23/02/2026 - Saskia Diesing’s show follows Mabel Wisse Smit and Margarita de Bourbon de Parme as they meet their future royal partners and begin navigating the pressures of public scrutiny

German sales outfit Beta Film and Dutch producer Millstreet Films are doubling down on their royal-drama success story. Ahead of next month’s launch of the second season of Maxima, the partners have unveiled a spin-off entitled The Other Royals – A Maxima Story, while confirming that a third season of the flagship series is already in development.

Originally announced as a 12-hour drama charting the rise of Argentina-born queen Máxima Zorreguieta within the Dutch royal family, Maxima has travelled widely, with Beta Film selling the show in 85 territories. The series broke streaming records on RTL Nederland’s platform Videoland and delivered strong linear ratings on RAI in Italy, on TV2 in Denmark and on Atresmedia in Spain, whilst also ranking among the Top 10 titles on Max in Latin America.

The newly announced five-hour spin-off shifts the focus to two figures orbiting the Dutch crown, starting in 1999 when Mabel Wisse Smit and Margarita de Bourbon de Parme meet their future royal partners and begin navigating the pressures of life under intense public scrutiny. The project aims to deepen storylines introduced in the upcoming second season of Maxima, expanding what the producers see as a growing narrative universe.

Produced by Millstreet Films in co-production with FBO and Beta Film, the spin-off stars Claire Bender (the series Etty [+see also:
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Rachel van Bommel, producer at Millstreet Films, said the creative team felt that the secondary characters’ arcs were “too powerful and compelling to remain in the background”, noting that the cast chemistry in season two encouraged them to expand the universe with similar ambition and emotional scope. Justus Riesenkampff, EVP Nordics & Benelux at Beta Film, added that the original series’ success lay in presenting a contemporary love story rather than a traditional tale of court intrigue, arguing that the spin-off would continue exploring relationship-driven narratives with international appeal.

Meanwhile, season two of Maxima will premiere on Dutch screens on 14 March, following the future queen from her wedding preparations to her coronation a decade later, as she balances family expectations with personal ambition. Beta Film are handling international sales on all instalments of the franchise.