Princess Gabrielle and Prince Enzo Durand welcome suitors to palace in order to find 'a strong partner' to share the royal burden

Lea Zhang | VT

As our beloved Queen Elise begins to publicly consider ceding the throne to her daughter, questions have arisen. Not everyone believes that Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Gabrielle, has what it takes to fill her mother's shoes.

"She is a woman," Lord Hugo Arnaud, councilor of Provence, is known to be heard saying. "They are meant to stay home, tend the house, lead the family. Not the kingdom."

Some may question the councilor's statements, considering that our reigning monarch is, in fact, a female, but Lord Arnaud is not the only one to question.

Lord Pierre Rochambeau of Champagne concurs. "Her Majesty rules fairly and justly, and I would expect the same of her daughter. However, we—along with almost every other nation—have never had a woman inherit the throne."

"If you are willing to listen to the doubters, then you will listen to anything," is our princess's curt response. "Despite what they may think, I will continue to follow in my parents' footsteps and lead with a calm and diplomatic mindset, listening to the council, the court, and the people."

Still, concerns are difficult to set aside once voiced.

The court is clear: they wish for a male counterpart to our female heir.

And so, it is with the dawning of a new age that the Durands institute a recall of an old tradition: the Selection.

For those unfamiliar with the term, it might be appropriate to turn to our Illéan cousins, who have held Selections for the last several decades. In a highly competitive process, twenty names are drawn from a pool of unmarried young people. These are sent to the palace where they compete for the hand of the heir.

It seems to be the best way for our princess to choose a worthy husband, and her brother, His Royal Highness, Prince Enzo, will be joining her on this journey.

When asked why he chose this path, he says, "Anything in life is easier when it is shared." Surely this is a true sentiment, but is it an honest motivation? Only the Selected will find out.

Speaking of the Selected, we look to our newest residents at Versailles to tell us precisely what's what during this time period.

In exclusive interviews, I found that the royal favorites seem to be Lords Lincoln Despara and Kirin Spencer as well as Ladies Kennedy Parker and Salomé Lestrange.

Does this automatically disqualify the rest? Perhaps. And perhaps not. But sources inside the palace tell me that these four are the ones to watch.

Only time will tell the tale of who can truly withstand the pressures of a prince or princess's life.

Have any questions, comments, concerns, or snarky remarks? Feel free to contact me at [email protected]. I'd love to hear your voices!