Updated August 2020
The image of a portly king sitting on his throne with a meaty turkey leg and goblet wine is a thing of the past. Today’s royalty is cut from a different cloth, namely gore-tex and polyester-cotton blend. They still spend a lot of time at the family stables but are also making sure to set aside enough time for spin class.
The team at Health Fitness Revolution, along with its founder Samir Becic, four-time No. 1 Fitness Trainer in the world, investigated the fitness habits of the Europe’s nobility. What we found was a group of people who really, really like to stay active. But it’s no surprise when you consider they attend so many state dinners, where they have to wear tailored suits and elegant dresses, so they have a huge incentive to stay in tip-top shape!
Sadly, we can’t have the nobility duke it out in some grand tournament to crown who is the healthiest and most physically fit. Until that’s a thing, we’ve come up with our own methodology to determine the fittest European royals. Those fitness level, nutritional habits, age, their own medical issues and how they coped with them, and especially involvement and promotion of healthy lifestyle within their country.
“These fit royals are great trend setters for the new generation in terms of healthy lifestyle.”- says HFR founder and author of the book ReSYNC Your Life Samir Becic:
Prince Olof Daniel Westling Bernadotte – Sweden Birth year: 1973
- Had a passion for sports growing up
- Fitness instructor and personal trainer
- Gym Owner and ran the company Balance Training with 3 gyms in central Stockholm
- Served in the Swedish army as part of the national conscription
- Met his wife Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Västergötland while at the gym.
Prince Félix Léopold Marie Guillaume – Luxembourg Birth year: 1984
- Honorary president of the Luxembourg Basketball Federation
- He was voted “best athlete” of his school for five years running.
- Plays tennis, football and volleyball on a regular basis and also interested in golf and basketball.
- He also excels in acrobatic skiing, classical and giant slalom, and snowboarding.
Crown Prince Frederik Christian – Denmark Birth year: 1968
- Encourages Danish participation in sports
- He is a patron and honorary member of various sports organizations and a member of the international Olympic Committee.
- He promotes an active lifestyle in society
- An avid sportsman, running marathons in Copenhagen, New York and Paris
- He is a competitive Farr 40 skipper as well as an accomplished Dragon boater
- He also served in the military
Prince Amedeo D’Aviano – Belgium Birth year: 1986
- Spent a year in the Royal Military Academy in Belgium
- Completed military service and is a reserve officer in the Belgian Army
- Known for being an athlete
- Hobbies include rugby and running
- Ran the 2008 New York City Marathon
Princess Victoria Désirée – Sweden Birth year: 1977
- Met her husband, Prince Daniel, while he was her personal trainer at a gym in Stockholm
- Enjoys exercising at the gym
Prince Carl Philip Edmund Bertil – Sweden Birth year: 1979
- Enjoys skiing and cross country skiing
- Swimming
- Sailing
- Plays soccer
Princess Mӓrtha Louise – Norway Birth year: 1971
- Spoke about the importance of nutrition and maintaining a healthy diet at the 60th Anniversary of Rheumatism Association celebration
- Favorite sport is riding
- Has participated in both national and international show jumping competitions
Prince Haakon Magnus – Norway Birth year: 1973
- Served in the Royal Norwegian Navy
- Involved in several sports, particularly likes windsurfing
- Has been part of olympic ceremonies (opening ceremony Vancouver)
- Enjoys winter sports and water sports
- Runs races, including the 2014 mini-marathon through Oslo
King Philippe Maria – Belgium Birth year: 1960
- Was a fighter pilot and parachutist
- Named Lieutenant General of the Armed Forces
- Vice-Admiral of the Navy
- Those around him say that his two favorite hobbies are studying man in the modern world and exercising to keep his body fit
- Loves winter sports such as skiing
Prince Guillaume Marie Louis Christian – Luxembourg Birth year: 1963
- Enjoys football and volleyball
- Also known to play tennis, skiing, swimming and other aquatic sports
Queen Mathilde Ghisline – Belgium Birth year: 1973
- In September 2014, Opened the Special Olympics in Belgium
- Serves as the World Health Organization’s special representative for Immunizations
- Promotes women’s health
- Has been seen skiing with her family
Prince Albert Grimaldi – Monaco Birth year: 1958
- Was a camper and later became a counselor for six summers at Camp Tecumseh on Lake Winnipesaukee,Moultonborough, New Hampshire
- An enthusiastic sportsman
- Participated in cross country, javelin throwing, handball, judo, swimming, tennis, rowing, sailing, skiing, squash and fencing
- Has competed in five Winter Olympics in the sport of bobsledding for Monaco
- Took part in both 2-man and 4-man events
- Patron of Monaco’s football team
- Flag bearer for Monaco at the 1988, 1994, 1998 winter olympics
- Member of the International Olympic Committee
- Awarded the Eagle award by the United States Sports Academy
Grand Duke Henri – Luxembourg Birth year: 1955
- He is a career military man, undertaking his military officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, England.
- Is a member of the International Olympic Committee, a member of The Mentor Foundation (established by the World Health Organization).
- He does regular fitness exercises and maintains a healthy lifestyle which aided him on his journey to recovery from certain genetic ailments.
- Made our 2014 List of Fittest Heads of State and 2015 Fittest Heads of State
Prince Louis Xavier Marie Guillaume – Luxembourg Birth year: 1986
- A keen fan of mountain sports like alpine skiing, snowboarding,etc.
- Also likes cycling, hunting and scuba diving
Prince Sébastien Henri Marie Guillaume – Luxembourg Birth year: 1992
- Enjoys climbing, skiing, swimming and particularly rugby.
- He was selected for the Luxembourg National rugby team and also plays for the varsity team at his University.
Princess Marie Odile – Denmark Birth year: 1976
- Avid sportswoman
- Has been seen skiing with her family
- Interested in boxing
Queen Letizia Ortiz – Spain Birth year: 1972
- Maintains her figure with a healthy diet
- Avoids refined carbohydrates
- Exercises
- Enjoys sailing, skiing, and tennis
- Promotes nutrition and health
- Her husband King Felipe VI was named Top 13 Fittest Heads of State
King Felipe VI – Spain Birth year: 1968
- Holds the military rank of Captain General of the army, navy and the air force
- The highest military rank, therefore the supreme commander of the armed forces
- Engages in military exercises and maneuvers
- Generally an enthusiast of sports
- Was a member of the olympic sailing team at the 1992 Barcelona olympics
- Spain’s flag bearer in the parade of nations
- Has been awarded an Olympic diploma
- Was named to Top 13 Fittest Heads of State 2015
Princess Charlene Wittstock – Monaco Birth year: 1978
- Former competitive swimmer
- Represented South Africa in the 2000 Olympics
- Does regular workouts, which include weight training, cardio, and stretching
- Vegetarian
- Follows a healthy diet
- Enjoys surfing and hiking
Princess Madeleine Josephine – Sweden Birth year: 1982
- An enthusiastic equestrian
- Competed in showjumping
- Enjoys skiing, dancing, and taking walks
King Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand – Netherlands Birth year: 1967
- Former member of the armed forces
- Enjoys tennis, running, skiing, sailing, golf, horse riding, skating, and diving
- Took part in the 1992 New York marathon
Queen Sonja Haraldsen – Norway Birth year: 1937
- Certified skiing instructor
- Enjoys long hikes and ski trips in the Norwegian mountains every year
- Also participates in sailing
King Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus XVI – Sweden Birth year: 1946
- Previously rose to the rank of captain (in the Royal Swedish Army and Air Force) and lieutenant (in the Royal Swedish Navy)
- Highly skilled skier
- Enjoys riding, water sports, and sailing
Honorary Mention: This man is technical Royalty but was not born into it. His Sovereignty is only applicable while he is in Power.
Pope Francis Jorge Mario Bergoglio – Vatican City Birth year: 1936
- Interested in football
- Active member of San Lorenzo de Almagro, which is one of the teams in the Primera Division league
- “Sports in the community can be a great missionary tool, where the Church is close to every person to help them become better and to meet Jesus Christ”
- Focused on how sports can bring about good in the lives of young people
- Says that sports is like school and work in helping youth develop themselves and avoid addictions to drug and alcohol
- Is our Fittest Religious World Leader
