A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby review: Two kingdoms, one curse

A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby brought two royal families, a 600-year-old treaty, and a curse. What would happen in the third Christmas movie in the franchise?

It’s Christmastime in Aldovia again in A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby and that means plenty of holiday cheer and a threat to the kingdom. When monarchs of another kingdom visit to sign a treaty, it kickstarts a new mystery. This time the treaty goes missing and they need to find it before a curse can be enacted.

So, is this a magical addition to the Christmas Prince franchise? Is it worth watching? If you love old fashioned, warming Christmas movies, then this is definitely going to be for you.

Somebody call the Scooby Gang

One thing that this movie will remind you of is that Amber needs to be part of the Scooby Gang. Her journalistic mind helps her figure out the mystery. Had she not been pregnant and dealing with early labor pains (I really wished someone would have told the doctor they’re contractions not surges!), Amber may have figured things out a little quicker. However, she solved it all in the end.

I will say the twist at the end was great. While I wondered if it would be who it turned out to be (no spoilers!), I didn’t think it was possible. This was a friendly face throughout the last two movies, so I was sure that it just couldn’t be.

And yet, the writers pleasant surprised me. The clues were all there and I loved the connection back to Amber reading the book about the history of the families in Aldovia, but I just didn’t see them fully.

The stereotypical red herring

Of course, A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby had many of the stereotypical storylines that come with these types of Christmas movies. In a way, that’s what made the movie so brilliant. I spent the movie trying to figure out what Simon was really up to. After everything that happened in the first movie, he is a changed man.

He was up to two things in the end. One for himself and one for the kingdom. The one for the kingdom was an excellent twist to the mystery, showing just how much he has grown as a person. Once, he may have tried to overthrow the new king, but now he’s working with the family. It was a heartwarming moment even if it was stereotypical in the sense that there was a red herring.

Tradition vs. modern

Amber isn’t one for tradition. And that’s not a bad thing. She managed to bring Aldovia into the 21st century, and the country is all the better for it. The royals are loved, the country is economically booming, and people are happy.

Of course, the visiting royals from faraway are a little more traditional. Queen Ming is extremely traditional in her ways, even if she is the one that makes all the decisions. She doesn’t want credit for it—well, she does but she can’t be seen to want it. What would the people think?

However, it’s Amber who helps to show her that modernizing certain elements is a good thing. Being front and center and taking some of the credit isn’t a bad thing. We get to see this friendship between two monarchs develop, and hopefully, it means all the better for both the royal family and the two countries’ relationship. Part of me really wants to see Amber and Richard head to Pangalan to see the entire kingdom. Maybe for A Christmas Prince 4?

It’s a shame that we don’t get to see too much of the Pangalan monarchs together. I felt a little shortchanged on their relationship and how they work together. However, I did appreciate seeing the two kings working together on building the crib.

One thing I did love about Queen Ming was that while traditional she was also level-headed. I wondered if she would believe in the curse, but she was the one to help settle Amber’s mind about it. Whether the treaty could be signed or not, Ming knew that there wouldn’t be a curse put on the baby. That was just old superstition.

Overall, it is a stereotypical Christmas movie. If you’ve watched the first two Christmas Prince movies, most of it is going to feel the same. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. This is perfect to put on for the family or have on when you’re wrapping gifts. It’s a guilty pleasure, and I’m more than happy for a fourth movie in the franchise.

What did you think of A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby? Share your thoughts in the comments below.