Aahana Swrup
The Hallmark Roger M. Bobb directorial ‘Royalish’ is a romantic comedy in which dreams of true love found in a striking castle come to life. The story revolves around Lacey, a theme park Princess performer who encounters actual royalty when Prince Henry of Bella-Moritz and his eight-year-old daughter, Rose, visit Emerald Park. As the play-pretend artist strikes up a friendship with the young princess, it compels the latter’s father to extend an invitation to the castle. As it turns out, a big event is coming up, and Rose is sorely in need of some help to overcome her fear of horseriding—an issue the Prince is confident Lacey can help with.
As such, she is swept away to a faraway land where something more than simple friendships might await her. Bella-Moritz, the small kingdom under the reign of Henry’s mother, Queen Eloise, offers a fairy-tale-esque backdrop to Lacey and Henry’s whirlwind romance. Thus, in many ways, the kingdom becomes a prominent character of its own, sporting as much significance.
Is Bella-Moritz a Real Kingdom?
Unfortunately, the charming landscape of Bella-Moritz, as seen in ‘Royal-ish,’ is not an actual kingdom in real life. The country is a work of fiction adapted from Teri Wilson’s 2021 romance novel ‘Once Upon a Royal Summer,’ which serves as the basis for the entire project. Author Wilson fictionalized the wonderful kingdom in contrast to her literary protagonist’s southern Florida origins. In the live-action adaptation, the kingdom remains much the same, offering a fairy-tale setting in which Henry and Lacey can fall in love. Nonetheless, the kingdom remains fictional, with places like County Wicklow’s Killruddery House and Powerscourt Demesne making up its visual identity.
Where Was Royal-ish Filmed?
Most of ‘Royal-ish’ takes place in a small monarchy country, Bella-Moritz, the homeland of Prince Henry and Princess Caitriona Rose. Although the duo takes a short trip to Virginia, America, it only serves the purpose of bringing Amusement Park Princess, Lacey, back to their charming dominion. The kingdom is presumably located somewhere in Europe if the local architecture and accent are anything to go by. Therefore, it seems only fitting that the filming for the project, which started in late 2024, took place in Ireland’s County Wicklow and Enniskerry, Ireland. The locations are popular for their remarkable natural beauty that appeals to a romantic feel. Interestingly enough, this Irish filming location made the Hallmark cast and crew next-trailer neighbors to the cast of Netflix’s ‘Wednesday,’ as the latter work on their season 2.
County Wicklow, Ireland
Ireland has long been a favored location for films with royal characters and settings, in part due to its dramatic vistas and historical sites. In fact, County Wicklow itself has been featured in various known projects, such as ‘The Tudors,’ ‘Braveheart,’ and ‘The Last Duel.’ In ‘Royal-ish,’ the county becomes the idyllic backdrop for the picturesque kingdom of Bella-Moritz. The Killruddery House, a historic estate with an Elizabethan architecture style and sweepingly grand gardens, was most prominently employed as a central filming location. Located in the coastal town of Bray in County Wicklow, the Killruddery House resides in Kilruddery Demesne West, Southern Cross.
The estate was likely equipped to be the outside of the on-screen Bella-Moritz royal family castle. As such, it’s often the home to several moments of interpersonal bonding between Rose, Lacey, and Henry. From scenic picnics to lively crocket matches, the Killruddery House estate’s magnificent gardens add a touch of outdoorsy whimsy to the narrative. Another major location employed for the on-screen creation of Henry’s kingdom includes the Enniskerry village in Ireland.
Most notably, the estate and gardens of Powerscourt Demesne were employed as the royal palace and the kingdom’s locality. The audience will recognize this dream-like historic site as the outside of Henry’s palace, as seen in the background and in the overarching shots. The multitude of stunning gardens at the estate—which has been named the 3rd Best Garden in the world—cements the nobility of Queen Eloise and her administration. This preference for on-location filming greatly impacts the film’s aesthetic, adding a sense of realism. Furthermore, the connection to such an elaborate estate likely offered a layer of immersion for the cast and crew behind the scenes.
Hallmark’s Royal-ish Cast Details
A cast of talented actors with great interpersonal chemistry lead the narrative of ‘Royal-ish.’ Nichole Sakura, known for her great comedic presence, stars opposite William Moseley, who has many royal characters in his cinematography. As such, the lead actors effortlessly balance out the narrative’s regal and rambunctious elements. Meanwhile, the supporting cast also remains ripe with polished thespians, such as Francesca Europa, who portrays Princess Rose. The young actress was previously seen in Hallmark’s ‘My Norwegian Holiday.’ On the other hand, Emily Swain and Sophia Adli add to the sprawling storyline as Queen Eloise and Lacey’s best friend, Ava, respectively.
Nichole Sakura as Lacey
Best known for her seasons-spanning run as Cheyenne in the NBC sitcom ‘Superstore,’ Nichole Sakura takes on the role of Lacey in ‘Royal-ish.’ Although she has previously worked with the media production company on the 2024 film ‘The Finnish Line,’ this marks a first for her as a Hallmark Leading Lady. As an American non-noble and a professional performer at a Theme Park, Sakura’s character brings an air of levity to the otherwise regal-populated Bella-Moritz palace. As such, the actress, with plenty of comedic titles under her belt, including Disney’s ‘Kiff,’ CBS’ ‘Ghosts,’ and Peacock’s ‘Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain,’ effortlessly delivers an entertaining performance.
William Moseley as Henry
William Moseley, easily recognized as Peter Pevensie from the celebrated ‘Narnia’ film series of the 2000s, portrays the central royal Henry. The actor has a diverse career, having dabbled in multiple genres, such as the horror ‘Raven’s Hollow,’ the war film ‘Murder Company,’ and the holiday rom-com ‘Christmas in Notting Hill.’ Still, the audience will most likely remember him for the numerous royals he has previously played, including Prince Liam on the show, ‘The Royals.’ Moseley brings the same princely charm to Henry’s character, easily making Lacey—and the audience—fall for his kind disposition and charming persona.
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