Saturday, December 21

Kingdoms and Monarchy around the World

Kings and Queens of world

From the French Revolution, the future of monarchy in the world has been insecure. Recently as 2008, communist revolutionaries in Nepal overthrew their monarchy to establish a republic state. Still, despite a couple of centuries of falling kings and royal family opposition, there are 44 monarchies in the world today. 13 are in Asia, 12 are in Europe, 10 are in North America, 6 are in Oceania, and 3 are in Africa where there are no monarchy in South America.

It’s maybe important to note that there are 44 monarchies, but there are only 29 monarchs. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom was queen of 15 other Commonwealth Kingdoms that formerly composed the British Empire, a position that has now been taken over by her son and current monarch, King Charles III.

What Is a Monarchy?

Monarchy
Monarchy

A monarchy (from the Greek monarkhia; “monos“, only, and “arkhe” authority) is a country lead by a single ruler, usually a king or queen. A monarchy is typically called a kingdom. Monarchs are usually not elected in any way, although there are elective monarchies. Malaysia is an elective monarchy, as was the Holy Roman Empire.

The monarch, as the leader is known, can be head of state, head of government, or both— particularly in a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the representative of the country and its people, especially in diplomatic affairs. The head of government, by contrast, is the person who actually leads the government in creating and enforcing policies, such as a prime minister or president.

List of Country with Monarchies

CountryMonarchType of monarchy
BahrainKing Hamad bin Isa al-KhalifaConstitutional
BelgiumKing Philippe (2013)Constitutional
AndorraAndorra is ruled by two princes, one of whom is always the current President of France.Constitutional
JordanKing Abdullah IIConstitutional
JapanEmperor AkihitoConstitutional
DenmarkQueen Margrethe IIConstitutional
SwedenKing Carl XVI GustafConstitutional
ThailandPrem Tinsulanonda, regent                  Constitutional
TongaKing Tupou VI                             Constitutional
United KingdomKing Charles IIIConstitutional
SpainFelipe VI         Parliamentary
Vatican CityPope FrancisAbsolute
SwazilandKing Mswati III              Absolute
Saudi ArabiaKing Salman                                       Absolute
Cambodia King Norodom SihamoniConstitutional
BhutanJigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchukin                  Constitutional
BruneiSultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah       Constitutional
KuwaitSabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (2006)                                     Constitutional
LesothoKing Letsie III                              Constitutional
LiechtensteinPrince Hans Adam II                    Constitutional
LexembourgGrand Duke HenriConstitutional
MalaysiaAlmu’tasimu Billahi Muhibbuddin Tuanku Alhaj Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan BadlishahConstitutional
NorwayKing Herald VConstitutional
NetherlandsKing Willem-AlexanderConstitutional
MoroccoKing Muhammad VIConstitutional
MonaccoPrince Albert IIConstitutional
QatarEmir Sheik Tamim ibn Hamad Al Thani                    Constitutional
SamoaTuiatua Tupua Tamasese EfiConstitutional
OmanSultan Qabus ibn Sa’id                        Absolute
Table of countries and Monarchs

King Charles III is also the Sovereign of 15 countries in the Commonwealth of Nations: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu also parliamentary democracy.

Unique Monarchies

Vatican City

Vatican City is considered as the smallest country in the world and is governed under an absolute monarchy. The whole state is inside the Rome, Italy, and covers about 100 acres of land .

Pope Francis(Vatican City )
Pope Francis(Vatican City )

Andorra

 Andorra is one of the smallest countries in the world and lies between two big country Spain and France. It’s political system is also known as a diarchy in which there are two joint heads of state. 

The monarchy consists of two co-princes: France’s President Emmanuel Macron and the Catholic Bishop of Urgell from Spain, Joan-Enric Vives i Sicília.

French President Emmanuel Macron (R) welcomes Archbishop of Urgell and Co-Prince of Andorra
French President Emmanuel Macron (R) welcomes Archbishop of Urgell and Co-Prince of Andorra

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