The track's lyrics critique the sumptuous lifestyle presented in songs and music videos by popular musicians, making them appear like modern-day royalty.

In 2009, A&R representative Scott MacLachlan of Universal Music Group (UMG) discovered 12-year-old singer Lorde when he saw footage of her performing at a school talent show in Auckland, New Zealand.

In December 2011, after several unsuccessful sessions with songwriters and producers, MacLachlan paired Lorde with Joel Little, a former singer and guitarist of the New Zealand pop-punk band Goodnight Nurse.

[3] Lorde wrote the lyrics to "Royals" in half an hour at her home in July 2012[4][5] and during a school break, she and Little recorded the song at Golden Age Studios in Auckland in one week.

[17] According to Jason Flom, president of Lava Records, a key step to popularising "Royals" internationally was its addition to a Spotify playlist curated by American entrepreneur Sean Parker on 2 April 2013.

The latter's remix received criticism for making changes to the lyrics,[25] and according to MTV, turning the "original's anti-bling sentiments into a celebration of the extravagant life".

[35] The National Public Radio's Ann Powers said Lorde's sultry voice, "intriguingly sleepy beats and lyrics ... captured the exquisite ennui of a precocious teenager".

[41] Chris Coplan of Consequence of Sound described the lyrics of "Royals" as "romantic and playful"[42] while Duncan Greive of The Guardian called them "simultaneously vulnerable and imperious".

[43] Matthew Perpetua of BuzzFeed said the issue addressed in "Royals" is growing up in New Zealand "immersed in American cultural imperialism" and that the song's core is the alienation of social classes.

[39] Sharing similar sentiments, Jon Pareles and Michael M. Grynbaum of The New York Times noted the track's verses describe "growing up in drab reality amid a popular culture that flaunts luxury brands and celebrates wildly conspicuous consumption".

[48] Rita Houston of NPR praised its melody, "heartfelt" songwriting, and Lorde's "rhythmic" vocals that combine to create a "polished little gem of a song".

[49] Jon Hadusek from Consequence of Sound also named the track the album's standout, singling out its "self-reflexive" lyrics and "catchy" production.

[50] PopMatters writer Scott Interrante felt that the song's sound was "distinct and fresh", while The New York Times's Jon Pareles highlighted its clever message, describing it as a "class-conscious critique of pop-culture materialism".

[56] Journalist Lynda Brendish wrote that the song also critiques other stereotypes associated with affluent, high-profile personalities, such as rock musicians, socialites, and Russian oligarchs.

[67] The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop annual critics' poll to find the best music of 2013 ranked "Royals" at number two after Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" (2013).

Aly Weisman of Business Insider noted Lorde's performance of the song on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon helped make it known to a wider audience.

[87][88] Lorde became the youngest artist whose song stayed at number one for more than eight weeks, a feat that was previously achieved by 13-year-old hip-hop duo Kris Kross with "Jump" in 1992.

[115] "Royals" was the fifth best-selling single of the year in Australia and it was accredited nonuple platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for selling more than 630,000 units.

[128] Lorde, in her first US television appearance, sang "Royals" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on 1 October 2013 backed by a keyboardist and a drummer.

[135] Rolling Stone praised the performance, which included projections of statues behind her[136][137] and made Lorde the most talked-about artist on social media during the ceremony.

[139] The BRIT Awards released the "Royals/White Noise" performance at the iTunes Stores on 19 February 2014;[140] proceeds from its sales went to the charity War Child.

[148] Lorde responded to it, commenting; "It's so exciting, it's a great honor, Springsteen is a fantastic songwriter, I was a little touched, it's really cool, it's crazy when someone like him is playing your song".

[153] Novelty act Puddles Pity Party, played by singer Mike Geier, performed "Royals" for Halloween in 2013; Lorde called it her favourite cover of the song at the time.

[163] "Royals" in a cover version of Alex Boye was played during the end credits of the 2017 American drama film The Pirates of Somalia written and directed by Bryan Buckley.

[168] Lindsay Zoladz from The Ringer noted the song's impact was "larger and harder to define because it completely rewrote the rules for young women making radio-friendly pop".

[165] It was compared to Nirvana's 1991 single "Smells Like Teen Spirit" because both tracks were disruptive to music charts and "decried the pop industry of which it became a part".

[171] Forbes writer Nick Messitte said the success of "Royals" helped the re-release of Tove Lo's 2013 song "Habits (Stay High)" become a top-five hit in the United States.

[172] David Bowie called Lorde "the future of music"[173] and Dave Grohl, lead singer of Foo Fighters, described "Royals" as revolutionary.

[175] Phil Whitmer of Vice stated "Royals" is "alien by contrast" to the "legions of songs that imitated its vibe [and] failed to copy its mixolydian feel".

Stephen Dowling of the publication highlighted how the track's minimalist production "created the blueprint for the 'cutting-edge' sound of pop", setting the foundation for Taylor Swift's 2014 album 1989.