As the world tunes in to the recent coronation of King Charles III, many eyes perch upon the presence of monarchies in the modern day. The general consensus on modern monarchies is mixed and oftentimes polarized, with the media portraying some monarchs as celebrity figures, while some absolute monarchies are criticized for practicing backward customs. It is fitting to discuss how modern monarchies are actualized in different political severities, customs, and regions, as all remaining 43 monarch-lead states seem — to different extents — to be marching to their own rhythm. 

Modern monarchies can be divided into four general types: absolute, federal, mixed, and constitutional. The first category features monarchic dictatorships that have non-elected, hereditary leaders who have complete governing power. Saudi Arabia and Brunei are examples of these monarchic structures and are known to the world for their harsh punishments for crimes. People who face accusations of blasphemy, for instance, can be tortured and imprisoned for prolonged periods of time in solitary confinement. Unconditional power given to the rulers of these types of political structures makes them prone to low public support, often being accused of using power to benefit their personal needs. Additionally, given that most countries in the modern day are functioning as arguably stable democracies, many critics still argue that public funds could be better allocated. It seems that the payout of increased tourism and stability in leadership succession is generally not worth its costs.

Other modern monarchies survived such criticism and backlash by reducing their viable political power. For instance, following the failed uprisings against monarchies in 2011, the Gulf nations became more aware of the threat monarchs pose to their political structures and began ramping up reforms to diminish their powers. One of the Gulf nations, the United Arab Emirates, resides in the second category — federal monarchy — which is characterized by a monarch that serves as the frontman of the federation of states who are ruled by their individual monarchies or governments. The third category, mixed monarchy, is different in that it has one absolute monarch who divides political power between different (sometimes elected) parties throughout the rest of the government. 

Unsurprisingly, constitutional monarchies are the most common type of the three, where the monarch’s “real” power is reduced to nil and they only assume a ceremonial role. While these monarchs tend to have wide-reaching technical power, all decisions are left to the government. The monarchs — like King Charles — may bear more similarities with the Kardashians than with absolute monarchs like Hassanal III of Brunei, with their job consisting largely of keeping up their public image. Constitutional monarchs are seen more often actively engaging in charity work and diplomacy to keep up their appearance and prove the continuous relevance of their service to the public. With a brief look at approval rating statistics, efforts seem fruitful; all current constitutional monarchies have positive ratings with the exception of Spain, which suffered scandals about alleged corruption in 2020 that led to the prior King’s sudden exile to the UAE. Generally though, these ritualistic roles are conceived to be important by many local populations, with arguments that they serve to provide a sense of unity and tradition in the nation. 

Japan is home to an emperor. Co-princes reign in Andorra, and Emirs hold power in Qatar. The reception of these monarchs varies in shapes and colors, with some believing that the monarch structure is essential in sustaining culture and stability in their regions, while others in more absolute monarchies often criticize the monarch leaders who take personal advantage of their power. It is evident that the strength of the political power of the monarch has a proportional relationship with the general degree of disapproval of the monarchy. Hence, we see in present-day monarchies the result of past governmental structures that have evolved — and perhaps that will continue to evolve — in an effort to persist into the future.