What countries are still kingdoms?

As an expert in global political systems, I can provide an overview of the countries that are still considered kingdoms. A kingdom is a type of state, typically a monarchy, where the supreme authority is concentrated in the hands of a monarch who often inherits the position by heredity. The monarch's powers can range from absolute to purely symbolic, depending on the constitutional framework of the country.

Step 1: English Answer

There are several countries around the world that are currently ruled as kingdoms, with the monarch's role varying from absolute to constitutional. Here is a list of some of the kingdoms and their monarchs, along with the type of monarchy they have:


1. Belgium - King Philippe ascended to the throne in 2013. Belgium operates under a constitutional monarchy, where the king's powers are limited by a constitution and he largely performs ceremonial duties.


2. Bahrain - King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa rules over Bahrain, which also has a constitutional monarchy. The king's powers are limited by a constitution, and there is a parliamentary system in place.


3. Bhutan - Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is the Druk Gyalpo, or Dragon King, of Bhutan. Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy where the monarch's powers are defined by the constitution, and the country has made strides towards democracy.


4. Brunei - The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, holds significant power as the head of state with a constitutional monarchy. Brunei's constitution provides for a degree of parliamentary democracy, but the sultan retains a strong influence over the government.


5. Japan - Emperor Naruhito is the symbol of the state and unity of the people in Japan, with a monarchy that is largely ceremonial. Post-World War II, Japan's constitution was rewritten to limit the emperor's role to symbolic functions.


6. Jordan - King Abdullah II is the constitutional monarch of Jordan. The king has the power to appoint the prime minister and dissolve parliament, but Jordan is moving towards a more parliamentary system.

7.
Norway - King Harald V is the reigning monarch of Norway, a constitutional monarchy where the king's role is largely ceremonial, and the country is governed by a parliamentary system.

8.
Spain - King Felipe VI is the current king of Spain. Spain is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system, and the king's role is mostly representative.

9.
Sweden - King Carl XVI Gustaf is the king of Sweden, another constitutional monarchy. The king has a limited role in the government, with real political power vested in the parliament and the prime minister.

10.
Thailand - King Maha Vajiralongkorn is the current monarch of Thailand. The Thai monarchy has a complex status, with the king traditionally holding significant influence, although the nature of the monarchy has been subject to debate and change.

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1. United Kingdom - Queen Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of the UK and other Commonwealth realms. Her powers are largely ceremonial, and the UK has a well-established parliamentary democracy.

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2. Lesotho - King Letsie III is the reigning monarch of Lesotho, a constitutional monarchy where the king's powers are limited by the constitution.

It's important to note that the status of a monarchy can change over time due to political developments, and the powers of the monarch can be affected by constitutional amendments or political reforms. Additionally, there are other kingdoms around the world, but the ones listed here are some of the most well-known and recognized.

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Kingdoms and Monarchs of the WorldCountryMonarchType of monarchyBahrainKing Hamad bin Isa al-KhalifaConstitutionalBelgiumKing Philippe (2013)ConstitutionalBhutanJigme Khesar Namgyal WangchukinConstitutionalBruneiSultan Haji Hassanal BolkiahConstitutional23 more rows