Queen’s New Podcast ‘Lonely Youth’ Reveals Shocking Truths About Young People’s Growing Loneliness Crisis
Mary of Denmark, the Australia-born Queen, is taking on the world of podcasting, launching a new series through her charitable Mary Foundation. The announcement came via the Danish royal family’s official Instagram account, where Mary shared her excitement for the new venture. Revealing that she is an avid podcast listener herself, Mary said, “I often listen when I have to move from one place to another. Some days I’m in the mood for entertainment, and other days I use it to gain knowledge and new input”, according to the Daily Mail.
The Queen, who founded the Mary Foundation in 2007 with a focus on tackling issues such as bullying, domestic violence, and loneliness, explained that her debut podcast will tackle the growing problem of loneliness among young people. “Our first podcast is called ‘Lonely Youth,’ and through three short episodes, it gives a thorough insight into the nuances of loneliness by mixing expertise and personal stories from young people,” Mary revealed, reported by the Mirror.
She further explained that the podcast was inspired by alarming statistics from the study “Loneliness in Denmark,” which found that 73% of 16-19-year-olds report experiencing loneliness, and 17% of 16-24-year-olds feel “very lonely.” Mary emphasized the need for action, saying, “These are heavy numbers that we need to do something about.” The Mary Foundation’s venture into podcasting is a new one, but Mary is hopeful that listeners will embrace it. “Podcast[ing] is not something we have much experience with yet in the Mary Foundation, but I hope you will listen and feel welcome,” she said.
While details on the release date and whether Mary herself will appear on the podcast remain unclear, this marks the latest royal entry into the world of podcasting. Mary follows in the footsteps of several other royals, including Queen Camilla, who hosts the popular book podcast The Queen’s Reading Room, and Sarah Ferguson, who co-hosts Tea Talks with the Duchess and Sarah.
Meghan Markle, of course, is already well-established in the podcasting world with her Spotify podcast Archetypes, which ran for 12 episodes before being axed as part of Spotify’s decision to end its £16 million deal with Meghan and Prince Harry last year. Meghan’s podcast examined the stereotypes women face, and despite its cancellation, Meghan has continued her podcasting journey with a new deal signed in February with Lemonada Media.
With these royal podcasting ventures heating up, Mary of Denmark’s entry into the space is sure to add to the growing royal rivalry in the world of digital media.