10 powerful monarchs who command respect

After nearly 40 years on the throne, King Juan Carlos of Spain is to abdicate in favour of his son Crown Prince Felipe.

 

The handover will make King Juan Carlos the first Spanish king to pass on the crown to his offspring since 1885.

 

Once one of the world's most popular monarchs, King Juan Carlos has seen his reign plagued by a series of recent scandals -- including an elephant-shooting trip he took in the middle of Spain's financial crisis during which he broke his right hip and had to be flown from Botswana back to Spain for medical treatment aboard a private jet.

 

His image was also tarnished by the investigation of his son-in law, who is suspected of embezzling large amounts in public contracts.

 

Even as details of the Spanish transition emerge, Rediff.com takes a look at some of the remaining monarchs in the world today.

 

 

 

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary or Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms, and their territories and dependencies, and head of the 53-member Commonwealth of Nations. She is Supreme Governor of the Church of England and, in some of her realms, carries the additional title of Defender of the Faith.

 

 

Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand is the King of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, consisting of the countries of the Netherlands (including the Caribbean Netherlands), Curacao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten. 

 

King Abdullah, according to Forbes, is among the world's most powerful people. He is the sixth king of oil-rich Saudi Arabia, thus controlling 18 per cent of the world's oil. He a personal fortune estimated at $18 billion and reportedly has four wives, seven sons, and 15 daughters.

 

Sultan Qaboos bin Sa'id Al Sa'id, the 14th descendant of the Al Bu Sa'idi dynasty, is a socially and politically active monarch who has ruled Oman for over 44 years as Sultan

 

King Bhumibol, also known as Rama IX, is the ninth monarch of the Chakri Dynasty. The world's longest-serving current head of state and the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history is respected and revered by most Thais. The King is legally considered "inviolable", and any offence against the dignity of the monarch may be punished

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After officially being named heir to the Japanese throne in 1952, Emperor Akihito was the first member of the Imperial family to marry a commoner. Akihito became the 125th emperor of Japan in 1990, and has since earned renown for his humanitarian gestures.

 

Wangchuck is known for his personal touch with his people, and often referred to as the 'People's King'

Coronated: September 15, 1973 

 

Worldwide, Carl XVI Gustaf is probably best known as the presenter of the Nobel Prizes each year. He also hands over the Polar Music Prize. Like many members of the Swedish royal family, the King has a keen interest in automobiles. He owns several Porsche 911s -- a car model which is said to be a particular favourite of the King -- as well as a vintage Volvo PV444, a Ferrari 456M GT, an authentic AC Cobra and other cars

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The Sultan is worth an estimated $20 billion and lives in a 1,800-room palace. Bolkiah has been in the news lately for implementing a controversial Sharia law penal code that includes death by stoning, the severing of limbs, and flogging for crimes in Brunei such as abortions, adultery and homosexual acts

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