This is a list of former monarchs of sovereign states who are alive to date. While most monarchs retain their position for their lifetime, some choose to abdicate in favour of a younger heir, while other monarchs are deposed when their monarchies are abolished or when another ruler seizes power by force. By international courtesy, these individuals are usually still addressed by their monarchical titles. The most recent former monarch to die was King Constantine II of Greece, on 10 January 2023.
Living former hereditary monarchs of sovereign states
Name | Title | Reign | Born | Age | Reason |
Jamshid bin Abdullah | Sultan of Zanzibar | 1963–1964 | 16 Sep 1929 | 94 years, 266 days | Monarchy abolished |
Akihito | Emperor of Japan | 1989–2019 | 23 Dec 1933 | 90 years, 168 days | Abdicated |
Albert II | King of the Belgians | 1993–2013 | 6 Jun 1934 | 90 years, 2 days | Abdicated |
Tenzin Gyatso | Dalai Lama of Tibet | 1940–1951 | 6 Jul 1935 | 88 years, 338 days | Monarchy abolished |
Simeon II | Tsar of the Bulgarians | 1943–1946[1] | 16 Jun 1937 | 86 years, 358 days | Monarchy abolished |
Juan Carlos I | King of Spain | 1975–2014 | 5 Jan 1938 | 86 years, 155 days | Abdicated |
Beatrix | Queen of the Netherlands | 1980–2013 | 31 Jan 1938 | 86 years, 129 days | Abdicated |
Margrethe II | Queen of Denmark | 1972–2024 | 16 Apr 1940 | 84 years, 53 days | Abdicated |
Gyanendra | King of Nepal | 1950–1951 and 2001–2008 | 7 Jul 1947 | 76 years, 337 days | Monarchy abolished |
Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani | Emir of Qatar | 1995–2013 | 1 Jan 1952 | 72 years, 159 days | Abdicated |
Fuad II | King of Egypt and the Sudan | 1952–1953 | 16 Jan 1952 | 72 years, 144 days | Monarchy abolished |
Jigme Singye Wangchuck | King of Bhutan | 1972–2006 | 11 Nov 1955 | 68 years, 210 days | Abdicated |
Living former elective monarchs of sovereign states
Notes
- ^ Simeon returned to Bulgaria in 1996 after a half-century in exile and was elected Prime Minister under the name Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (Simeon Sakskoburggotski) in 2001, serving until 2005.
See also
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