven August as much as he can. He thinks he’s doing him a favor.

[jay-wasstuff]

Oh my fucking god.

[lesbiamano]

more very normal art of them

[jadenvargen]

det är august augusti hörni

[echo-and-dust]

from dawning realization to absolute fear in his eyes.. (props to malte he is such a good actor)

something something you made your bed now you gotta lie in it

[thatsmybook]

Though Young Royals is primarily about imperfect teenagers, it is also about imperfect parents. It's about generational trauma and the breaking of those cycles to choose the life they want to lead. "We can't choose what lives we are born into," says Boris "but we can choose how to live our lives".

All five of the lead characters' parents have impactful stories. Micke is my favourite for how he tells Sara, (paraphrasing) "You may have inherited my diagnosis, but you are not me (so you won't end up making my mistakes)."

Whereas the Queen, Poppe, and Smysan want Wille and Felice to be just like them. Felice breaks from being who her mum wants her to be in season one. She then breaks from what her dad expects her to do (conform to the white environment and work ten times as hard to be as good) by being honest about the school he loves and stopping the conforming cycle.

August's dad was a drug addict and took his own life. There's a hope in season 3 that August has become aware of his own mental health struggles and has started to open up to a therapist. We don't see him take any drugs as coping mechanisms is season 3. Maybe he will break the cycle and overcome the trauma of his dad's death.

Simon accepts his imperfect parents. He gives his mum grace for putting up with their troubles with their dad. He wants to have a relationship with his dad and goes to him for help even though he is wary of him. But, he doesn't drink or take drugs at all, probably because his dad did. He 'deals with' and protects his sister in areas where his mum is not able to. He gives them all second chances. He accepts their failings but doesn't duplicate them in his own life. He chooses differently in his own life.

Wille's struggle is probably the hardest of them all because, as Sara says in Season 1, "Isn't that the point of the Royal Family? That they do not change." The RF's cycle of generational trauma is so rigid and long standing. There is no blueprint for what Wille is trying to do to break the cycle. Choosing not to be like his mum and his brother is monumental and unprecedented. As Simon said in season 1, "You are brave".

Some of the time in YR, we as an audience defend the teenagers for their mistakes because of their age. But the reality is, that even the adults make mistakes. Because they're human.

[malinthebodyguard]

Young Royals is anti-monarchist propaganda (always has been) 

I think it’s fair to say that most of the fandom was quite happy with the finale. However, I’ve seen a handful of posts by people who were unhappy, specifically  those who were unhappy with Wille giving up his place in the line of succession. These criticisms range in everything from dismissing Wille’s choice (Wilhelm has made a harsh decision without thinking of the consequences, this won’t actually make the media circus around him go away), to those disappointed in how the monarchy in general was represented (Wille could have modernized the institution, no one in the show attempted to consider how the monarchy could be good, actually). I don’t want to invalidate anyone’s feelings about the finale. If you didn't like it, that’s more than ok and I don’t want to argue with anyone about their taste. 

But when it comes to criticism about Wilhelm giving up the throne,  I do find myself frustrated at what I see as a fundamental misunderstanding of what this show was trying to communicate. Young Royals, plain and simple, is a story that  denounces the incompatibility of antiquated and hierarchical institutions (Hillerska, the monarchy) with equality and justice. 

If you’ve had the displeasure of being my fandom friend you’ll know that I’ve spent the last 3 years yelling about how this show is about abolishing the monarchy. I even wrote a lengthy  fanfic with the sole excuse of having Wilhelm arrive at this conclusion. Still, I knew that whatever statement the show wanted to arrive at, we’d only really be getting to it at the end of the show. 

Seasons one and two were setting up all the characters on the chessboard for the end: Wilhelm is the Crown Prince, although he does not want to be. He and Simon are in love, but Wilhelm’s role drives a wedge between them. Erik’s legacy and August's spot next in line are keeping Wilhelm in his place.

 From episode one, I think the show was telling us about the many things that are wrong with the monarchy, but I don’t think it’s until season three that these discussions become more explicit. Is this why some people were disappointed by the ending? Maybe so. Still, I wanted to look at how season three in particular answers some of the questions or issues  people are bringing up regarding both the monarchy and the Wilhelm’s choice. 

What do you like about the monarchy? 

Season 3 Episode 4 is the first time we hear an explicit discussion about why the monarchy could potentially be a good institution. I’ve seen some people complain that the show didn’t give this idea enough thought. 

I completely disagree with this take: the short conversation Wille and Simon have in this episode  is succinct, but still effective at presenting both arguments in this debate. A  longer and more drawn out conversation would have been a bit unrealistic and probably boring to watch. These are not academics having a debate, but two teenagers who are talking about what for them is emotionally charged.

There’s also no need for a longer, more detailed discussion. Wilhelm does provide a very good answer to the question: The monarchy is there to unite the people. To be a neutral party in situations when the government cannot or will not interfere. 

A quick civics lesson: In parliamentary democracies, the monarch serves as the Head of State. 

This role is predominantly representative, although in many places the government is formed in the name of the monarch. This could, theoretically, grant them some political power-- since they could technically reject the winning party from forming a government. However, in most parliamentary monarchies, the King or Queen simply has to accept whatever decision is made based on election results.

However, the value of the Head of State is precisely in its apolitical nature. Regardless of who’s in power, the head of state is a neutral ambassador of the nation, both in and outside of their country. Their job is diplomatic and representative, and one that is thoroughly divorced from politics. This is what Wilhelm meant when he said that the monarchy was there to ‘unite the people’. Whenever I’ve spoken to pro-monarchy folks about their beliefs, they cite this as the reason why they like it. 

It’s easy to see why Wilhlem would latch on this as his main argument to defend the institution. I don’t think there is anything inherently bad about having a separate head of state that represents the country. I don’t think the major grip with this issue is the having a head of state, but the fact that the head of state is a hereditary position. Simon says this himself twice in this episode: the issue is not that the head of state exists, but that the head of state is not an elected position. Furthemore, the head of state is a role that is imposed on a person not by their talent as a public speaker or negotiator, but by a simple accident of birth. 

The job’s legitimacy or importance should not be above any individual’s right to autonomy and self-determination. Furthermore, considering that taxpayers are the ones who finance this position, shouldn’t they be able to elect who it is? 

Let’s imagine a scenario where a friend tells you they’ve gone into a career because everyone in their family works in that industry, and they simply had no choice in the matter. It wouldn’t even matter if they were good or bad, they had a job in this career guaranteed from birth. 

 Would you not be concerned that maybe your friend is unhappy for a rather unnecessary reason? Would you not think that perhaps someone who actually wanted the job would be better suited for it? Would you think it right for a company to hire someone simply because of their family history? Would you consider any of this fair? And what is so special about monarchy that makes us have a different answer for it than we would if the question was about law or medicine? 

You’ll always be famous. 

Another common criticism I’ve seen is that Wilhelm will inevitably regret his decision, especially once he realizes that public scrutiny will not be going away. This is true, Wilhelm will likely always  be a figure of public interest. But to me, this has always been a negative consequence of the monarchy, and I have a hard time seeing this is a valid reason why he should stay in it. 

From the second we meet him, we know Wilhelm is uncomfortable with both the public attention and the scrutiny placed on him. However, this goes a bit further than that. I’d argue than more than the  scrutiny itself,  Wilhelm is weighed down by having to keep a public image. Because, remember folks, Wilhelm is not merely an awkward teenage boy with acne and a crush. No, no, Wilhelm is the State. Wilhelm is going to be a publicly-funded representative of the nation . This means, of course, that there’s a narrative, as he mentions himsef, that needs to be put forward. One that’s generic, serious, and unproblematic: 

From the get go, Wilhelm is uncomfortable with the inauthentic and performative aspect of his role.This is a constant we see with Wilhelm in seasons one and two: every ‘performance’ he has to do fills him with nausea, anxiety, or some sort of discomfort.

In season three, Wilhelm begins acquiescing to this performance. Uncomfortable as he may be, for most of season 3 he’s accepted that this is his role. However, the attention this season shifts from Wilhelm to Simon, who’s now the one facing public scrutiny. The difference is that, unlike Wille, there’s no role for Simon to play. Nothing about who he is or what he believes is compatible with the public image the monarchy is putting forward. The only thing he can do in this situation is disappear, and Wilhelm is tasked with having to ask that of him. 

I know a lot of people were exasperated at Simon’s very bad and clumsy social media presence. I’m not gonna argue that my boy wasn’t being a bit cringey, because he absolutely was. But I think the larger commentary here has more to do with the expectation that these two teenagers have to censor and edit themselves to comply with a particular PR image. 

Ultimately, the criticism that Wilhelm will always be famous leads us straight back to the institution. Why does an underage boy have the same PR expectations as a politician? Why is a teenager dating his classmate + being cringe online justification for doxxing him? Unfortunately, no abdication is really going to undo any of this, and things are certainly going to be crazy once Wilhelm announces he’s stepping down .

However, this time around both he and Simon will at least have the agency to decide what they want to do with their public image, including the decision to disappear from the public completely if that’s what they want.

Queer representation 

This a sentiment that has been in the fandom for some time now. This was the main argument why some people wanted Wille to stay in the monarchy. Sure, the institution has always been about bloodlines and tradition. But wouldn’t it be so nice to have Wilhelm as a symbol for the queer community? I’ve always found this idea a bit shallow. I’m not sure how much of a symbol of a queer and progressive country Wilhelm could be, when the whole idea is predicated on absolutely no one having a choice in the matter. Is it really impressive to accept the queerness of the guy you already had no choice in accepting?  

There’s three scenes in season 3 where the potential Wilhelm -and by extension Simon-  could have for the queer community come up.  Farima brings it up in the first episode, but the framing here is reversed. Wilhelm isn’t serving the LGBTQ community by being a queer Prince, but the monarchy is using Wilhelm (and his queerness) to appear progressive.

The show, however, does humor this idea with the May 1st photo. We see what Simon and Wilhelm could potentially do for the community by simply existing as who they are: they’re inspirational. It gives Simon, briefly, hope that maybe something good could come out of this. 

But this moment is quite literally framed by politics. It doesn't matter that Simon is not participating in that manifestation, anything that is slightly connected with politics is a challenge to neutrality of the monarchy. This same idea is stated more explicitly int the next episode, when Wilhelm is reviewing the options for his charity.

Ultimately, any action significant enough to be truly impactful, would be bordering the limits of what could be considered political. He's got to stick it out with these quite frankly boring and limited themes, all for the sake of staying on the very narrow lane of things that are not political.

The weight of the crown. 

Stories about Kings and Queens usually carry the same fundamental tension of duty vs self. 

In order to rule, our protagonist has to sacrifice themselves, usually for the sake of their country and people. The Crown is an excellent example of this type of story. Sacrifice in that series is framed as something noble and selfless. 

Young Royals started out with this same fundamental tension, but the main difference is that Young Royals has framed this debate as a question: 

Why should Wilhelm give himself up, his happiness, the love of his life, and  his mental well-being? What’s so important and valuable about this institution that requires this sacrifice?

Wilhelm’s journey is about accepting and voicing his answer. He doesn’t want to be Crown Prince, he doesn’t want to be King. 

But by virtue of taking part of this journey with him, we’re able to examine this question from a different perspective: Is this institution valuable enough to justify all of this? I think the show is inviting all of us to evaluate this situation and arrive at the conclusion that it isn’t.

Even someone like August, who wanted this, is weighed down by the realization of just how much the crown weighs. Of course, a big part of the fandom probably doesn’t live in countries with parliamentary monarchies. Still, considering the worldwide popularity of the British Royals, for example, I still think it’s a worthwhile exercise to question the validity of these institutions. Are they really worth sustaining? And if they’re not, why should we continue to drag them on into the present, citing tradition?

[lovelierbitsoflife]

“Felt like everyone needed a present today”

- Lisa Ambjörn’s instagram story -

[ticklishcicada]

sorry I havnt posted I forgot how to draw for like 2 weeks it sucked lol anyways heres some birds

[bigalockwood]

What I also love about the ending is that Wille escapes the cycle but the others haven’t. The Queen finally admits to how terrible the system has been for her. We see August grow apprehensive of the title he’s inherited. But unless he breaks out of it, it’ll continue forever. They all keep making the same mistakes for the sake of tradition. They insist on the importance of tradition and are miserable because of it. They perpetuate suffering. Wille grows and changes, questions tradition and the system upheld by it. And as a result he’s happy and free.

[chimmykai]

Gotta admit that this moment of August realisation is one of my top favourites.

He finally has what he wanted since season 1 plus a horse and knows that he is fucked because of that

The devil works hard, but Lisa works harder

[aledlastbestie]

August getting the crown was a way to punish him for everything he's done

Since season 1 they have been repeating the same phrase "the crown is a privilege, not a punishment", Wille always felt the crown was a punishment while for August it was a privilege, when he still could not fully understand what it really meant to have it.

August had idealized the crown and Wille's life. Wille had his parents, he had Erik as a brother and he had the crown; In August's eyes, Wille had it all, but the reality was that Wille's life was much more complicated and stressful than August believed.

In his last conversation with Vincent and Nils, when August tells them that he is Wille's spare, his friends tell him something like "that's actually a bad thing, being just his cousin you enjoyed the privileges of being related to the royal family without the responsibilities, pressures, obligations, etc. This is going to be better for us because we are your friends and we can enjoy the privileges of being 'the friend of' but you are now going to have the entire burden of the title on your shoulders."

This is when the series shows us that that phrase that they had been telling us since season 1 was not true since the crown is a punishment.

Everything August believed the crown was was fantasy and idealization but the reality of what it means to be the crown prince is much more complex and harsh.

Wille managed to be free by leaving the crown and in a way imprisoning August. He could not report him to the police and have him go to jail for the crime he committed, but he could arrest him with that title and condemn him to an unhappy life.

Now Wille is free but August is not

[thatsmybook]

Simon's face always puzzled me in this shot because I couldn't put my finger on what he was concerned about. I've just figured it out and it's not about the poison cake.

When Simon breaks up with Wille at the end of this episode, he is saying that he doesn't feel that being with Wille is good for him. He thinks that being Wille's boyfriend is adding complications to Wille's life - so though it doesn't seem like it at the time - this is him making a loving decision for himself and for Wille.

He says to him that I see that everything you have to live with hurts you and it hurts me.

Then I remember his face at the children's event earlier when Wille insists that August be sent back to Hillerska.

Because in that moment, he has remembered what Wille said to him last season - he can be free if he has August as his spare.

They don't often talk about Wille's role as Crown Prince. That moment outside Simon's house with Ayub and Rosh in season 2 and this moment at the children's event are some of the only times that Simon sees Wille in his role.

Even though August showed obvious signs of being right for his royal role at that event: engaging well with the children and adults, Wille is angry with August and sends him away.

In Wille being angry in this instance, Simon sees that Wille is instead wanting to claim the role and NOT be free.

Then Wille tells him that he needs him at the family dinner. In a very insistent and demanding manner. Simon is starting to realise that Wille is keeping himself in his role as Crown Prince because he has Simon by his side. He sends August home. He only wants Simon in these royal circumstances. Not the better-qualified-for-royal-life August. This is a role that is hurting Wille. So by removing himself from Wille's side, this is Simon signalling to Wille to free himself as he said he could last season.

So anyway, I've said this before that there are moments on this day that all add up to Simon's decision on this day to not wait one moment more to make a change. But I'd missed this one. I hadn't understood why he was concerned that Wille was sending August away. Surely Simon hates August, too, and can understand why he doesn't want to hang with him at the castle?

But then I remembered what Wille said last season about being free and then in the next episode Wille's Song included the line about remembering how he can be free. Like a chess piece, Simon removed himself from the board. He sacrificed their love so Willle could be free.