European Monarchy Today, The 10 Reigning Sovereigns and Some Interesting Trivia

In the current times, Europe has only 10 reigning royal houses. With the death of Queen Elizabeth II, her third cousin, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, becomes the world's only reigning Queen and the longest-reigning monarch in Europe today.

Here are the current Crown Heads in Europe, arranged based on the length of their reign, including the name of their royal houses, the heir-apparent, the consort, and some interesting trivia. 

1. Margrethe II, Kingdom of Denmark - Born on April 16, 1940, she is the eldest child of the three daughters of King Frederik of Denmark and Queen Ingrid (born Princess Ingrid of Sweden). At the time of her birth, she was not expected to ascend to the Danish throne. 

The royal house of Glucksburg followed the Agnatic primogeniture succession that barred females from succeeding the throne. Her father's heir at that time was his younger brother, Prince Knud. In 1953, the Succession law was altered, adopting the male-preference primogeniture law, making Princess Margrethe heir presumptive.

Queen Margrethe II and her eldest son and heir, Crown Prince Frederik

She's the only reigning Queen in the world today and the current longest-reigning monarch in Europe. She's also the second longest-reigning monarch in the world today after Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei (reigning since 1967). 

Queen Margrethe II has two younger sisters, Princess Benedikte of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (born 1944) and Anne-Marie, former Queen consort of Greece (born 1946).

Reign: January 14, 1972 (death of her father)
Royal House: Glucksburg
Heir Apparent: Crown Prince Frederik, born on May 26, 1968

Consort: Prince Henrik (1934-2018, born Henrik Laborde de Monpezat from France). They got married in June 1967.

Religion: Church of Denmark (Lutheran)

Children: Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim

Danish Succession Law: Absolute Primogeniture since 2009

2. Carl XVI Gustaf, Kingdom of Sweden - Born on April 30, 1946, he is the fifth child and only son of Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Vasterbotten (who died in a plane crash in January 1947) and Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. He has four older sisters: Princess Margarita (born 1934), Princess Brigitta (born 1937), Princess Desiree (born 1938), and Princess Christina (born 1943).

King Carl XVI Gustaf, his heir apparent, Crown Princess Victoria, and his wife, Queen Silvia

He became the Crown Prince of Sweden at four years old in 1950 when his grandfather, Gustaf VI Adolf, ascended to the Swedish throne. His heir apparent is his eldest child, Crown Princess Victoria, Duchess of Vastergotland.

Reign: September 15, 1973 (death of his grandfather)
Royal House: Bernadotte

Heir-Apparent: Crown Princess Victoria (born on July 14, 1977)

Consort: Queen Silvia (born Silvia Sommerlath from Germany), married in June 1976

Religion: Church of Sweden (Lutheran)

Children: Crown Princess Victoria, Duchess of Vastergotland, Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Varmland, Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Halsingland and Gastrikland

Swedish Succession Law: Absolute Primogeniture since 1980

3. Harald V, Kingdom of Norway - Born on February 21, 1937, he is the third child and only son of King Olaf V of Norway and Crown Princess Martha (born Princess Martha of Sweden), who did not become Queen consort because she died before Olaf ascended the Norwegian throne. The king has two older sisters: Princess Ragnhild (1930-2012) and Princess Astrid (born 1932).

Harald is the second cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. His paternal grandmother was Queen Maud (born Princess Maud of Wales), the youngest daughter of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. He is also a first cousin of King Albert II of Belgium through Princess Ingeborg of Denmark.

Reign: January 17, 1991 (death of his father)
Royal House: Glucksburg (same branch as Denmark)
Heir-Apparent: Crown Prince Haakon (born on July 20, 1973)
Consort: Queen Sonja (born Sonja Haraldsen), married in August 1968
Religion: Church of Norway (Lutheran)

Children with succession rights: Princess Martha Louise, Crown Prince Haakon
Norwegian Succession law: Absolute Primogeniture since 1990

4. Hans Adam II, Principality of Liechtenstein - Born on February 14, 1945, as the eldest child and son of Prince Aloys of Liechtenstein and Archduchess Elisabeth Amalie of Austria. He is the only monarch in Europe today who retains extensive political power in the government, in addition to being head of state. 

Prince Hans-Adam II and his heir, Prince Alois

The Sovereign Prince has four younger siblings: Prince Philipp (born in 1946), Prince Nikolaus (born in 1947. His wife is Princess Margaretha of Luxembourg, the younger sister of Grand Duke Henri), Princess Nora (born in 1950), and Prince Josef Wenceslaus (1962-1991). They were all born in Zurich, Switzerland.

In August 2004, Prince Hans-Adam II formally handed the power of making government decisions to his eldest son and heir, Prince Alois, but he remains the country's head of state. According to Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Prince Hans Adam II is the wealthiest monarch in Europe with a personal fortune of more than US$6.20 billion. He owns the banking group, LGT, and a winery, Hofkellerei.

Reign: November 13, 1989 (death of his father)

Royal House: Liechtenstein

Heir-Apparent: Alois, the Hereditary Prince (born on June 11, 1968)

Consort: Princess Marie (1940-2021, born Countess Marie Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau from the Czech Republic), married in 1966

Religion: Roman Catholic

Children: Alois, the Hereditary Prince, Prince Maximilian, Prince Constantin, Princess Tatjana 

Liechtenstein Succession Law: Agnatic Primogeniture (females are not eligible to succeed)

5. Grand Duke Henri, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg - Born on April 16, 1955, as the eldest son of Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte (born Princess of Belgium, the only sister of King Albert II of Belgium). His father, Grand Duke Jean, died in 2019.  

Grand Duke Henri, his heir apparent - Prince Guillaume, and wife, Grand Duchess Ma. Teresa

He has one older sister: Princess Marie-Astrid (born in 1953. Her husband is Archduke Carl of Austria, grandson of the last Austrian emperor, Charles I), and three younger siblings: Prince Jean, Princess Margaretha, (born in 1957, the wife of Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein) and Prince Guillaume (born in 1963).

Reign: October 7, 2000 (abdication of his father)

Royal House: Luxembourg-Nassau. 

Heir-Apparent: Prince Guillaume, the Hereditary Grand Duke (born on November 11, 1981)

Consort: Grand Duchess Ma. Teresa (born Ma. Teresa Mestre y Batista from Cuba) married in February 1981

Religion: Roman Catholic 

Children: Prince Guillaume, Prince Felix, Prince Louis, Princess Alexandra, Prince Sebastien

Luxembourgian Succession law: Absolute Primogeniture since 2011.

6. Albert II, Principality of Monaco - Born on March 4, 1950, as the second child and only son of Prince Rainier III and American actress, Grace Kelly. He has one older sister: Princess Caroline, and one younger sister, Princess Stephanie.

The Sovereign Prince, his heir, Prince Jacques, and wife, Princess Charlene

Reign: April 5, 2005 (death of his father)

Royal House: Grimaldi 

Heir-Apparent: Jacques, the Hereditary Prince of Monaco (born on December 10, 2014)

Consort: Princess Charlene (born Charlene Wittstock from South Africa) married in July 2011

Religion: Roman Catholic 

Children: Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques (illegitimate but recognized children: Jazmin Grace and Alexandre)

Monaco Succession law: Male-preference primogeniture

7. Willem-Alexander, Kingdom of The Netherlands - Born on April 27, 1967, as the eldest child among the three sons of Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus (born Claus von Amsberg 1926-2002). He has two younger brothers: Prince Friso (died in 2013) and Prince Constantijn.

King Willem-Alexander, Princess Catharina-Amalia, Queen Maxima

Reign: April 30, 2013 (abdication of his mother)

Royal House: Orange-Nassau

Heir-Apparent: Princess Catharina-Amalia, the Princess of Orange (born on December 7, 2003)

Consort: Queen Maxima (born Maxima Zorreguieta from Argentina) married in February 2002

Religion: Protestant Church in the Netherlands (Calvinist and Lutheran)

Children: Princess Catharina-Amalia, Princess Alexia, Princess Arianne

Dutch succession law: Absolute Primogeniture since 1983

8. Philippe, Kingdom of Belgium - Born on April 15, 1960, he is the eldest child among the three children of King Albert II of Belgium and Queen Paola (born Donna or Countess Paola Ruffo di Calabria in Italy). He has two younger siblings: Princess Astrid and Prince Laurent. And a half-sister, Princess Delphine.

King Philippe, Princess Elisabeth, Queen Mathilde

Reign: July 21, 2013 (abdication of his father)

Royal House: Belgium/Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Heir-Apparent: Princess Elisabeth, the Duchess of Brabant (born on October 25, 2001)

Consort: Queen Mathilde (born Baroness Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz) married in December 1999

Religion: Roman Catholic

Children: Princess Elisabeth, Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel, Princess Eleanore

Belgian succession law: Absolute Primogeniture since 1991

9. Felipe VI, Kingdom of Spain - Born on January 30, 1968, as the youngest child and only son of King Juan Carlos I of Spain and Queen Sofia (born Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark). He has two older sisters: Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo, and Infanta Cristina.

King Felipe VI, Princess Leonor, Queen Letizia

Reign: June 19, 2014 (abdication of his father)

Royal House: Bourbon 

Heir-presumptive: Leonor, the Princess of Asturias (born on October 30, 2005)

Consort: Queen Letizia (born Letizia Ortiz y Rocasolano, a former TV news anchor) married in May 2004

Religion: Roman Catholic

Children: Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia

Spanish succession law: Male-preference primogeniture

10. Charles III, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - Born on November 14, 1948, as the eldest child of Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1921-2021, born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark). He has three younger siblings: Anne, the Princess Royal (born in 1950); Prince Andrew, the Duke of York (born in 196); Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex (born in 1964).

Charles III, his heir - Prince William, and wife, Queen Camilla

Reign: September 8, 2022 (death of his mother)

Royal House: Windsor

Heir-Apparent: William, the Prince of Wales (born on June 21, 1982)

Consort: Queen Camilla (born Camilla Shand in London) married in April 2005

Religion: Church of England (Anglican)

Children (with Diana, Princess of Wales): Prince William, the Prince of Wales, and Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex

British succession law: Absolute since 2015

For list of the first 10 in the line of succession, read this post

Interesting trivia:

European monarchy only has eight consorts. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark became a widow in February 2018, while the Sovereign Prince of Liechtenstein, Hans-Adam II, became a widower in August 2021.

The consorts of European reigning sovereigns 

To know more about these consorts, read this post

King Philippe of Belgium and Grand Duke Henri are first cousins, they are also first cousins once removed to King Harald V of Norway. King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark are first cousins. 

King Felipe VI of Spain and King Harald V of Norway are second cousins once removed to King Charles III of the United Kingdom.

Direct descendants of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom

Direct descendants of King Christian IX of Denmark

Direct descendants of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom: Queen Margrethe II, King Carl XVI Gustaf, King Harald V, King Felipe VI, and King Charles III.

Direct descendants of King Christian IX of Denmark: Queen Margrethe II, King Carl XVI Gustaf, King Harald V, King Felipe VI, King Charles III, King Philippe, and Grand Duke Henri.

There are three Glucksburg monarchs in Europe today: King Charles III of Britain (His father, Prince Philip, was a great-grandson of Christian IX of Denmark in the male line). Queen Margrethe II  of Denmark (great-great-granddaughter of Christian IX in the male line), and King Harald V of Norway (great-great-grandson of Christian IX in the male line).

Liechtenstein is the only monarchy in Europe that still follows the Agnatic Primogeniture succession where females have no succession rights. It's only the monarchy in Europe today where the Sovereign is the head of the government.

King Felipe VI is the only monarch in Europe who has no heir apparent. His eldest daughter, Princess Leonor, is only heir-presumptive because Spain has not changed its succession law. It still follows the male-preference succession law.

Other trivia about the current European monarchy:

Oldest monarch: Harald V of Norway, 85 years old

Youngest monarch: Felipe VI of Spain, 54 years old

Oldest to ascend the throne: Charles III of Britain at 73 years old this year

Youngest to ascend the throne: Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden at 27 years old in 1973

Oldest heir apparent: Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, 54 years old

Youngest heir apparent: Hereditary Prince Jacques of Monaco, seven years old

Longest-serving heir apparent: Crown Prince Frederik since 1972, 50 years

The first in line to the throne, arranged based on age: Sweden, Liechtenstein, Norway, Sweden, Luxembourg, UK, Belgium, The Netherlands, Spain, Monaco 

The First-in-line to the throne:

Belgium: Princess Elisabeth, the Duchess of Brabant (born in 2001)

Denmark: Crown Prince Frederik (born in 1968)

Liechtenstein: Alois, the Hereditary Prince (born in 1968)

Luxembourg: Prince Guillaume, the Hereditary Grand Duke (born in 1981)

Monaco: Jacques, the Hereditary Prince of Monaco (born in 2014)

Norway: Crown Prince Haakon (born in 1973)

Spain: Leonor, the Princess of Asturias (born in 2005)

Sweden: Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden (born in 1977)

The Netherlands: Princess Catharina-Amalia, the Princess of Orange (born in 2003)

United Kingdom: William, the Prince of Wales (born in 1982)

Related posts:

First 10 in the Line of Succession in European Royal Houses

Get to know more about the Queen Consorts