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 The attitude to the monarchy as the form of government is differently
adopted by various people throughout the world. From the past times it fluctuates
from the enthusiastic to the completely negative approach. Currently we observe
the growth of authority and popularity of the monarchy, even in countries with
democratic government. And it is interesting to look at the list of European
monarchs reigning today.
The first most authorized and powerful royal family of the
Old World worth mentioning is presented by Her Majesty Elizabeth II, Queen of
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Apart from reigning over
the British Islands immediately, Elizabeth II is officially the Head of the
Commonwealth of Nations that includes exotic Barbados and Solomon Islands,
Canada, Australia and New Guinea. No doubt, that the British Queen is the most
reputed and famous monarch in the world known to everyone. Her Majesty wins the
absolute respect and authority in her country and her longest reigning time (the
Queen was inaugurated in June 1953) proved that. The future life of the British
people is not anxious at all, the most of the population tend to adhere to the
traditional form of government, and the new generation of the Royal family,
Princes William and Harry, are associated with the further development of the
country.
The Spanish branch of the Borbón dynasty is presented by
Juan Carlos I de Borbón who reigns since 1975. The ferocious echo of the first half
of the previous century when the wild political war was in progress in Spain is
still heard from time to time. The adherents to the left-wing political movements
which traditionally were more powerful on the Iberian Peninsula feel alerted to
Juan Carlos I. He is the monarch and, moreover, he acquired the power from the dictator
Francisco Teódulo Franco. Though, the majority of the natives in Spain find the
King as the symbol of political stability and maintenance of adherence to
national traditions: Juan Carlos leaded to suppress the military
anti-governmental revolt of 1982, including the progressive economical
development of Spain after the death of Franco. The heir to the monarch 41 year-old
Felipe, whose mother Sophia, the Queen, is the representative to the dynasty of
Greek monarchs is popular on the motherland. Practically in full membership,
excluding Finland, the monarchy political form presents in Scandinavian
countries. And here the historical succession is far durable and stable than in
the majority of other European countries. Queens and Kings are still adopted with
the symbols of the government as the embodiment of the good past times and the
very lifestyle of the north life which is leisurely, unhurried and based on
eternal values.
And to the very moment the monarch in Norway is exclusively the
«male». The reigning king is the 72 year old Harald V who reigns since January 1991
as the heir to the Crown Prince Haakon Magnus. His Majesty is also known as the
famous sportsman and during his life he never concealed his concern in the yachting.
He participated in various championships along with ordinary population and the
Olympic Games. Several times he was awarded the Championship Cup in team contests.
Recently the King suffers from health problems and during the heart surgery periods
the Crown Prince Haakon Magnus served as the temporary head of the government,
in particular the regent.
Women traditionally reign in Denmark and Sweden or heir the throne.
Thus, the Queen of Denmark is Margrethe Alexandrine II, who celebrated the 37th
anniversary of her reign as the head of the country in January of this year. However,
the Queen has two sons, and therefore the next King of Denmark is going to be
the King in the coming time. Margrethe Alexandrine II is famous for her
deliberate detachment from any political parties and movements and also she
takes an active part in artistic life. Her Majesty masters several European languages
that she demonstrated when she anonymously translated several French works. She
is keen on professional painting and she is the author to illustrations to the Danish
translation of the trilogy « The Lord of the Rings ».
A male ruler is the head of the government of Sweden nowadays
(within 35 years already), Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus from the dynasty of
Bernodot. Though, the successor is the elder daughter, Crown Princess Victoria.
As well as the Norwegian «colleague» Carl Gustaf is willing and does take an
active part in sports life and mostly he prefers water kinds of sports. However,
he also participates in the governmental and social life of the country sketching
his thorough attention and the attention of the public to the improvement of
the law system and environment protection programs.
From the recent times, since 1993, 74-year old Albert II
reigns in Belgium. He did not manage to show his skills in any particular sphere
apart from the specific set of classes typical for the royal persons. He was trained
in military colleges and academies; served in the army and also participated in
a number of charity activities and projects to donate (in particular, he was
involved in the activity of the International Red Cross). The heir to the Belgian
throne is Philip who is at the threshold of his 50s.
The representative of the ancient Dutch Oran Dynasty is the
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands inaugurated in 1980. It is of the great
interest that Her Majesty is the third Queen who reigns in Holland and the
previous century the country was totally under the reign of female rulers. In
1966 Beatrix married to the German diplomat Claus von Amsberg and she gave
birth to three sons in this marriage. The elder son, Willem-Alexander, born in
1967, should inherit the throne in the Netherlands for the longer period of
time. The Dutch royal person drew the world attention and concern recently when
in April 30, 2009 in
the town Apeldoorn the Queen was attempted murder, as well as the heir and
their close royal relatives. The 38 year old subject to Her Majesty was driving
his car and tried to attack the bus with the members of the royal family.
The state criminal drove past the bus though seven people
were killed as a result of this incident including the criminal himself. The motifs
of his actions were not clear and are still unknown.
And, finally, the monarch form of government is inherent in
some so-called «tiny» states in Europe. The most acknowledged is the acting and
reigning Prince of the State of Monaco, 51 year old Albert II who inherited the
throne and enjoyed the reign in 2005. The fame to Prince, this royal person, came
as a result of the history of the royal family (he is the son to the Prince Régnier
III and Grace Kelly, one of the greatest celebrities of Hollywood ever shining
there). The other famous aspect of his life is sport. He is keen on bobsleigh
and participated in the Olympic Games in this category. Nevertheless, the
complicated situation with succession to the throne appeared in Monaco since
Prince Albert is not married yet, but two of his children born out of marriage
are not eligible to heir the throne. And therefore the heir to the throne is
the sister to the Prince, Carolina.
The young and successful image of 54 year old Henry, the Great
Duke of Luxemburg, reigning since 2000, will be handed over to the young heir
of the throne, 28 year old Prince Guillaume. The image of Princes of Liechtenstein
is far more negative and the head of the state is Hans-Adam II. The most essential
problems and difficulties for this tiny government are in its history. We are aware
of indirect collaboration of Liechtenstein with the Nazi during the periods of World
War II which appeared to be the ground for the consequent property and
political disputes with Czech Republic. Along with it Hans-Adam II achieved the
reputation and strengthen his positions on the inter-political arena and he is the
most «factual» monarch out of all existing European monarchs ever reigned since
after the 2003 referendum he is eligible to set a veto on any particular law in
draft in the Parliament except for the Law on the change of the form of
government for the Republican form.
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