Although some say that they are the outdated relics of the past, while others claim they represent a fine tradition, these 10 countries that have a King or a Queen still aren’t ready to give up their monarchs. Yet, at least.
Monarchy was a very efficient form of government in its heyday. After all, it is much simpler to have one guy (or a gal) make all the decisions. The trouble is, people who genuinely believe they have a divine mandate to rule over other people tend to be a bit unstable, plus all that inbreeding had to leave consequences. That is why we have the list of most ruthless rulers in history.
Democracy started complicating things, as people started realizing that a divine mandate can’t really feed them or save them from getting killed in a pointless war over who’s grandma had a bigger claim on some piece of land nobody knows or cares about. Except the guys whose grandmas started the whole thing. The English were among first to test the waters of regicide among European nations, when Oliver Cromwell beheaded Charles I for treason in 1649. Although the monarchy was restored just 11 years later, the cat was out of the bag. Revolutions in the 18th century shook the monarchies all over the continent. French got fed up with their King in 1792 and decided to use him and his wife as test subjects for one of the most popular revolutionary inventions, the guillotine. In general, it is all downhill from there for all Kings and Queens in European countries.
Americans were never too fond of monarchies, especially since King George decided that colonies must drink tea and pay taxes without the representation. In hindsight, old King Georgie seems like a far better solution compared to the US Congress. A cup of tea sounds mighty fine right about now. Perhaps Lizzy would be open to negotiations? Maybe these 10 countries that have a King or a Queen know something we don’t?
10.Kingdom of the Netherlands
Ruling monarch: King Willem-Alexander
House: Orange-Nassau
Netherlands became kingdom relatively late in its history, in 1815, after the Batavian Republic created by Napoleon was dissolved.
9.The Kingdom of Spain
Ruling monarch: King Felipe VI
House: Bourbon
Spain in modern terms was created in 1469 when kingdoms of Castile and Aragon united through a marriage of Queen of Castile and King of Aragon. Current ruling house Bourbon came to the throne in 1700.
8.The Kingdom of Denmark
Ruling monarch: Queen Margrethe II
House: Glücksburg
Her majesty Queen Margrethe II is one of only two female monarchs on the throne today. She was crowned in 1972, after the death of her father, King Frederick IX.
7.The Kingdom of Norway
Ruling monarch: King Harald V
House: Glücksburg
Another member of the House of Glücksburg on a throne is King Harald V of Norway. He’s been on the Norwegian throne since 1991.
6.The Kingdom of Bhutan
Ruling monarch: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel
House: Wangchuck
If there was a competition for the most badass titles in the world, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel would surely win it. After all, how many people can say that their official position is the Dragon King?
5.The Kingdom of Jordan
Ruling monarch: King Abdullah II
House: Hāshim
The only monarch ever to appear on an episode of the Star Trek, King Abdullah II was named the heir to the throne by his father on his deathbed. Until old King Hussein change his mind just before he died, the heir was Abdullah’s uncle.
4.The Kingdom of Sweden
Ruling monarch: King Carl XVI Gustaf
House: Bernadotte
The House of Bernadotte was founded by Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, one of Napoleon’s marshals, who was elected heir presumptive and regent to the senile King Charles XIII by the Swedish parliament in 1810. Jean-Baptiste changed his name to Charles John (or Karl Johan, as Swedish would say). The reason his heirs hold the throne of Sweden today is because he betrayed Napoleon in 1813 and joined his enemies.
3.The Kingdom of Morocco
Ruling monarch: King Mohammed VI
House: Alawi
House of Alawi was founded in 1631 and is one of the longest ruling dynasties in the world. Current Moroccan King Mohammed VI inherited his father, King Hassan II, in 1999.
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2.The Kingdom of Belgium
Ruling monarch: King Philippe
House: Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Belgium and the UK share the same royal house, only the British branch changed the name to Windsor during the First World War. King Philippe of Belgium ascendant to the throne in 2013, when his father King Albert abdicated due to health issues.
1.Kingdom of United Kingdom
Ruling monarch: Queen Elizabeth II
House: Windsor
Apart from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Elizabeth II is also the queen of Australia, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados. Belize, Canada, Grenada, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu. In fact, she is the queen of so many countries that this list could consist of just her. That is why the UK is the first on our list of countries that have a King or a Queen.
