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Thailand and King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch By Bart, January 22, 2012 at 13:41:14 :: Thailand The Monarchy of Thailand (also referred to as the King of Thailand or historically as King of Siam) refers to the constitutional monarchy and monarch of the Kingdom of Thailand (formerly Siam). The King of Thailand is the head of state and head of the ruling Royal House of Chakri. The king's power is limited to being a symbolic figurehead, but the institution commands the respect and reverence of the Thai people.  Bhumibol Adulyadej is the current King of Thailand. He is known as Rama IX (and within the Thai royal family and to close associates simply as Lek). Having reigned since 9 June 1946, he is the world's longest-serving current head of state and the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history. Since the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932, each constitution has maintained the king as "enthroned in a position of revered worship and shall not be violated." His Majesty, however, in his 2005 national birthday broadcast, specifically indicated he was unhappy with the provision. Despite this royal wish, Thai state authorities have steadfastly refused to permit not just criticism but what they deem to be inappropriate discussion. The constitution exempts the king and the royal family from legal actions, but confers no other legal rights. Therefore, the monarchy is protected against any physical or defamatory threats. This provision against defaming the monarchy is known in the West as the lèse majesté law. A new book detailing the life and work of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej has been published: "King Bhumibol Adulyadej, A Life’s Work: Thailand’s Monarchy in Perspective". According to the Thai newspaper The Nation, "this book will help Thai and foreign readers understand the whole gamut of Thailand's 750-year-old institution and all related implications, real or imagined, especially those related to HM the King, his role and life-long work". So, if you want to know more about the King of Thailand, buy this book! Meanwhile, visit Thailand and Bangkok on The World In Photos! Want to know more about Kings and Queens in the world? Click here! 0 comment :: Add a comment Malaysia, Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Sultan Abdul Halim of Kedah By Bart, January 15, 2012 at 13:12:46 :: Malaysia The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957 when the Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia) gained independence.  A literal English translation of the title is "He who is made Lord". However, common alternatives are "King", "Supreme Ruler", "Paramount Ruler", or "Supreme Head of State". Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy with an elected monarch as head of state. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is elected to a five-year term by and from among the nine hereditary rulers of the Malay states. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is one of the few elected monarchs in the world. In Malaysia's constitutional monarchy, the role of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is largely ceremonial. The constitution specifies that the executive power of the Federal government is vested in the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and is exercised by him on the advice of the federal Council of Ministers. The latter is headed by the Prime Minister, appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong from among the elected members of Parliament. The current Yang di-Pertuan Agong is Sultan Abdul Halim of Kedah. Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah ibni Sultan Badlishah (born 28 November 1927) is the 14th and current Yang di-Pertuan Agong (head of state) of Malaysia, as well as the 27th and current Sultan of Kedah. He previously served as the fifth Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 1970 to 1975. He is the first person to hold the position twice, as well as the oldest elected to the office. Executive power is vested in the Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister. The prime minister must be a member of the house of representatives, who in the opinion of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, commands a majority in parliament. The cabinet is chosen from members of both houses of Parliament. The Prime Minister is both the head of cabinet and the head of government. The incumbent, Najib Razak, appointed in 2009, is the sixth prime minister. Visit Malaysia now, on The World In Photos! Want to know more about Kings and Queens in the world? Click here! 0 comment :: Add a comment Japan, Akihito, Emperors and Shoguns By Bart, December 11, 2011 at 17:00:31 :: Japan Akihito (born 23 December 1933) is the current Emperor of Japan, the 125th emperor of his line according to Japan's traditional order of succession. He acceded to the throne in 1989, after the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito, on 7 January 1989. In Japan, the emperor is never referred to by his given name, but rather is referred to as "His Imperial Majesty the Emperor" which may be shortened to "His Imperial Majesty". The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan adopted by the Postwar Japanese government, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people," which simultaneously dissolved the Empire of Japan. He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest authority of the Shinto religion. In his dual role as head of a religion and head of state the Emperor resembles the British monarch, who is "supreme governor" of the Church of England.  Unlike most constitutional monarchies, the Emperor is not even the nominal chief executive explicitly in the Constitution of Japan, but has duties "in matters of state", which are closely regulated. The constitution states that the Emperor "shall perform only such acts in matters of state as are provided for in the Constitution and he shall not have powers related to government" (article 4) and that the "advice and approval of the Cabinet shall be required for all acts of the Emperor in matters of state" (article 3). Article 4 also states that these duties can be delegated by the Emperor as provided for by law. Article 65 explicitly vests the executive power in the Cabinet, of which the Prime Minister is the leader. Japanese emperors have nearly always been controlled by external political forces, to varying degrees. In fact, from 1192 to 1867, the shoguns, or their shikken regents in Kamakura (1203–1333), were the de facto rulers of Japan, although they were nominally appointed by the emperor. A shogun (literally, "a commander of a force") was one of the (usually) hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents (1203–1333), were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor. Visit Japan now, on The World In Photos! Want to know more about Kings and Queens in the world? Click here! 0 comment :: Add a comment Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia By Bart, November 20, 2011 at 12:31:50 :: Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni (Khmer: នរោត្តម សីហមុនី, born 14 May 1953) is the current reigning King of Cambodia. He is the eldest son of Norodom Sihanouk and Norodom Monineath Sihanouk. His name is derived from the first syllables of his parents' names. Previously Cambodia's ambassador to UNESCO, he was named by a nine-member throne council to become the next king after his father Norodom Sihanouk abdicated in 2004. Before ascending the throne, Sihamoni was best known for his work as a cultural ambassador in Europe and as a classical dance instructor.  During the Khmer Rouge's four-year genocidal regime, which resulted in the deaths of more than a million people, King Sihamoni - along with most of his family - was kept under house arrest in the palace in Phnom Penh. Shortly after the Khmer Rouge fell to Vietnamese forces in 1979, King Sihamoni left Cambodia for France, where he pursued his love of classical dance at some of the leading conservatories in Paris. In 1992 he was given the position of Cambodia's ambassador to Unesco, a post he held until earlier this year, when he moved to Beijing to look after his ailing father. The first indication that King Sihamoni might succeed to the throne came at an Independence Day ceremony in 2002, when he deputised for the king. His presence came as a surprise to government officials and diplomats at the event, who saw it as a sign that Sihanouk was introducing his preferred candidate. King Sihamoni is so far seen as relatively pliant, which will suit Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has dominated Cambodian politics for the past two decades. Cambodia, with a population of 14.8 million and a GDP of USD 2,100.00, is one of the poorest countries in South-East Asia. Quick Facts: - Under the current constitution King Sihamoni has no real power; - Before he became King he was best known for his work in Europe as a cultural ambassador and a classical dance instructor; - He spent most of his childhood outside of Cambodia; - He is one of the only ruling monarchs who speaks Czech. He also speaks French, English, and Russian; - He and his family have requested royal ceremonies to be low-key events because they do not wish to affect the impoverished country with spending too much money; - He has not had a new crown remade because of Cambodia’s poverty, after many of the crown jewels and other royal regalia disappeared during the Lon Nol regime in the 1970s; - He remains a bachelor and has no children; The official Royal Residence is the Royal Palace of Phnom Penh. It was constructed over a century ago and hosts all major ceremonial functions of the country. Foreign dignitaries stay there too. Visit Cambodia now on The World In Photos! Want to know more about Kings and Queens in the world? Click here! 0 comment :: Add a comment Brunei and the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah By Bart, November 06, 2011 at 14:17:25 :: Brunei Brunei, officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace (Malay: Negara Brunei Darussalam, Jawi: نݢارا بروني دارالسلام), is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia. Apart from its coastline with the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the state of Sarawak, Malaysia, and in fact it is separated into two parts by Limbang, which is part of Sarawak. It is the only sovereign state completely on the island of Borneo, with the remainder of the island belonging to Malaysia and Indonesia. Brunei's population is around 400,000 (July 2010).  General Haji Sir Hassan al-Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah GCB GCMG (born 15 July 1946) is the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the 29th Sultan of Brunei (in a line that dates back to the fourteenth century) and the first Prime Minister of Brunei Darussalam. He is the eldest son of Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei, and Pengiran Anak Damit. Being the eldest son, he became Crown Prince in 1961 and ascended the Throne on 5th October 1967 following the voluntary abdication of his father, Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien. He was crowned on 1st August 1968 in pomp and pageantry befitting Brunei's ancient customs and traditions. Besides being the Sultan and the Ruler, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah is concurrently the Prime Minister, Defence Minister, Finance Minister, and head of the religion of Brunei Darussalam. Being a working monarch, he is involved in the conduct of the State affairs internally and internationally. His official residence is the Istana Nurul Iman, which is also the country's seat of administration. The Sultan is the owner of 531 Mercedes-Benzes, 367 Ferraris, 362 Bentleys, 185 BMWs, 177 Jaguars, 160 Porsches, 130 Rolls-Royces and 20 Lamborghinis, bringing the total number of cars he owns to 1,932. He takes great interests in sports, including polo in which he has excelled in matches against international teams both locally and outside of the State. Visit Brunei now on The World In Photos! Want to know more about Kings and Queens in the world? Click here! 0 comment :: Add a comment Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, King of Bhutan, the world's youngest reigning monarch By Bart, October 16, 2011 at 07:47:55 :: Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, king of Bhutan, born on 21 February 1980 (age 31) is currently the world's youngest reigning monarch. He is the 5th and current reigning Dragon King (Druk Gyalpo) of the Kingdom of Bhutan. He became king on 14 December 2006, and was officially crowned on 6 November 2008.  As Crown Prince of Bhutan, Khesar attended Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 60th Anniversary Celebrations on 12–13 June 2006 in Bangkok along with royals from 25 countries. Known in the Thai press as Prince Jigme, the prince, at 26 the youngest of the visiting royals, caused a sensation, giving rise to a legion of female fans in Thailand. The Thai press dubbed him "Prince Charming", publishing his photograph and running stories about him as well as tourism in Bhutan for several weeks after he had left Thailand. The "Prince Charming" of Asia is now off market after getting married with 21 year old Jetsun Pema, also from Bhutan, on 13 October 2011. Both the king and the new queen have their own Facebook page. Here is the one of the king of Bhutan, and here is the one of his wife. Bhutan is a landlocked state in South Asia of 38,000 km2 and around 708,000 inhabitants. Visit Bhutan and Asia now, on The World In Photos! Want to know more about Kings and Queens in the world? Click here! 0 comment :: Add a comment Mswati III, King of Swaziland By Bart, September 18, 2011 at 20:21:58 :: Swaziland Mswati III (born Makhosetive Dlamini on April 19, 1968) is the King of Swaziland and head of the Swazi Royal Family. In 1986, he succeeded his father Sobhuza II as ruler of the southern African kingdom. He is generally considered to be one of the last absolute monarchs in the world, as he has the authority to appoint the country's Prime Minister, members of the cabinet, and the judiciary. However, he is bound to a certain degree by Swazi traditions and he does not have the authority to choose his heir.  Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland (Umbuso weSwatini), and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique. The nation, as well as its people, are named after the 19th century king Mswati II. Mswati III is known for his taste for luxury and his practice of polygamy (although at least two wives are appointed by the state), and has been criticized abroad for pursuing his personal interests at the expense of his country, one of the poorest in the world. In 2001 he attempted to curb the AIDS epidemic by invoking an ancient chastity rite, the umchwasho, that banned women under the age of 18 from sex. Within Swaziland, Mswati is a respected and largely popular figure. However, his policies and opulent lifestyle have also triggered domestic protests and international criticism. He is one of many sons of king Sobhuza II (who had 70 wives, 210 children and at the time of his death left over 1000 grandchildren) and the only child of Ntombi Tfwala, also known as Inkhosikati LaTfwala, one of the king's younger wives. When king Sobhuza II died in 1982, the Great Council of State (the Liqoqo) selected the 14-year-old prince Makhosetive (the birth name of Mswati III) to be the next king. For the next four years two wives of the late king Sobhuza II, Queen Dzeliwe Shongwe (1982–1983) and Queen Ntombi Tfwala (1983–1986), served as regent while he continued his education in England, attending Sherborne School, before he was called back to take over. Want to know more about Kings and Queens in the world? Click here! Visit Swaziland and Africa now on TWIP. 0 comment :: Add a comment Morocco and King Mohammed VI By Bart, September 04, 2011 at 15:43:20 :: Morocco Morocco officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara. It is part of the Maghreb region, in addition to Tunisia, Algeria, Mauritania, and Libya, with which it shares cultural, historical and linguistic ties.  Morocco is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. Morocco was a French protectorate from 1912 to 1956, when Sultan Mohammed became king. He was succeeded in 1961 by his son, Hassan II, who ruled for 38 years. He played a prominent role in the search for peace in the Middle East, given the large number of Israelis of Moroccan origin, but was criticised for suppressing domestic opposition. After his death in 1999 Hassan was succeeded by his son, who became King Mohammed VI and was seen as a moderniser. There has been some economic and social liberalisation, but the monarch has retained sweeping powers. Mohammed, who was born on 21 August 1963 in Rabat, has one brother, Prince Moulay Rachid, and three sisters, Princess Lalla Meryem, Princess Lalla Asma, and Princess Lalla Hasna. Want to know more about Kings and Queens in the world, click here. Visit Morocco now on TWIP. 0 comment :: Add a comment 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ... 30 31 NEXT |
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