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FACTBOX:Where are the world's remaining monarchies?

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Thu May 29, 2008 3:34am EDT

(Reuters) - Nepal's 239-year-old Shah dynasty became the latest monarchy to tumble on Wednesday, after its ruling Hindu royals were outmaneuvered by a decade-long Maoist insurgency and displaced by a mass pro-democracy movement.

Here is a list of some of the world's remaining monarchies and their royal heads of state:

RULING MONARCHIES:

- Bahrain, constitutional monarchy: King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa.

- Brunei, constitutional sultanate: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir Hassanal Bolkiah.

- Jordan, constitutional monarchy: King Abdullah II.

- Kuwait, constitutional emirate: Sheik Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- Sabah.

- Oman, monarchy: Sultan and Prime Minister Qaboos bin Said.

- Qatar, emirate: Emir Sheik Hamad bin Khalifah al-Thani.

- Saudi Arabia, monarchy: King and Prime Minister Abdullah.

- Swaziland, monarchy: King Mswati III rules Africa's last remaining absolute monarchy.

- United Arab Emirates, federation of emirates: President Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan.

OTHER MONARCHIES:

- Bhutan, constitutional monarchy: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who ceded most of his powers at March democratic elections ending the country's absolute monarchy.

- Belgium, federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy: King Albert II.

- Cambodia, multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy: King Norodom Sihamoni.

- Commonwealth nations with constitutional monarchies under British Queen Elizabeth II: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua, Solomon Islands, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tuvalu, U.K.

- Denmark, constitutional monarchy: Queen Margrethe II.

- Japan, constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government: Emperor Akihito.

- Lesotho, parliamentary constitutional monarchy: King Letsie III.

- Lichenstein, constitutional monarchy: Prince Hans Adam

II.

- Luxembourg, constitutional monarchy: Grand Duke Henri.

- Malaysia, (rotating) constitutional monarchy: Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin.

- Monaco, constitutional monarchy: Prince Albert II.

- Morocco, constitutional monarchy: King Mohamed VI.

- Norway, constitutional monarchy: King Harald V.

- Thailand, constitutional monarchy: King Bhumibol Adulyadej, world's longest-reigning monarch in power since 1946.

- The Netherlands, constitutional monarchy: Queen Beatrix.

- Tonga, constitutional monarchy: King George Tupou V.

- Spain, parliamentary monarchy: King Juan Carlos I.

- Sweden, constitutional monarchy: King Carl XVI Gustaf.

Sources: Reuters, CIA World Factbook

(Writing by Gillian Murdoch, Beijing Editorial Reference Unit; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)

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