Land of royalty

Why Styria has a beetle bean queen

Fruit princess Andrea and fruit queen Kristin I (right) were recently crowned.(Bild: Foto Fischer, Graz)

Styria is known for its royalty: Beetle Bean Queens, Sheep's Milk Princesses and Wine Highnesses are elected on a regular basis. They are supposed to market Styrian specialties and represent the province to the outside world. But which young women are behind them?

There is no longer any nobility in Austria, but in Styria there are still "Highnesses". They are the figureheads of an industry, the face of Styrian specialties. While other federal states (such as Burgenland and Lower Austria) at most elect wine queens, in this country even sheep's milk is presented by a princess.