Aahana Swrup
In the Hallmark rom-com ‘The Royal We,’ director Clare Niederpruem presents a unique story about a prince, a princess, and a royal wedding. The kingdoms of Androvia and Vostierrie have been long engaged in a disagreement that promises to resolve itself with the marriage between Crown Prince Desmond and Princess Coralina. However, things take a turn when the Vostierrie princess abruptly calls off the engagement and elopes with a commoner. As a result, her sister, Princess Beatrix—who has been away from the royal family for 20 years, living a covert life in Boston—must step up and go through with the arranged marriage. Yet, the unconventional princess might just have a trick or two up her sleeve that will change the status quo. Along the way, as the betrothed couple gets to know one another better, sparks inevitably fly. Even so, in Bea and Desmond’s case, when it comes to a happily ever after, things may be more complicated than it seems. SPOILERS AHEAD!
The Royal We Presents a Romance Out of a Fairytale But With a Twist
‘The Royal We’ pens a pleasantly unexpected romance born out of an otherwise cliched setting. It revolves around a story of two eternally rivaling kingdoms who can only find peace through a marriage between the two royal families. Nonetheless, the eldest princess, Coralina, puts this union in jeopardy in favor of following after her own heart. Thus, the film establishes its allegiance to true love over political arranged marriages from the get-go. Yet, that doesn’t mean fate can’t intervene to actualize a fitting romance between Prince Desmond and the spare heir, Princess Beatrix. Initially, between the former’s staunch dedication to noblesmanship and the latter’s distaste for royal diplomacy, the differences between the pair remain stark. This paves the path for compelling banter, allowing Desmond and Bea’s dynamic to begin with a bit of friction that eventually lights the spark between them.
Over the course of their short-lived engagement, the couple engages in every trope in the book—from sneaking out on dates to stargazing and longing, love-stricken looks. Nonetheless, the weight of the world’s expectations on their shoulders persists, creating an unbreachable barrier between them. The story deals with this barrier—and the overarching plot of political rivalry—in a delightfully subversive and unexpected manner. Still, this twist stays in line with the characterizations of both Desmond and Bea and only enhances their storyline. Naturally, despite the loom and gloom that circles around the conclusion, the story ultimately ends on a happy note, befitting a royal couple. The overtly sappy and slightly rushed sentiments of true love may feel a bit startling to many. However, one can hardly fault the tale for rooting in favor of a happily ever after.
The Royal We Plot Summary
Prince Desmond and Princess Coralina had been betrothed to one another by their respective grandfather when they were only kids. Therefore, almost no romance persists between them when the time comes around for their official engagement. Instead, the couple only has flashy rings and castles to show for their wedding in lieu of any real feelings. Perhaps for the same reason, Desmond is mostly unbothered when the news breaks out that Coralina has abdicated from the thrown after eloping with a castle plumber. Still, while the news doesn’t affect the prince emotionally, it puts a damper on his diplomatic ideas. Fortunately, he’s able to come up with a quick solution. Although Coralina was the crown princess of Vostierrie, she has a younger sister, Beatrix, who has now taken over that role in the former’s abdication.
After years of being compared to her perfect sister, Bea decided to live a low-key life in Boston, away from the politics of her kingdom. Nonetheless, Desmond plans to bring her back into the thick of it by proposing a marriage between them to honor the agreement between their grandfathers. This agreement revolves around the rulership of a province, which has been a subject of disagreement between Androvia and Vostierrie for 300 years. For the same reason, a union of the two kingdoms is essential. As such, Desmond and his entourage, headed by Clive, travel to Boston to find Bea. Meanwhile, the princess herself is coming out of an awful break-up. Her best friend, Chloe, and her job with the Foundation for Young Girls’ Education are the only things that are keeping her going.
Therefore, when the Androvians sequester Bea and Chloe to Desmond’s hotel—in something that resembles a kidnapping—the pair find themselves in for a shock. Even though the former effortlessly slides into her princess mode as needed, she’s still taken aback by Desmond’s outright proposal. After giving it some thought and realizing she owes it to her family and kingdom—who have allowed her years of undisturbed freedom—Bea decides to say yes to the prince. Yet before doing so, she sneaks his highness out for an incognito night on the town.
Therefore, by the time the duo—plus maid of honor Chloe—arrives in Androvia for the frills around the engagement, Desmond and Bea’s acquaintanceship has reached a more tentatively friendly ground. Their stay at the palace brings more of the same, as the fellowed insomniacs begin further bonding through shared late-night talks and deep conversations. Although Bea’s exhausted by the formalities and the photo ops that fill up her mornings, she shines in the night—as she sneaks Desmond up to the rooftops to feed his fascination with astronomy. Furthermore, her charming personality wins over the public, increasing her popularity and even helping her Foundation’s business along.
Eventually, the time comes for a royal luncheon between the two families. However, Kings Winston and Richmond continue their petty squabbles throughout the event, once again proving their inability to be civil to one another. Only this time, Bea takes the matter into her own hands—much to the surprise of the other royals. Her work with the Foundation has equipped her and Chloe with all the skills needed for a conflict resolution workshop, which she enacts upon the royal during the luncheon. Surprisingly, her efforts prove to be fruitful as Winston and Richmon—former mates during their boarding school days—realize that their rivalry is simply something drilled into them by their families.
Once it becomes evident the kingdoms’ rivalry is only generational and without any legitimate reasons behind them, the two kings come to an agreement. They sign a treaty—one that doesn’t necessitate an arranged marriage—and agree to share governance over the pesky province. They also announce that a castle, populated with representatives from both kingdoms, will be appointed to oversee the rulership of the area. Therefore, since there’s no real reason for Desmond and Bea to go through with their marriage, their engagement is inevitably called off.
Still, the two royals can’t help but feel slightly disappointed at the turn of events since they had grown genuinely fond of each other during their unconventional courtship. Once Bea shares the same worries with Chloe, her friend helps her realize that she’s allowed to be spontaneous every once in a while, especially in matters of the heart.
Thus, the two decide to take off in a borrowed Vespa to follow after Desmond’s royal car, which is on its way back to Androvia. Simultaneously, Desmond also realizes that after dedicating himself to his duty for his entire life, he can afford himself some selfishness for love. Consequently, he decides to turn back around and run back to Vostierrie. Fittingly, the two reunite at the border between the two kingdoms, where they confess their feelings for one another. When the prince proposes this time—and the princess accepts—it’s because of their genuine love for one another.
Read More: Are Androvia and Vostierrie Real Places?
