Editor
That stated, not all households have a constitutionally enshrined function and dwell in lavish palaces funded by the general public purse.
While most of Europe’s monarchies have been abolished after the First and Second World Wars, there are 12 who managed to hold onto their crowns and scepters, albeit after being pressured to relinquish most of their political energy.
They are Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium, in addition to the principalities of Andorra, Liechtenstein and Monaco, the grand duchy of Luxembourg, and the Vatican, a theocratic absolute monarchy.
Then there are these royal dynasties who misplaced their thrones however retained a semi-legitimate ceremonial function, corresponding to these in Romania and Montenegro, or not less than a measure of public fascination, as in Greece.
The result’s that, even in the present day, the Continent is rife with royals who usually wield monumental affect and movie star — and whose antics, after they stand up to no good, trigger their governments no finish of grief.
Belgium’s famously rebellious Prince Laurent acquired a dressing down from Prime Minister Yves Leterme in 2011 after he made an unauthorized journey to the DR Congo, with Leterme threatening to revoke the prince’s allowance.
