From Peter Phillips to Marie-Chantal Miller, 5 British and European royals who lived in Hong Kong

Sep 24 , 2020

Denmark's Prince Joachim and his wife Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg, on their way to the Royal Theater in Copenhagen in 2004. Photo: AP Photo

The son of Queen Elizabeth II and the daughter of billionaire Robert Warren Miller – who became a princess after marriage – are just two of the royals who have lived in Hong Kong, working in high-powered banking and sales careers, finding love, and starting families

Not all royals are tiara-wearing, palace-dwelling blue bloods who fill their days with official engagements and banquets. Many royals have regular jobs working 9-to-5 just like the rest of us. Maybe, just maybe, they even live next door to you in your block of flats.

Being a world financial centre, Hong Kong has attracted British and other European royals to live and work in the city over the years – to prove it, here are five of them.

Peter Phillips

The grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and son of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, Peter Phillips is 15th in line to the British throne. Although a grandchild of the ruling monarch, he does not have a royal title because his mother wanted her children to lead more normal lives. In 2008, Phillips married Canadian consulting professional Autumn Kelly and the newlyweds moved to Hong Kong, where Phillips was working for the Royal Bank of Scotland looking after sponsorship deals. In particular, he oversaw the bank’s Formula One motor racing deals in the region. The couple – who separated last year – lived in Hong Kong for several years.

Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Parma leaves the church with her husband Albert Brenninkmeijer following their wedding ceremony at San Miniato al Monte Basilica in Florence in 2012. Photo: AFP Photo

Princess Carolina of Bourbon-Parma

Princess Carolina of Bourbon-Parma is the youngest daughter of Princess Irene of the Netherlands. In addition to being a member of the Dutch Royal Family, the 46-year-old princess is also part of the Royal and Ducal House of Bourbon-Parma as her father is Carlos Hugo, Duke of Parma. She moved to Hong Kong with her husband Albert Brenninkmeijer who was overseeing C&A, the Brenninkmeijer family’s business in the region. The couple have two young children and lived in the city from 2015 to 2018.

Prince Joachim of Denmark