Are There Any Kingdoms Left Today?

What counts as a kingdom today

When people ask whether there are any kingdoms left, they are usually asking whether any countries are still organized as monarchies with a king or queen as head of state and whether the word kingdom applies in the modern world. A kingdom in the contemporary sense is generally a sovereign state where a hereditary monarch, typically titled king or queen, serves as head of state, often under a constitutional framework that distributes political power among elected institutions. This article explains which present-day states are widely described as kingdoms, how they differ from historical empires and feudal realms, and why the term is used more for some monarchies than others.

Modern constitutional monarchies commonly called kingdoms

Several recognized sovereign states function as constitutional monarchies and are regularly referred to as kingdoms in English. These include the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, and their monarchs hold chiefly ceremonial duties under written constitutions. In addition, some smaller states such as Liechtenstein and Monaco are likewise described as principalities or kingdoms in everyday language, even if their official titles vary. Below is a concise overview of key attributes for selected examples to clarify how they are commonly categorized.

Recognized kingdoms at a glance

Kingdoms versus empires and historical realms

Historically, the word kingdom often described much larger political formations with extensive territories and diverse peoples, sometimes spanning multiple modern countries. Examples include the historical Kingdom of France, Kingdom of England, and larger merged states such as the Kingdom of Great Britain that preceded today’s United Kingdom. An empire typically implies multiple distinct territories or peoples under a single sovereign, often with more hierarchical or colonial administration, whereas a kingdom commonly suggests a more cohesive realm with a single monarch as central symbolic figure. Over time, many historical kingdoms ceased to exist as independent states through unification, dissolution, or republican transformation, which can make the idea of "remaining" kingdoms seem unclear.

How the term kingdom is used in practice

In everyday and media English, the label kingdom is usually applied to states where a king or queen is recognized as head of state and the monarchy is a prominent public institution. This usage highlights continuity of symbolism, ritual, and national identity rather than absolute governing power. Nations that retain the title king but operate as republics in all but name are generally not described as kingdoms, because the term implies a constitutional framework in which the monarch’s role is largely ceremonial. Distinguishing between a kingdom and a republic is therefore less about the presence of a monarch and more about the nature of that monarch’s constitutional role.

Kingdoms that are sometimes mentioned in discussion

Beyond the widely recognized examples, a few other states or territories are occasionally referred to as kingdoms in discussion, though less consistently. For instance, some describe Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) informally as a kingdom due to its traditional governance structures, while Lesotho is formally a kingdom under a parliamentary system. Saudi Arabia is likewise a kingdom, though its official title does not include the word kingdom. The United Arab Emirates is a federation of monarchies rather than a single kingdom. These cases illustrate that whether a polity is called a kingdom can depend on language, tradition, and whether the term captures the perceived relationship between traditional authority and modern institutions.

Why some historical kingdoms no longer exist as independent states

Many historical kingdoms disappeared as independent entities through processes such as dynastic union, conquest, decolonization, or peaceful integration into larger federations. The Kingdom of Scotland, for example, entered a dynastic union with England in 1603 and later formed the sovereign Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707, which itself evolved into the present United Kingdom. Similar paths of merger and transformation occurred in several European states as borders shifted and new constitutions were adopted. Understanding these transitions helps explain why the question are there any kingdoms left is best answered by looking at present sovereign states rather than at former or partially historical realms.

Summary answer to whether any kingdoms remain

Yes, there are several recognized sovereign states that are commonly described as kingdoms today, primarily because they have hereditary monarchs titled king who serve as head of state under constitutional arrangements. The United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain are clear examples, while states such as Liechtenstein, Monaco, Eswatini, and Lesotho are likewise referred to as kingdoms in many contexts. Historical kingdoms that once stood as independent entities have largely transformed, merged, or been replaced by republics, but the modern constitutional monarchies listed above demonstrate that kingdoms continue to exist in a practical and legal sense within the contemporary international system.