"Royals" is a song by New Zealand singer Lorde released on 3 June 2013 by Universal Music Group (UMG) as the lead single from her debut extended play, The Love Club EP (2012). It was later included on her debut studio album, Pure Heroine (2013). Lorde co-wrote the song with her producer Joel Little after the two were paired by her A&R representative Scott MacLachlan. "Royals" was described as an art pop and electropop song with elements of electronic music and grime style and influences of alternative music, R&B and indie pop. Its lyrics disapproves of the luxurious lifestyle of contemporary artists.
"Royals" received acclaim from music critics, who praised its minimal production and lyrics. The song appeared on numerous critics year-end lists, including Rolling Stone, Time and Spin. After earning success in Australia and New Zealand, the song was promoted in the United States, where it rose to the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100. In doing so, Lorde became the first New Zealand solo act to top the Hot 100, as well as the youngest artist to achieve a number-one single since 1987. It also peaked atop the record charts of many countries including Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. As of December 2017, the single has sold 10 million copies worldwide and was certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Lorde performed "Royals" on numerous television shows, including Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and the 2013 New Zealand Music Awards. Two music videos for "Royals" were directed by Joel Kefali: an international version and a United States version. "Royals" also won numerous awards, including the Grammy Award for Song of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance and the APRA Silver Scroll Award. A live mashup with Disclosure and AlunaGeorge's song "White Noise" at the 2014 BRIT Awards was released as a charity single in 2014. In the media, the song has been credited for inspiring numerous artists to adopt its minimalist sound as has been called an anthem for the Millennial generation.