Uncrowned Heirs: Royal Women Who Weren’t Allowed to Rule

Princesses Leonor of Spain, Elisabeth of Belgium, Catharina Amalia of the Netherlands, and Victoria of Sweden promise that the future of European royalty will be largely dominated by women. This is the beginning of a new era. There was a time—that was not so long ago and is not yet entirely over—when women could not claim the crown simply because they were born female.

Of the 12 remaining monarchies in Europe—whether kingdoms, principalities, or grand duchies—10 are hereditary: Power…