Current monarchs who are head of state over
sovereign states are listed below. After the exceptional case of the Queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms, whose reign extends over sixteen territories, they are listed alphabetically by name of their realm. (these two sentences replacing Entries below are listed beside their respective dominions, which are organised alphabetically. These monarchs reign as head of state in their respective sovereign states). Monarchs reigning over a constituent division, cultural or traditional polity are listed under
constituent monarchs. For current claimants to abolished thrones, see
pretenders.
Monarchs
Legend
Key
Description
Monarch
Name of monarch, preceded by title, with link to list of predecessors.
Realm
The state, or wider area, over which the monarch reigns. Where the name of the realm is italicised, the link to the country can be accessed via the flag, and the name of the realm links to an article about the monarchy of that realm.
Since
Date of assumption of throne; coronation date listed in footnotes.
House
Name of royal family, with information on bloodline.
Type
Form of monarchy, with information on role of the monarch within government.
Succession
Method or pattern of succession, with link to current line of succession.
Standard
Heraldry attributed to the relevant monarch or monarchy.
^
abcdefghijkElizabeth II previously reigned over this country as Queen of the United Kingdom, from 6 February 1952 until the nation's independence and the creation of a separate crown.
^Elizabeth II previously reigned over Papua New Guinea as Queen of Australia, from 6 February 1952 until the nation's independence and the creation of a separate crown.
^
abThe president of France and the bishop of
Urgell each hold the position of
co-prince of Andorra, but there is no personal title attached to the role.
^Hamad ibn Isa reigned as Amir of the State of Bahrain until 14 February 2002, when he assumed the new title of King of Bahrain under a new Constitution.[21]
^A branch of the
Varman dynasty. The surname "Norodom" is used by the descendants of
Norodom I.[30][31]
^The king is selected for life by the Royal Council of the Throne from amongst the male descendants of kings
Ang Duong,
Norodom, and
Sisowath.[32]
^
abOfficially the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, which is a branch of the
House of Oldenburg. [33]
^"Akihito" is the current emperor's
given name, but it is not his
regnal name, and he is never referred to as this in Japanese. The
era of Akihito's reign bears the name "
Heisei", and according to custom he will be
renamed "Emperor Heisei" following his death.[35]
^The Japanese emperor does not have a family name.[37][38] The use of the name "Yamato" for the household derives from the ancient
Yamato Court.[39] It is used often as a name for the imperial dynasty, but has no official basis.
^Succession is based upon primogeniture. However, the reigning king may also select his successor from among eligible princes.[41]
^The heir is appointed by the reigning emir, and the nomination must also be approved by a majority of members in the National Assembly.[44] The throne is also traditionally alternated between the two main branches of the Al Sabah family: the
Al Salem and
Al Jaber.[45][46] The current emir is of the Al Jaber branch.
^Coronation took place 31 October 1997. Has previously reigned as king from 12 November 1990 until 25 January 1995.[48]
^Formally enthroned on 15 August 1990.[50] Prior to his accession, Hans-Adam had served as
prince regent since 26 August 1984.[51] On 15 August 2004, the prince formally appointed his son
Prince Alois as regent, in preparation for his succession to the throne, but remained head of state in accordance with the constitution.[52]
^Prior to formal enthronement, Henri had served as
prince regent since 4 March 1998.[53]
^Official title: Yang di-Pertuan Agong. It roughly translates as "Supreme Head of State", and is commonly rendered in English as "King".[55]
^Elected in October 2011.
Coronation took place 13 December.[56] Abdul Halim has previously reigned as king from 21 September 1970 to 20 September 1975;[57] he is the first sultan to hold the throne twice.[58]
^The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is elected to a five-year term by and from amongst the nine hereditary rulers of the
Malay states, who form the
Council of Rulers. The position has to date been, by informal agreement, systematically rotated between the nine; the order was originally based on
seniority.[59]
^Albert II was formally enthroned as prince in a two-part ceremony, in accordance with tradition, on 12 July and 19 November 2005.[61][62] He had previously been serving as regent since 31 March 2005.[63]
^Formally
enthroned on 21 January 1991, and consecrated on 23 June 1991. Prior to his accession, Harald had served as
prince regent since 1 June 1990.[70]
^Monarchy is constitutional by law, but remains absolute in practice.[73]
^Coronation took place 3 August 2005.[75] Abdullah previously served as
prince regent from 1 January 1996 until 21 February 1996.[76]
^Succession is determined by consensus within the House of Saud as to who will be Crown Prince. This consensus may change depending on the Crown Prince's actions.[77]
^Formally enthroned on 27 November 1975. Juan Carlos was formally recognised by his father, the
Count of Barcelona, as the sole head of the Spanish Royal Household on 14 May 1977.[79]
^Succession is subject to customary law, and does not follow
primogeniture. A council of elders selects who among the reigning king's wives will be mother of the next
king. This woman will succeed as Ndlovukati upon her son's ascension to throne, and will rule alongside him for the duration of his reign. The king's first two wives are considered ineligible.[80][81]
^Name is also written as Phumiphon Adunyadet. He is also styled Rama IX,[85] and is publicly acclaimed "the Great".[86][87] Thais refer to him as "Nai Luang" or "Phra Chao Yu Hua".[88]
^The Al Nahyan are a branch of the Al Falahi, a clan of the
Yas tribe.[93]
^The
Prime Minister is the head of the government. However, with the consent of the Supreme Council, the office is appointed by the President, who retains considerable power.[94]
^According to the
Constitution, the President of the United Arab Emirates is elected by the Federal Supreme Council from among the individual rulers of the seven emirates.[94] However, by informal agreement the Presidency is always passed to the head of the Al Nahyan clan, the Emir of Abu Dhabi (see
constituent monarchs), which makes it a de facto hereditary position. In addition, the appointed Prime Minister has always been the head of the Al Maktoum clan and Emir of Dubai.[95]
^Government of the United Kingdom.
"Accession and Coronation". Official website of the British Monarchy. The Royal Household. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
^Government of the United Kingdom.
"The House of Windsor". Official website of the British Monarchy. The Royal Household. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
^Government of the United Kingdom.
"The Queen and the Commonwealth". Official website of the British Monarchy. The Royal Household. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
^"The Belgian Monarchy"(PDF). Government of Belgium, Chancellery of the Prime Minister. p. 11. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
^Herzogliche Hauptverwaltung.
"The House of Wettin". Das Herzogliche Haus Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha. The Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha's Family Foundation. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
^Government of Belgium.
"King Albert II". The Belgian Monarchy. Federal Public Service; Chancery of the Prime Minister. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
^Cordesman, Anthony H (2007). Gulf military forces in an era of asymmetric wars. Vol. 2. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 111.
ISBN978-0-275-99250-7.: "The royal family, Al Sabah, has two branches—Al Jaber and Al Salem—and has traditionally alternated in ruling Kuwait. This tradition, however, has changed following the death of Jaber Al Sabah [1977–2006]."
^Political Risk Yearbook, 1998. Political Risk Services. 1998. p. 48.
ISBN978-1-85271-371-3.: "The two branches of the Al-Sabah family, the Jabers and the Salems, have traditionally alternated their rule, one providing the emir and the other the crown prince (also serving as prime minister)."
^
abGovernment of Liechtenstein.
"Prince Hans-Adam II". Portal of the Principality of Liechtenstein. Government Spokesperson’s Office. Archived from
the original on 29 June 2009. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
^Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit.
"The Yang di-Pertuan Agong". myGovernment. Government of Malaysia. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
^Laurenson, John (11 March 2006).
"The most powerful man in Morocco". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
^Government of the Netherlands.
"Orange and Nassau". The Dutch Royal House. Government Information Service. Archived from
the original on 24 November 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
^Government of the Netherlands.
"The Queen of the Netherlands". The Dutch Royal House. Government Information Service. Archived from
the original on 24 November 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
^
abGovernment of Norway.
"His Majesty King Harald". Official website of the Royal House of Norway. Royal Court of Norway. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
^Sultan Qaboos Centre for Islamic Culture.
"About H.M the Sultan". Government of Oman, Diwan of the Royal Court. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
^Cordesman, Anthony H (2009).
Saudi Arabia: national security in a troubled region. ABC-CLIO. p. 9.
ISBN978-0-313-38076-1.: "In October 2006, King Abdullah issued a new succession law that amended the 1992 Basic Law and formalized the process by creating the Allegiance Commission. The new law both defines how a king will choose among possible candidates and provides a formal way for developing a consensus to choose the king's successor. The Allegiance Commission will select a king and crown prince upon the death or incapacitation of either. This commission expands the role of the ruling family in the selection process. ... It is composed of some 35 sons and grandsons of the late founder of the Kingdom,
Abd al-Aziz al-Saud, who will vote in secret ballots on who could and could not be eligible to be future kings and crown princes."
^Frontline (1 August 2005).
"The House of Saud". Public Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
^Marwick, Brian Allan (1940). The Swazi: an ethnographic account of the natives of the Swaziland Protectorate. Cambridge University Press. pp. 5–75.
^Rubin, N.N. (28 July 2009). "The Swazi Law of Succession: A Restatement". Journal of African Law. 9 (2). Cambridge University Press: 90–113.
doi:
10.1017/S0021855300001108.
^Simelane, H.S. (2005), "Swaziland: Mswati III, Reign of", in Shillington, Kevin (ed.), Encyclopedia of African history, vol. 3, Fitzroy Dearborn, pp. 1528–30, 9781579584559
^Government of Sweden.
"H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf". Sveriges Kungahus (in
Swedish). Information and Press Department. Retrieved 7 December 2010.{{
cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (
link)
^USA International Business Publications (2007). Thailand Country Study Guide. International Business Publications. p. 43.
ISBN978-1-4330-4919-4. {{
cite book}}: |author= has generic name (
help)
^Government of Tonga (28 July 2008).
"Geneology of King Tupou VI". Office of the Lord Chamberlain. Archived from
the original on 24 August 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
^
abGovernment of Tonga.
"Tu'i Kanokupolu". Palace Office. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
^Shoup, John A (2009). Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Arab States Today: A-J. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 323.
ISBN978-0-313-34444-2. {{
cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthor= ignored (|author= suggested) (
help). "The Al Nahyan ... are a branch of the Al Bu Falah tribe of the Bani Yas confederation, and although they have been a small section of the tribe, the Al Nahyan have traditionally provided the paramount shaykh for the confederation."
^
abConstitution of the United Arab Emirates, Art. 51 & 54.
^Noack, Sascha (2007). Doing Business in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. GRIN Verlag. p. 16.
ISBN978-3-638-79766-5.
^Temperman, Jeroen (2010). State-religion relationships and human rights law: towards a right to religiously neutral governance. Brill Publishers. p. 17.
ISBN978-90-04-18148-9.