Royal history is often entwined with stories of scandals, illicit lovers, royal mistresses and infants born out of wedlock. (Charles II had 19 such progeny.) So royal misbehaviour is nothing new; nor is the choice of unwise companions. Yet it is surely edifying to note that among the European royals these days there seem to be so many happy and faithful marriages, and such a show of united family life. Consider King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands – most recently in the news because of the death of the king’s aunt, Christina, who was partly blind (and, as it happens, a Catholic convert, which caused some controversy). Willem-Alexander and Máxima, who have three daughters, are a true love match, and no squeak of marital scandal has ever been attached to either of them. Similarly, for their neighbours: King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium have four children, and seem to be a devoted married couple. Same story for the Scandis: in Sweden, the Crown Princess Victoria and her husband, Daniel, have just marked 18 years of apparently blissfully united conjugal life, with their two young children. In Denmark, the Crown Prince Frederik and his Tasmanian-born wife, Mary, are celebrating 15 years of marriage and four children. The Norwegian royals also present a joyful picture of family togetherness. In Spain, King Felipe and his beautiful consort Letizia, appear to be a notably faithful couple (although it is true that Letizia was previously married), and the parents of two seemingly well-brought-up young girls, the Infantas. King Felipe certainly seems to be a more loving husband than his predecessor. In Monaco, where the Grimaldis had a previous reputation for fast living and French mistresses, Prince Albert appears to have settled into the role of contented husband and father, with his wife, Charlene, and young twins. Meanwhile the summer holidays have brought holiday snapshots, in the Continental press, of these many examples of royals leading exemplary lives. We never know exactly what lies under the surface, or in the human heart, but it’s interesting to observe the prevalence of what might be called conservative and Christian family values among Europe’s crowned heads.