CASERTA – The international exhibition “Queens: Weaves of Culture and Diplomacy between Naples and Europe” opened on December 19th at the Royal Palace of Caserta, and will run until April 20th, 2026. The exhibition pays homage to the sovereigns who, over the centuries, have contributed to the political, cultural, and diplomatic development of the Kingdom of Naples, forging relationships with the principal European courts.
The inaugural event was attended by H.R.H. Prince Charles of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, accompanied by his wife, Princess Camilla, and by his daughters, Princesses Maria Carolina and Maria Chiara.
The Royal Family also took a leading role by lending several works that belonged to their ancestors and are currently their property, exhibited to the public for the first time in a context of strong symbolic and historical value.
“Returning to the Royal Palace of Caserta means, for me, returning to the deepest roots of my family,” said Charles of Bourbon. “This place was commissioned by King Charles of Bourbon as a symbol of vision and future, and my great-grandfather, Prince Alfonso, Count of Caserta, was also born here. We didn’t hesitate for a moment to lend the works that belonged to our ancestors: doing so brings us great joy. It’s not just a cultural gesture, but a loving act, a way to give back to the community a part of our shared history.”
Next to him, Princess Camilla emphasized the exhibition’s significance from a feminine and emotional perspective: “This exhibition speaks of women who have left a profound mark on European history. For me, the Palace is also an intimate place: our firstborn, Maria Carolina, was baptized here. Returning there today, in an exhibition dedicated to queens, means uniting personal and collective memory, emotion and responsibility. This exhibition teaches that a woman’s role is never marginal when it is lived with awareness. These queens remind us that preparation, study, culture, and a sense of duty are instruments of freedom. It’s not about imitating the past, but about drawing inspiration from it to build the future.”
The theme of women’s role in the contemporary world was also taken up by Carolina of Bourbon, who has been internationally active for years: “The queens depicted in this exhibition exercised an often silent but decisive power. We often think that female power is a contemporary achievement only. In reality, this exhibition reminds us that women capable of governing, engaging with Europe, and influencing history already existed in the past. This is a lesson I also carry into my work with the United Nations: to continue fighting for women’s rights, for their participation, and for inclusive and concrete leadership.”
To look to the present and future was finally Chiara of Bourbon, that has drawn attention to the role of the new generations: “This exhibition demonstrates that history is not something distant. Emancipation also comes from cultural participation and the presence of young people today, in symbolic places like the Royal Palace, where we can identify with ourselves and build new awareness. My generation has the task of making history accessible, understandable, and alive. It’s not about celebrating the past, but about engaging with it.”
The “Queens” exhibition is part of a broader program of valorisation to promote the Royal Palace of Caserta as a European cultural crossroads, confirming the dialogue between past and present and reaffirming the role of women—both yesterday and today—in building history.
