Who are the modern-day royals that star at the new campaign of Raffles Hotels & Resorts?

The campaign also features a short movie created by famous film director Peter Greenaway

Named Hotel Royalty since 1887,  Raffles Hotels & Resorts has just launched a new campaign, developed by Accor’s Creative Studio, that has dominated the headlines lately, featuring a diverse cast of modern-day royals as well as a short movie created by celebrated film director Peter Greenaway, at his first-ever advertising endeavour.

Filmed and shot at Raffles Singapore, the birthplace of the brand, the campaign draws from the fundamental spirit of Raffles, showcasing the extraordinary experience the brand provides. Inspired by Raffles’ philosophy of true luxury being not only about what you do, but also about how you feel, the campaign highlights the brand’s position as a destination for the well-travelled; a meeting point for many cultures, infused with international influences, where stories are told, and legends are made.

The new campaign is designed to reinterpret the golden age of travel, with each vignette emulating a painting, layered with saturated colours and textures that feel exotic and daring, yet also familiar. Showcasing an enchanting, imaginary day in the life at Raffles, the campaign follows a cast of real-life royals – HIRH Catharina von Habsburg, Archduchess of Austria, Princess of Hungary and Bohemia with her mother HIRH Archduchess Anna Gabriele von Habsburg, born von Wrede; HRH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh, King of Jaipur; George Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford; HRH Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark; and HH Prince Nikolai of Denmark – as they embark on a series of marvelous and whimsical adventures. As the day progresses, scenes build to a crescendo through a riot of colours, textures and movement, culminating with the joy of an opulent banquet.

From writing to fashion and from polo to aviation, each royal cast member has a personal passion that connects to the roots of the Raffles brand. Director Peter Greenaway has incorporated these passions into the campaign in symbolic and meaningful ways. One particularly poignant scene depicts HIRH Catharina von Habsburg writing exactly where Rudyard Kipling, one of her favourite authors, wrote The Jungle Book. Greenaway captures an incredibly moving moment as von Habsburg pens an emotional letter to her ancestor, Marie Antoinette. Throughout the film, Greenaway aims to portray Raffles as an exclusive retreat for well-travelled connoisseurs, enchanting them with distinctive and meaningful experiences.

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