The Queen at 90: Global Facts
Which remaining monarchs have reigned longest?
April 21, 2016
1. Around the world, there are nine individuals who have reigned over their countries as royals since before 1990.
2. These nine royals include one emperor, three kings, two queens, two sultans and a prince.
3. Thailand’s American-born king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, has reigned over his politically fractious country since June 1946. He is the longest currently reigning monarch worldwide.
4. Thailand is officially a constitutional system, but reserves strong legal powers to protect monarchical privileges and personalities.
5. The current Thai king is ailing and there are big concerns about the next royal transition.
6. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and various Commonwealth nations has reigned since May 1952 but has few powers.
7. In September 2015, Queen Elizabeth II broke the record as Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, surpassing her great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria.
8. King Mswati III of Swaziland is one of Africa’s two head-of-state monarchies, along with King Letsie III of Lesotho. Unlike Letsie, who is a constitutional ruler, Mswati has exercised absolute rule since April 1986.
9. Most of Africa’s traditional monarchies do not hold any state power at all and generally perform local functions or act in customary roles.
10. Japan’s Emperor Akihito took up his constitutional office in January 1989, upon the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito, who gave up absolute rule under Allied occupation. He is the world’s only “emperor” still reigning.
Sources: The Globalist Research Center
Takeaways
There are nine individuals who have reigned over their countries as royals since before 1990.
Thailand’s American-born king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, is the longest currently reigning monarch worldwide.
In September 2015, Queen Elizabeth II broke the record as Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.