Young Royals
Young Royals is a Swedish teen drama series that explores the life of Prince Wilhelm as he navigates his identity, sexuality, and responsibilities after being sent to an elite boarding school called Hillerska. The show primarily focuses on his burgeoning romance with a fellow student, Simon, and the challenges they face due to Wilhelm's royal status and the expectations placed upon him. It delves into themes of class, power, love, friendship, mental health, and the impact of social media in a high-pressure environment. The series is known for its queer representation and aims to offer a realistic portrayal of teenage experiences, including personal struggles and relationships.
Concerns
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
HighThe series prominently features LGBTQ+ themes and characters as a central aspect of its narrative. The main storyline revolves around the developing romantic relationship between Prince Wilhelm and Simon, who is openly gay. The show explores Wilhelm's journey of self-discovery regarding his sexuality, which is intentionally left unlabeled by the creators. Later seasons introduce additional queer characters, broadening the representation.
Prince Wilhelm develops romantic feelings for Simon, an openly gay classmate, leading to a central same-sex relationship that drives much of the plot and character development. In Season 2, two more queer characters are introduced: Nils, a gay student who advises Wilhelm, and Stella, a lesbian character who harbors feelings for her friend Fredrika.
Romance and Sexual Content
HighThe series features frequent and explicit romantic and sexual content. This includes passionate kissing, implied and depicted sexual acts, partial nudity, and discussions of masturbation and pornography. A major plot point involves a leaked sex tape, highlighting the invasive nature of such content.
The romance between Wilhelm and Simon includes multiple scenes of intense kissing and implied sexual activity, along with partial nudity. A particularly explicit scene in Season 3, Episode 3 depicts Simon 'clearly riding Wille' with an audible indication of climax. Earlier, in Season 1, Episode 4, there is a clear depiction of Felice and August engaging in sexual activity.
Profanity
HighStrong language and profanity are consistently present throughout the series. Characters frequently use expletives in various contexts, from casual conversation to moments of intense emotion and anger. The BBFC classification for all seasons includes 'language' as a content warning.
The series includes a range of harsh language, such as 'sh*t,' 'f*ck,' 'shut the f*ck up,' 'd*ck,' 'd*mn,' and 'hell,' used frequently by characters. The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) explicitly lists 'language' as a content descriptor for every episode across all three seasons.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe series contains highly intense emotional and psychological content, including themes of mental health struggles, grief, social anxiety, public humiliation, and betrayal. The narrative often places characters in distressing situations that can be frightening or anxiety-inducing.
The death of Prince Wilhelm's older brother, Erik, profoundly impacts Wilhelm's mental health and sense of duty, leading to intense grief and pressure. The leaking of Wilhelm and Simon's private sex tape leads to severe public scrutiny, emotional distress, and social ostracization for both characters, creating significant dramatic tension and anxiety.
Disrespect & Rebellion
HighDisrespect towards authority figures and rebellious behavior are prominent themes, particularly through Prince Wilhelm's character arc. He frequently challenges royal expectations and often demonstrates defiance towards his mother, the Queen, and the strict societal norms of the monarchy and the elite boarding school.
Wilhelm initially gets into a fight at a club, leading to his enrollment at Hillerska, indicating a rebellious streak. He openly defies his mother, the Queen, by struggling against his royal duties and eventually denying his involvement in the leaked video to protect his relationship, stating 'We haven't done anything wrong' to Simon when referring to their love.
Violence
MediumWhile graphic physical violence is not a primary element, the series contains instances of physical altercations, and significant emotional and psychological violence. Themes of social bullying, betrayal, and the devastating impact of privacy invasion are central, causing considerable distress to characters.
Prince Wilhelm is initially sent to Hillerska after getting into a public fight at a club. A significant act of emotional violence occurs when August films Wilhelm and Simon having sex without their consent and leaks the video, leading to widespread public humiliation and distress for both characters.
Substance Use
MediumThe series depicts significant underage drinking and references drug abuse. Students at the elite boarding school are shown consuming alcohol, and substance use is acknowledged as part of the social environment, though not always graphically detailed.
Underage drinking is shown, with characters frequently consuming alcohol, particularly during parties and social gatherings at Hillerska. The show also mentions drug abuse as a thematic element, playing a role in the series' mature content.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThere is no discernible content related to witchcraft, sorcery, occult practices, magic, demons, spells, or supernatural themes present in 'Young Royals'.
No instances or references to witchcraft, occult rituals, or supernatural elements were found in the series' plot, characters, or themes during the content analysis.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThere is no explicit or implied anti-Christian content, mockery of Christian beliefs, or sacrilegious acts depicted in 'Young Royals'. The series does not focus on religious themes in any significant capacity.
No instances of anti-Christian sentiment, direct criticism of Christianity, or disrespectful portrayal of Christian symbols or figures were identified within the series.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
17+ due to strong sexual content, frequent profanity, themes of substance use, significant emotional intensity, and a central LGBTQ+ storyline. The TV-MA rating in the US and similar ratings in other countries reflect the mature nature of the content, which includes explicit discussions of sexuality, scenes of intimacy, and depictions of underage drinking and drug abuse.
Additional Notes
The series is praised by many in the LGBTQ+ community for its authentic portrayal of young queer love and the challenges faced. Parents should be aware that while the show addresses important themes, its mature content, including explicit sexual scenes and strong language, makes it suitable for older teenagers and young adults only. The intensity of emotional struggles and social pressures may be unsettling for younger viewers.
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