Lorde's 'Royals' Video Hits 1 Billion Views on YouTube

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Lorde's 2013 music video for her hit song "Royals" has officially reached 1 billion views on YouTube, marking a career-first for the New Zealand artist. The video premiered when Lorde was just 16 years old and helped propel "Royals" to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart later that year.

Why it matters

Reaching 1 billion views on YouTube is a significant achievement that highlights the enduring popularity and cultural impact of "Royals," one of the defining songs of the 2010s. The milestone underscores Lorde's status as a global superstar and the ongoing success of her debut album "Pure Heroine."

The details

The "Royals" video was first uploaded to YouTube in June 2013 and has since amassed over 1 billion views, making it one of the platform's most-watched music videos of all time. "Royals" was the lead single from Lorde's debut album "Pure Heroine," which was released later that year. The song went on to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart in October 2013. Lorde has since released three more albums, including "Melodrama" in 2017, "Solar Power" in 2021, and "Virgin" in 2025.

• The "Royals" video premiered on YouTube in June 2013.
• The song hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in October 2013.
• Lorde's debut album "Pure Heroine" was released in 2013.

What’s next

Lorde is set to headline several major U.S. music festivals in the coming year, including Lollapalooza, New Orleans Jazz Fest, and Governors Ball, where she is expected to perform "Royals" and other hits from her catalog.