The Royals: Power, Privilege, and a Modern Fairy Tale

A Prince of Privilege

The Royals begins with the story of a prince raised in opulence, accustomed to influence and unquestioned respect. His life is steeped in tradition, protocol, and entitlement, which gives him a worldview disconnected from the realities of common people. His confidence is both his strength and his downfall, as it blinds him to the shifting cultural landscape around him. Through him, the show portrays the allure and burden of royalty in an era that increasingly questions inherited privilege. His journey is one of confronting irrelevance in a rapidly evolving world.

The Rise of the Entrepreneur

In contrast, the other central character is a tech startup entrepreneur—ambitious, innovative, and grounded in the realities of modern struggle. Coming from a world of hard work, creativity, and disruption, she represents the voice of a new generation that values merit over heritage. Her encounters with the prince spark both friction and fascination, highlighting the stark differences between old power and new ambition. Yet her resilience and authenticity challenge the prince’s worldview, forcing him to recognize the fragility of his assumed dominance.

A Clash of Worlds

The heart of The Royals lies in the collision of these two worlds. Their interactions create a narrative charged with tension, humor, and unexpected tenderness. The show cleverly juxtaposes lavish palaces with buzzing startup offices, highlighting the cultural and social divide. At its core, the series asks whether tradition and modernity can coexist, or whether one must ultimately yield to the other. The prince and the entrepreneur embody this struggle, making every scene a negotiation between privilege and progress, entitlement and innovation.

The Royals. (L to R) Ishaan Khatter as Aviraaj Singh, Bhumi Pednekar as Sophia Shekhar, Udit Arora as Kunal Mehta in The Royals. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025

A Contemporary Fairy Tale

While grounded in real-world conflicts, The Royals also carries the flavor of a fairy tale for the modern age. The “royal romance” is reimagined as a story not of effortless charm but of confrontation, compromise, and growth. Instead of magical resolutions, the series presents challenges that mirror today’s social and cultural tensions. By blending glamour with grit, The Royals captures the imagination while keeping its feet firmly in reality. It is both a critique of privilege and a celebration of resilience, reminding viewers that even in the most unlikely pairings, transformation is possible.