Young Royals is a teen series on Netflix that follows the life of Prince Wilhelm, a new student at the elite boarding school Hillerska. The show explores the realities of adolescence, from dealing with neurodivergence in a non-accepting society to exploring sexuality. In this regard, Young Royals is undoubtedly at the forefront of underrated LGBTQ+ shows aimed at teens today (rivalling Netflix's other teen series Heartstopper). Indeed, the Netflix original series has received a great deal of praise for its level of LGBTQ+ representation and inclusion, as well as the actual casting of real-life teens.

With the recent release of season 2, Young Royals has been garnering more attention for the continued outstanding performances from the main cast. Like any other series, the main characters serve as the focus and, much like with any story, it's necessary to have both protagonists and antagonists in the main cast in order to drive the narrative forward with conflict and resolution. As a result, not every character is going to be someone that you necessarily root for. Here's every main character in Young Royals, ranked.

6 August

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Netflix

August (Malte Gårdinger) is the antagonist on Young Royals. A typical snooty rich kid who considers himself to be the 'it' kid at Hillerska, August only looks out for himself. When Wilhelm arrives as Hillerska, August takes him under his wing, and while it may seem that he has Wilhelm's best interests at heart, the reality is much different. His jealousy of Wilhelm's status rouses a great deal of rage in him, which he expresses by leaking the video of Wilhelm and Simon having sex. Doing something like this is not only traumatic for the parties in the video, but this act could also get August in legal trouble. He is by far the worst character on Young Royals, who only cares about himself and his status at the school.

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5 Sara

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Netflix

One character who falls into the neutral section on the morality scale is Sara (Frida Argento), Simon's sister. Another student at Hillerska, Sara spends much of her time with her horse before being befriended by Felice, who helps her become more sociable among the other students. That being said, Sara is not exactly the best character and is more neutral than truly good. For example, when Sara discovers that August has leaked a video of Simon and Wilhelm, she blackmails August to her own advantage rather than turning him in to the head of the school. This is not exactly model behavior, but seeing August suffer for what he's done is a dark sense of justice that Sara is serving.

4 Simon

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Netflix

Serving as Wilhelm's love interest, Simon (Omar Rudberg) is definitely a fan favorite character. Simon is a non-resident at the boarding school and, due to his lower-income background, doesn't fit in with the majority of the other students. He is one of the few on Young Royals who regularly points out the privilege that the students experience while the rest of the world struggles, part of what makes his character so beloved. Simon is a supportive friend, brother, and boyfriend, who is always there for those he cares about. His level of compassion is seldom seen in the rich royals of the elite school, another reason that he is considered one of the best characters on Young Royals. Speaking to Digital Spy, Rudberg shared his hopes for a happy ending for Simon and Wilhelm.

3 Wilhelm

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Netflix

As one of the principal characters, Prince Wilhelm (Edvin Ryding) takes up a great deal of screen time on Young Royals. While some would expect Wilhelm to be higher up on this list, the reality is that while he is a likable character, he is not the best. Part of what makes his character so likable is how he handles all the changes he goes through. From attending the new boarding school to exploring his sexuality with Simon, Wilhelm handles himself as best he can. Wilhelm's biggest downfall is that he cares too much about what other people think rather than focusing on his own wants and needs.

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2 Erik

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Netflix

Erik (Ivar Forsling) is another royal on the show, but unlike many of Wilhelm's older siblings, he does not think himself superior in any way to Wilhelm. He is a supportive big brother, taking Wilhelm to school on his first day to help him feel more comfortable. On top of being the best big brother, Erik also appears to be the only member of the royal family to call Wilhelm regularly. All of these things make Erik one of the most lovable characters on the show as he only cares for his brother's well-being, which is more than can be said for any other members of their family, including their parents. While Erik's time on the show is brief, he leaves a lasting impression on the audience.

1 Felice

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Netflix

Felice (Nikita Uggla) is a character full of surprises. While, externally, she appears to be just another richie at a boarding school, she proves herself to be far more than that. Throughout Young Royals, she opens up to the characters around her and her true self comes to light. Felice is one of the first people to befriend Sara and help her get comfortable with making more friends. She also is blindly supportive of Wilhelm and Simon despite her long-standing crush on Wilhelm. This proves that Felice is capable of putting her own emotions aside for the good of her friends.