If you're not wise to Netflix's royal Christmas movies by now, you're missing out on some serious holiday magic. The streamer has debuted a new Christmas romance flick set in a fictional kingdom almost every year since 2017's "A Christmas Prince." These movies invent entire countries, cultures and histories out of whole cloth, then stick an unwitting American woman in the center of whatever succession crisis is currently threatening the future of each interconnected monarchy. They're irresistible and infinitely confusing, with crossover characters and shared geopolitics — which is why we've painstakingly crafted the ultimate guide to the Netflix royal Christmas movie kingdoms.
Videos by Wide Open Country
Below, we break down every kingdom featured in the Netflix Christmas Universe (henceforth the NCU), from Aldovia and Penglia of the "Christmas Prince" trilogy to Belgravia and Montenaro of Vanessa Hudgens' all-important "Princess Switch" films and beyond. We explain who's who in each royal family, spot the real-life castles where each movie was filmed and detail how each flick connects back to the broader NCU. Plus, we provide a bit of historical context for these made-up countries and assign each one a safety rating. Some Netflix royal Christmas movie kingdoms are just not up to 21st-century standards of living...
Before we begin, we have to clear the air on a couple major questions. (1) Are the Netflix kingdoms at all connected to the real world? Yes. As far as we can tell, the world map remains relatively unchanged — save for Eastern Europe, where most of these -ia countries are carved out. In fact, America is the main supplier of foreign brides in these films; Queen Amber is from New York, and Princess Stacy is from Chicago. Additionally, the various kingdoms on this list are known to have had frosty or friendly relations with Spain and The Vatican.
(2) Is every Netflix royal Christmas movie connected? Yes! Characters from one kingdom/franchise have graced events in neighboring kingdoms/franchises because their countries are allies. Heck, even non-royal Netflix Christmas movies like the Lindsay Lohan starrer "Falling for Christmas" and "Holidays in the Wild" include in-universe nods to the kingdoms on this list.
Without further ado, we give you THE guide to the Netflix royal Christmas movie kingdoms:
"A Christmas Prince" Trilogy: Aldovia, Penglia
The wedding of King Richard and Queen Amber of Aldovia, 2018. (Netflix)
Films: "A Christmas Prince" (2017), "A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding" (2018), "A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby" (2019)
Starring: Rose McIver, Ben Lamb, Alice Krige, Honor Kneafsey
Filming Locations: Peles Castle and Cotroceni Palace in Romania
Ah, the trilogy that reignited the royal Christmas movie craze. American magazine journalist Amber (Rose McIver) is sent to the foreign nation of Aldovia to cover a press conference given by Prince Richard (Ben Lamb), who is set to take the throne following his father's death. When Amber is mistaken for a tutor to the young Princess Emily, she plays along to get the inside scoop on the so-called playboy prince. The beloved original spawned two equally delectable films, with McIver and Lamb reprising their roles.
Where are the Belgravian and Montenaran delegations?! (Cos Aelenei/Netflix)
Politics: They may be allies now, but Aldovia and Penglia (mentioned, but not visited) warred over silk road trading routes in the 15th century. The historic Centennial Treaty, re-signed by King Richard and Queen Amber in 2019, maintains peace — and, if Aldovian folklore is to be believed, keeps an old witch's curse from befalling the heir apparent, Princess Elleri.
Biggest Scandal: Hello? The birther scandal of 2017 almost cost Richard the throne!
Safety Rating: 2/10. Aldovia is one of the most treacherous kingdoms in the NCU. Wolves roam the alpine forests hungry for diminutive blondes. And good luck trying to have a private conversation: Every door is always dangerously ajar. Besides, if Amber snuck in with nothing but a dream and a trusty pair of Converse, the castle has some serious security issues. Did we mention there's a dungeon?
"The Princess Switch" Trilogy: Belgravia, Montenaro
Can you spot all three Vanessa Hudgenses in this photo? (Netflix)
Films: "The Princess Switch" (2018), "The Princess Switch 2: Switched Again" (2020), "The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star" (2021)
Starring: Vanessa Hudgens, Sam Palladio, Nick Sagar
Filming Locations: Károlyi Castle in Romania. Eilean Donan Castle, Hopetoun House and Glasgow Cathedral in Scotland
Vanessa Hudgens doing the Lord's work as three doppelgängers. In the first film, Chicago baker Stacy De Novo (Hudgens) trades places with her lookalike Lady Margaret Delacourt, Duchess of Montenaro (Hudgens), and falls in love with Margaret's betrothed, Prince Edward of Belgravia (Sam Palladio). In the second film, Margaret's coronation as Queen of Montenaro is almost foiled by a third lookalike: Her villainous blonde cousin Fiona Pembroke (Hudgens). In the third film, all three Hudgenses join forces to save a priceless relic.
Queen Amber, King Richard and Princess Elleri of Aldovia at the coronation of Queen Margaret of Montenaro, 2020. (Netflix)
Politics: Belgravia and Montenaro enjoy friendly relations with each other, and with Aldovia (the kingdom from "A Christmas Prince"). King Richard, Queen Amber and Princess Elleri even attended Queen Margaret's coronation in 2020.
Biggest Scandal: When The Star of Peace, on loan from The Vatican, was stolen in 2021.
Safety Rating: 8/10. Outside of Switchmas, Belgravia and Montenaro are pretty easygoing places. The former hosts the International Christmas Baking Competition, so it's a nation of softies, really. Montenaro brings the safety rating down for its famously harsh winters.
"A Castle for Christmas:" Dukedom of Dunbar, Scotland
Dunbar should really be anointed one of the Netflix Christmas movie royal kingdoms. Where else will we get our kilt fix? (Mark Mainz/Netflix)
Starring: Brooke Shields, Cary Elwes
Filming Locations: Dalmeny House, Tantallon Castle and Inveraray Castle in Scotland
Plagued by scandal, bestselling author Sophie Brown (Brooke Shields) journeys to Scotland hoping to purchase a cute little castle of her own (as you do). She sets her sights on the charming Dun Dunbar Castle, but its grumpy and cash-strapped owner, Myles, Duke of Dunbar (Cary Elwes) can't fathom selling to a foreigner.
Politics: With a population of only 153, the village of Dunbar is much too small to impact the geopolitics of the NCU. That being said, Frank De Luca and Mrs. Donatelli from "The Princess Switch" trilogy made their debut as a couple in Dunbar, so the place is most definitely on the map.
Biggest Scandal: Sophie's disastrous appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show." Kelly would never!
Safety Rating: 10/10. So long as you pack a raincoat, nothing in Dunbar can harm you. But Cary Elwes' adorable Scottish accent might just make your heart stop.
"The Knight Before Christmas:" 1300s England
Yeah, we'd be happy too if we yeeted out of plague times, Sir Cole. (Brooke Palmer/Netflix)
Starring: Vanessa Hudgens, Josh Whitehouse
Filming Locations: Ontario, Canada and Tullamore, Ireland
This one's a stretch since it's not actually set in a fictional kingdom, but it has ties to the rest of the NCU. Sir Cole Lyons (Josh Whitehouse), knighted by King Richard III, is magically transported from 1334 Norwich, England to present-day Ohio, where he meets high school science teacher Brooke (Vanessa Hudgens).
Politics: Again, no fictional kingdom to assess here. But think about the implications of Sir Cole's arrival: Time travel exists in the NCU! Anyone could go back and change anything—including the line of succession—in Aldovia, Belgravia, et al. "The Knight Before Christmas" exists in the same universe as Netflix's royal movies, as evidenced by the fact that Brooke's parents bought an acorn ornament on a trip to Aldovia ("A Christmas Prince"). And since the Aldovian royals attended the Montenaran coronation, Vanessa Hudgens' Brooke could be the fourth lookalike in "The Princess Switch" trilogy... You still with us?
Biggest Scandal: How 'bout that War of the Roses?
Safety Rating: 0/10. We know that Sir Cole attended Norwich's annual Christmas Hawking Competition of 1334, which sounds infinitely more dangerous than Belgravia's annual Christmas bake-off. Plus, is there any world in which Richard III's England was at all safe?
Not so confusing once you break it all down, right? Right? Just imagine if Netflix and Hallmark joined forces for a royal mashup. Lacey Chabert found tiara-less on the streets of Cordinia!
