Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Drinking, drugs, language, sex in disappointing sequel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
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Where to Watch
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Royalteen: Princess Margrethe
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
ROYALTEEN: PRINCESS MARGRETHE begins at the prom, where its predecessor left off. The titular royal (Elli Rhiannon Muller Osborne) has overdosed on a combination of alcohol, cocaine, and pills, and landed in the hospital. Her parents (Frode Winther and Kirsti Stubo) are more concerned with keeping the scandal out of public eyes than with their daughter's obvious cry for help. A classmate has a video from the night she collapsed, and she has good reason to worry he will share it publicly. Despite the support of friends like Ingrid (Amalie Sporsheim), her brother Kalle (Mathias Storhoi), his girlfriend Lena (Ines Hoyaeter Asserson), and classmate-with-a-crush Arnie (Filip Bargee Ramberg), Margrethe keeps making poor decisions, putting herself in harm's way, and popping pills with alcohol to cope.
Is It Any Good?
As its name suggests, this Norwegian sequel follows its predecessor in trying to capitalize on a fascination with royals and teens. Other Netflix series have done this too, such as Young Royals, which -- like Royalteen: Princess Margrethe -- explores teen royals coping poorly and using substances to deal with the pressures of the monarchy and living constantly in the public eye. Unfortunately, this follow-up lacks the emotional depth its topic and main character deserve. Its privileged, party-hard protagonists have more to do with the private school socialites of Spanish series Elite or French film Dangerous Liaisons than the studied politicians of The Crown.
A scene where a Danish prince on a ski lift commiserates over the pressures of their "hard job" growing up royal is about as deep a conversation as we get concerning the film's main theme. The princess is spiraling out of control while her brother flops about happily in love (see Royalteen) and her parents are busy hiding their secrets from the public. It's clear the series is more interested in the world of teenagers than in the many-layered discussion of monarchies, and on that front, it's passable fare that fits right in with what Netflix is producing elsewhere in Europe. But the princess's mental health and substance struggles don't feel sufficiently explored or resolved. In that sense, maybe a series (rather than independent films) would have been a better format.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the problems faced by the royal teen in Royalteen: Princess Margrethe. Are her problems like those of any teenagers you know? How so or not?
This film series is adapted from a book series. What other movies have you watched that were adapted from books? What can movies do that books can't, and vice versa?
How does this film compare with its predecessor, Royalteen? Does it remind you of any other films or series you've watched?
What do you think of the concept of monarchies? Where could you go for more information?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : May 12, 2023
- Cast : Elli Rhiannon Muller Osborne , Ines Hoysaeter Asserson , Amalie Sporsheim
- Director : Ingvild Soderlind
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School )
- Run time : 98 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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