European monarchy
Old World crown
A European monarchy is a nation in Europe governed by a hereditary sovereign—a king, queen, prince, or similar royal figure.
Most surviving European monarchies are constitutional, with the monarch serving as ceremonial head of state while elected officials hold real power: The United Kingdom, Spain, and Sweden are European monarchies.
The term sometimes evokes centuries of royal dynasties, palace intrigue, and aristocratic tradition that shaped the continent's history.
- House of WindsorBritish ruling dynasty since 1917
- CharlemagneEarly medieval Western unifier
- House of SavoyItalian monarchy's founding house
- royal bloodlineHereditary claim to throne
- heir apparentUnassailable next in line
Magna Carta · royal decree · coronation · crown jewels · throne room · constitutional crisis · abdication · Holy Roman Empire · divine right · royal patronage · Treaty of Westphalia · royal scandal · Congress of Vienna · fairy tale castle · coat of arms · king and queen · royal wedding · Glorious Revolution
European monarchyrepublic
State with elected leaders
constitutional republic · democratic republic · popular sovereignty · communist state · democracy
European monarchypopular democracy
Governance through mass participation
grassroots democracy · commune · workers' council · participatory democracy
European, Europe, Europeanization, monarch, monarchy, monarchic, monarchical, monarchist, monarchism