Top 15 Royal Families Of The World

Everyone loves to admire the dreamy pictures of royal opulence and glamour (whether they like to admit it or not), but how much do we really know about the many existing royal families of the world? Here are 15 of the most interesting monarchies that are still around today – from absolute rulers to practically redundant stamp figureheads, we’ve got them covered.

1) The Royal Family Of Dubai

One of the six ruling families of the United Arab Emirates, the Al Maktoum family’s reign began back in 1833 with the young Sheikh Maktoum. Now, they rule over one of the richest, most opulent cities in the world. Current Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum acceded to the throne in 2006, and is also the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE. Under his rule, the city has grown into a fabulous playboy’s paradise, with five star hotels, stunning city views, and cutting edge buildings. The Al Maktoum family are one of the richest monarchies on the planet, with an estimated wealth of $4 billion.

2) The Royal Family Of Saudi Arabia

Another super-rich Arabic ruling family, the House of Saud hold a fortune of $18 billion, although that may diminish somewhat when split between the thousands of family members! Present ruler King Salman inherited the throne from his brother in January 2015, after waiting for the reins to be passed down through the sons of the first king. Now 80 years old, King Salman and his clan enjoy a lavish lifestyle fuelled by the cash generated by the country’s oil exports.

3) The Royal Family Of Morocco

Having ruled the country since the 17th century, the Alaouite dynasty of Morocco were in complete control of the nation until King Mohammed VI took the throne in 1999. Following protests by the Moroccan public, he relinquished some of his powers and has since been praised for his reforms, which include giving more power to women and creating more jobs in order to try and combat unemployment. He and his wife, the beautiful Princess Lalla, are well-liked by the public, who have given him the nickname ‘King Of Cool’, although the sincerity of such a moniker could be disputed considering that bad remarks made against the sovereign amount to blasphemy…

4) The Royal Family Of Belgium

After gaining independence in 1830, the small country of Belgium has had a grand total of seven monarchs. Unlike many royal families, the monarchy of Belgium has little to do with religious matters, and instead focuses solely on administrative and political concerns. The current king of the Belgians is King Philippe, who took the throne in 2013. He and his wife Queen Mathilde regularly make public appearances, where Mathilde’s classic style and grace are frequently remarked upon.

5) The Royal Family Of Thailand

Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej is currently the world’s longest-serving monarch, having reigned since 1946. The Buddhist royal family are also the world’s richest, and have an unbelieveable $30 billion dollars to play with, making the pomp and ceremony of other royal families seem almost shabby in comparison.

6) The Royal Family Of Bhutan

The tiny nation of Bhutan may have a population of just under 800,000, but they aren’t lagging behind in the glamorous royals’ stakes. After making the shift from absolute to constitutional monarchy in 2008, current King Jigme Wangchuk shook things up, and gave Bhutan’s gossiping elite something they could really whisper about when he married 21 year old student and ‘commoner’ Jetsun Pema in 2011.

7) The Royal Family Of Monaco

The dramatic lives of the members of the House of Grimaldi have long been documented in the popular press. Prince Rainer III’s marriage to Hollywood superstar Grace Kelly, Prince Albert’s Olympic bobsledding career, and rumours of a 13th century family curse has ensured that the monarchy of the tiny principality has generated headlines for over 100 years. The current ruler, Prince Albert, holds a phenomenal fortune, as well as priceless antique cars, art, and stamp collections. The family also seems to enjoy a close relationship with Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld, who is frequently seen standing beside them in press photos!

8) The Imperial House Of Japan

Another constitutional monarchy, the Imperial House of Japan is the oldest hereditary monarchy in the world. Headed by the emperor Akihito, the Japanese monarchy lives in the opulent Imperial Palace in Tokyo, and mainly engages in social and ceremonial affairs, and are considered more as figureheads due to their comparatively small role in governmental affairs.

9) The Royal Family Of Liechtenstein

Most of us might find it hard to pinpoint the small European country of Liechtenstein on a map. The country has a sizeable Princely family, which holds a vast fortune and many palaces, that are dotted around Liechtenstein’s neighbouring countries. Current ruler, Hans-Adam II, stands out from the rest of the Euro-nobility by being the only absolute monarch left in Europe, considering he only has about 35,000 subjects to rule over, that might not be such a great accolade.

10) The Royal Family Of Brunei

Comparing a fabulously rich person to the Sultan of Brunei has long been considered a benchmark of obscene wealthiness, and for good reason. The House of Bolkiah dates back to the 14th century, but only one monarch has ruled since the country gained independence in 1987. The impossible wealth held by the ruling family of this staunchly Islamic country is almost indescribable; the brother of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is reported to own over 2,300 cars, and the Sultan himself lives in an outrageously large palace with over 1,100 bedrooms alone!

11) The Royal Family Of The Netherlands

The monarchy of the Netherlands is famously low-key, but still beyond wealthy – Queen Beatrix’s fortune alone tops out at over $200 million. Current King Willem-Alexander is also a bit of an eccentric. In the 1980’s, he spent a few years living in Wales whilst in college, and joined the school’s Royal Lifeboat service, with his boozy student antics earning him the nickname ‘Lager Prince’.

12) The Vatican Monarchy

The smallest state in the world is also ruled by an absolute monarchy, ruled by the Pope. The Vatican state, which has an entirely Catholic population of just 842 people (mostly clergy, predictably), possesses billions of dollars and some of the most valued artworks and religious artefacts in the world.

13) The Royal Family Of Jordan

The monarchy of Jordan is relatively new, having only been established in 1921. Current ruler King Abdullah II is reportedly very good friends with King Mohammed VI of Morocco, which has led to the two nations increasing their political relationship. King Abdullah’s consort, Queen Rania, is a noted beauty and renowned for her advocacy work in the fields of education, youth, and development.

14) The Royal Family Of Sweden

The monarchy of Sweden dates back to the 10th century, but these days their roles are purely ceremonial. King Carl XVI Gustaf plays no part in the governing of the country, and instead he and his family are mostly concerned with looking regal and representing the country with state visits across the world.

15) The British Royal Family

Quite possibly the most recognized royal family in the world, the British royal family is currently headed by Queen Elizabeth II, and has been subject to intense scrutiny and fascination by both the press and public for years. These days, the headlines mostly focus on photogenic Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their young son Prince George, which must be a welcome change for the Windsor family after Prince Harry’s party antics made it to the front page one too many times.