Royal Families in Europe

Introduction

This section gives information about the European royal families. Each royal family starts on a separate page. On those pages you can find pictures of the current head of the family with spouse and children (when available), a list of all sovereigns, the line of succession to the throne, a link to the official website (when available), the genealogy of that royal family made by me, and to conclude links to other interesting sites.

About European royal families

In Europe today there are only ten monarchies left:

• The Kingdom Belgium,
• The Kingdom Denmark,
• The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
• The Principality Liechtenstein,
• The Grand Duchy Luxembourg,
• The Principality Monaco,
• The Kingdom of the Netherlands,
• The Kingdom Norway,
• The Kingdom Spain,
• The Kingdom Sweden.

More information about these royal families can be found below and in the section Genealogies of European Royal Families.
(Note: Technically speaking Vatican City is also a monarchy. However, the popes are not covered on this website.)

Other European countries have also been monarchies in the past. Families that ruled a sovereign country since the Congres of Vienna of 1815 are considered as royal, even when the country they ruled has become a republic or lost its sovereignty later on.
Countries that became a republic or lost their sovereignty in the 20th century are:

• Albania (a principality in 1914 and a kingdom between 1928 and 1946),
• Anhalt (a principality until 1918),
• Austria-Hungary (an empire and a kingdom until 1918),
• Baden (a grand duchy until 1918),
• Bavaria (a kingdom until 1918),
• Brunswick (a duchy until 1918),
• Bulgaria (a kingdom until 1946),
• Germany (an empire until 1918 - the Kings of Prussia were German Emperors since 1871),
• Greece (a kingdom until 1973),
• Hesse and by Rhine (a grand duchy until 1918),
• Iceland (a kingdom between 1918 and 1944 - the King of Denmark was King of Iceland),
• Ireland (a kingdom until 1949 - the Kings of Great Britain were Kings of Ireland),
• Italy (a kingdom until 1946),
• Lippe (a principality until 1918),
• Mecklenburg-Schwerin (a grand duchy until 1918),
• Mecklenburg-Strelitz (a grand duchy until 1918),
• Montenegro (a kingdom until 1918),
• Oldenburg (a grand duchy until 1918),
• Portugal (a kingdom until 1910),
• Prussia (a kingdom until 1918 - the Kings of Prussia were also German Emperors since 1871),
• Reuß (a principality until 1918),
• Romania (a kingdom until 1947),
• Russia (an empire until 1917),
• Saxe-Altenburg (a duchy until 1918),
• Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (a duchy until 1918),
• Saxe-Meiningen (a duchy until 1918),
• Saxe-Weimar and Eisenach (a grand duchy until 1918),
• Saxony (a kingdom until 1918),
• Schaumburg-Lippe (a principality until 1918),
• Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt (a principality until 1918),
• Schwarzburg-Sondershausen (a principality until 1918),
• Serbia (a kingdom until 1918 - the Kings of Serbia became King of Yugoslavia in 1918)
• Waldeck and Pyrmont (a principality until 1918),
• Württemberg (a kingdom until 1918),
• Yugoslavia (a kingdom between 1918 and 1945).

More information about these royal families can be found below and in the section Genealogies of European Royal Families.
Only the Imperial and Royal families are available yet, the Grand-Ducal, Ducal and Princely families are still under construction.

Information about the royal families of European countries that became a republic or lost their sovereignty in the 19th century will follow later on.

The Reigning Royal Families

• The Royal Family of Belgium.
  (last updated October 21st, 2007)
• The Royal Family of Denmark.
  (last updated October 28th, 2007)
• The Royal Family of Great Britain.
  (last updated November 17th, 2007)
• The Princely Family of Liechtenstein.
  (last updated April November 24th, 2007)
• The Grand-Ducal Family of Luxembourg.
  (last updated November 25th, 2007)
• The Princely Family of Monaco.
  (last updated December 23rd, 2007)
• The Royal Family of the Netherlands.
  (last updated March 25th, 2008)
• The Royal Family of Norway.
  (last updated March 10th, 2007)
• The Royal Family of Spain.
  (last updated June 3rd, 2002)
• The Royal Family of Sweden.
  (last updated July 15th, 2002)

The Non-Reigning Royal Families

• The Royal Family of Albania.
  (last updated December 27th, 2004)
• The Imperial and Royal Family of Austria-Hungary.
  (last updated August 12th, 2002)
• The Grand-Ducal Family of Baden.
  (last updated July 8th, 2005)
• The Royal Family of Bavaria.
  (last updated October 15th, 2001)
• The Royal Family of Bulgaria.
  (last updated December 27th, 2004)
• The Royal Family of Greece.
  (last updated October 22nd, 2001)
• The Royal Family of Hanover.
  (last updated October 22nd, 2001)
• The Grand-Ducal Family of Hesse and by Rhine.
  (under construction)
• The Royal Family of Italy.
  (last updated October 29th, 2001)
• The Grand-Ducal Family of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
  (under construction)
• The Grand-Ducal Family of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
  (under construction)
• The Royal Family of Montenegro.
  (last updated June 12th, 2003)
• The Grand-Ducal Family of Oldenburg.
  (under construction)
• The Royal Family of Portugal.
  (NEW on November 12th, 2001)
• The Royal Family of Prussia.
  (NEW on December 3rd, 2001)
• The Royal Family of Romania.
  (last updated December 10th, 2001)
• The Imperial Family of Russia.
  (NEW on January 2nd, 2002)
• The Grand-Ducal Family of Saxe-Weimar and Eisenach.
  (under construction)
• The Royal Family of Saxony.
  (NEW on January 7th, 2002)
• The Royal Family of Serbia.
  (NEW on January 7th, 2002)
• The Royal Family of Serbia and Yugoslavia.
  (last updated January 7th, 2002).
• The Royal Family of Württemberg.
  (NEW on January 18th, 2002)

Links to other sites with information about royal families (in alfabetical order)

• A Glossary of European Noble, Princely, Royal, and Imperial Titles.
• All about Royalty.
• Almanach de Bruxelles.
• Almanach de la Cour.
• ALT.TALK.ROYALTY FAQ.
• Beautiful Royals. (My photo page)
• Chinese, Japanese and Indian Emperors.
• Christine's Royalty.net.
• Detlev Schwennicke: Europäische Stammtafeln. Neue Folge.
• Enthronements in Royal Europe 1964-2000.
• Europäische Stammtafeln Notes.
• European Royal History.
• European Royalty during World War II.
• Glittering Royal Events.
• Guide and Index to Lists of Rulers.
• Hein's Royal Genealogy Page.
• Heraldica.
• Hoelseth's Royal Corner.
• Joan's Royalty in History Site.
• Le Gotha.
• Monarchies of Europe.
• Monarchs of the World.
• Netty's Royalty Page.
• Oil Monarchies.
• Organizacja Monarchistów Polskich.
• Photo Gallery of European Royalty.
• Royal News.
• Royalty.
• Royalty Magazine.
• Royalty: The Next Generation.
• Rulers.
• Srdjan Babovic's Royalty Homepage.
• The Constantian Society. American Monarchist Info Service.
• The Crowned Head.
• The Royal Ark.
• The World of Royalty - History, News, Books.
• The WorldRoots Royal Page.
• The Young Royals Reference Pages.
• Theodore's Royalty & Monarchy Page.
• Ursula's History Web.
• Verena's Royal Genealogical and Photo Homepage.
• Verena's Royal News and Photo Page 2003.
• Verena's Royal Photo Page.
• World Rulers - Kings, Presidents, Prime Ministers of the World.
• Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership.
• Zarate's Political Collections.

Links to sites that cover a single royal family are listed on the page of that royal family.

Message Boards and News Groups

• alt.talk.royalty
• Brandy's Message Board.
• Foro De Opiniones Sobre La Realeza. (In Spanish only)
• Glittering Royal Events Message Board.
• Monarchy Forum.
• Royal Jewels.
• Royal Jewels of the World Message Board.
• Royal News and Views.
• Royal Quizzes.
• Royals Portal Forum.
• Royal Weddings Message Board.
• Royauté.
• The Asian Royals Message Board.
• The Benelux Royals Message Board.
• The European Royals Message Board.
• The Franco-Iberian Royals Message Board.
• The Royal Forum.
• The Royal Forums.
• The Scandinavian Royals Message Board.

Links to message boards and news groups that cover a single royal family are listed on the page of that royal family.

Back to the home page.

Last updated: March 25th, 2008.