List of living former sovereign monarchs

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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.

Contents

Living former hereditary monarchs of sovereign states

NameTitleReignBornAgeReason
Jamshid bin Abdullah Sultan of Zanzibar 1963–196416 Sep 192995 years, 68 days Monarchy abolished
Akihito Emperor of Japan 1989–201923 Dec 193390 years, 336 days Abdicated
Albert II King of the Belgians 1993–20136 Jun 193490 years, 170 daysAbdicated
Tenzin Gyatso Dalai Lama of Tibet 1940–19516 Jul 193589 years, 140 days Monarchy abolished
Simeon II Tsar of the Bulgarians 1943–1946 [1] 16 Jun 193787 years, 160 days Monarchy abolished
Juan Carlos I King of Spain 1975–20145 Jan 193886 years, 323 days Abdicated
Beatrix Queen of the Netherlands 1980–201331 Jan 193886 years, 297 daysAbdicated
Margrethe II Queen of Denmark 1972–202416 Apr 194084 years, 221 days Abdicated
Gyanendra King of Nepal 1950–1951 and 2001–20087 Jul 194777 years, 139 days Monarchy abolished
Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Emir of Qatar 1995–20131 Jan 195272 years, 327 daysAbdicated
Fuad II King of Egypt and the Sudan 1952–195316 Jan 195272 years, 312 days Monarchy abolished
Jigme Singye Wangchuck King of Bhutan 1972–200611 Nov 195569 years, 12 daysAbdicated

Living former elective monarchs of sovereign states

NameTitleReignBornAgeReason
Sirajuddin of Perlis Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia 2001–200617 May 194381 years, 190 daysTerm ended
François Hollande Co-Prince of Andorra 2012–201712 Aug 195470 years, 103 days Did not seek re-election as President of France
Nicolas Sarkozy 2007–201228 Jan 195569 years, 300 days Defeated for re-election as President of France
Abdullah of Pahang Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia 2019–202430 Jul 195965 years, 116 daysTerm ended
Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia 2006–201122 Jan 196262 years, 306 days
Muhammad V of Kelantan Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia 2016–20196 Oct 196955 years, 48 daysAbdicated

Living former hereditary monarch of a non-sovereign state

NameTitleReignBornAgeNote
Ghalib II al-Qu'aiti Sultan of Qu'aiti 1966–19677 Jan 194876 years, 321 days Monarchy abolished

Notes

  1. 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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