Let’s Peek at 12 Monarchies That Somehow Still Rule!

Sweden’s monarchy goes way back to around 970 AD, which is basically ancient royal business. Today’s royal crew is from the Bernadotte dynasty - French roots and all! King Carl XVI Gustaf has been ruling the wave for ages and even shook things up by making sure the throne goes to the oldest kid, no matter the gender. Plus, the royal fam streamlined titles recently to keep things fresh and simple.

England’s royal story starts with Alfred the Great and got spicy in 1066 with William the Conqueror crashing the throne party. The British Royals are like the celeb family of monarchies, rocking crowns in 14 countries including Canada and Australia. King Charles III is currently the head honcho. This monarchy keeps things symbolic but influential, sprinkling royal charm all over the globe. Fun fact: Queen Elizabeth I once slathered a wild mix on her face to hide smallpox scars - beauty risks Royal style!

Denmark’s royal family has been around for over 1,200 years! Starting with King Gorm the Old, it's been a long reign. The monarchy went through some major growth spurts - from kings being elected to absolute rulers, then shifting to a chill constitutional vibe. King Christian X was a hero during WWII, famously standing strong against Hitler’s telegram. Recently, Queen Margrethe II passed the crown to King Frederik X, who, by tradition, keeps it crown-free (literally)!

Bhutan’s monarchy is the new kid on the block - established in 1907 - but the kingdom’s been around forever. They ditched a messy two-boss system for one king, making things a lot more chill. The Wangchuck dynasty has kept things smooth since, with peaceful handovers and clever diplomacy instead of drama. Their current king made history by being super young when he took the throne, proving that royal youth can be cool too.

Japan holds the crown for the oldest continuous monarchy ever, starting way back in 660 BCE! That’s like, forever ago. With 126 emperors over the years, it's basically a royal marathon. The family went from divine rulers to constitutional figures after WWII, but they kept the cool sacred treasures - a sword, a jewel, and a mirror - as symbols of their secret royal sauce: courage, kindness, and wisdom. Emperor Akihito even broke tradition by marrying a commoner and handing over the throne voluntarily. Classic royal upgrades.

Norway's royal saga started back in 885 AD with Harald Fairhair. The current House of Glücksburg shares roots with Denmark and Britain’s royals, making them like royal cousins at a family reunion. Norway ditched being ruled by Denmark centuries ago and got their own king in 1905. The royal fam loves to have fun too - like when the prince shaved off half his beard during a party! More recently, Princess Martha Louise stepped away from royal titles to chase her own vibe.

Tonga’s got at least 3,000 years of history, but its monarchy officially kicked off around the 10th century. It’s the only Pacific kingdom that wasn’t fully colonized, just a British protectorate for a bit, meaning the kings kept their island groove. Tonga’s monarchy also had a big personality in King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, who was famous for being the heaviest monarch ever. Today, it's a constitutional monarchy where the king shares the power with elected folks - and they love their churches!

Lesotho became a kingdom in 1966 and is nicknamed the “Kingdom of the Sky” because it sits super high up - all above 4,593 feet. It’s totally surrounded by South Africa, yet it’s got its own royal groove. The king here is more of a symbol than a ruler, letting elected folks run the show. Lesotho’s water exports are a big deal for their economy, and fun fact: they inspired some ideas in Marvel’s Black Panther. Oh, and Lesotho got a weird shout-out from Donald Trump, proving even small kingdoms have their moments!

Thailand’s royal story began in 1238 AD with the kingdom of Sukhothai. The Chakri dynasty has been on the throne since the 1700s, surviving wars, coups, and political twists like pros. The 1932 coup turned the king into a more ceremonial figure, but he’s still the nation’s moral compass and guardian of Buddhism. Today’s monarchy is more about tradition and vibes than political power, but royals still hold loads of respect.

Morocco’s monarchy started way back in 789 AD with the Idrisid dynasty, but the current Alaouite line has been ruling since the 17th century. Their royal family is like old-school diplomats, making friends from France to the US. In fact, Morocco holds the longest friendship treaty with America! The king here is not just a ruler but a religious leader too, blending traditions with some cool reforms, like giving more rights to women. Talk about multitasking!

Cambodia’s monarchy traces back to 1 AD, making it one of the oldest around. It’s full of history - kings, queens, temples (hello, Angkor Wat), and drama. These days, the king is more of a chosen figure by a royal council than just born to the throne. King Norodom Sihamoni is the current monarch, chilling with the prime minister who’s been running the show politically. It’s a royal gig mixed with a bit of election twist.

Oman’s royal history goes back to the 7th century, making it one of the oldest Arab monarchies. The Al Said dynasty’s been the boss since 1744. Oman is like that ancient trade hub, with Assyrians, Persians, and Portuguese all leaving their mark. The last big royal star was Sultan Qaboos, who ruled for nearly 50 years. Oman’s still an absolute monarchy, with the Sultan calling all the shots. Oh, and their emblem features cool traditional daggers - talk about wielding style!