Which monarchy is the oldest

And because Japan's imperial law strips women of their royal status after marriage, the Princess will exit the family, leaving behind just 12 women and five men. In addition, following controversy over their engagement, Princess Mako turned down a As at Tuesday, there will be just 17, and only three heirs to the throne among them: The emperor's year-old uncle, Prince Masahito; his brother, Crown Prince Fumihito, age 55; and his nephew and Princess Mako's brother Hisahito, age Japan is among a handful of modern monarchies that limits succession to men - Saudi Arabia, Oman and Morocco among them.

Princess Mako's wedding has spotlighted previous calls to allow women to be part of the line of succession, as a way to shore up the world's oldest, continuous, hereditary monarchy, and to bring it in line with more modern ideas about gender equality.

It is an overwhelmingly popular idea, according to a Kyodo News poll taken in March and April. Of respondents, 85 per cent said they were in favour of a female emperor, and almost as many - 79 per cent - said they would support letting the Empress pass the throne on to her own children.

Ironically, the imperial family cannot do anything about it. The role of the monarchy, including its line of succession, is governed by Japanese law. In the past two decades, several top political officials have considered changing the rules, to no avail. In , proposed legislation to allow female heirs to be in line to the throne was shelved after the birth of Prince Hisahito, the first male child in almost four decades.

In , then Premier Yoshihiko Noda considered allowing princesses to create their own royal branches and keep their status when they marry, an effort that stalled when he was replaced by Shinzo Abe. More recently, then Premier Yoshihide Suga launched an expert panel to look into the matter, an inquiry that petered out when he failed to win re-election. His successor, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, opposes passing down the throne through an empress.

While the number of royals has declined, it cost Japanese taxpayers 25 billion yen this year in food, education, personal expenses and the salaries of 1, staff including chauffeurs, gardeners and archivists of imperial records.

On a daily basis, they wear dark blue. The Royal Crown Jewels are on display at Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen, the only place in the world where actively used crown jewels are on display to the public. Queen Margrethe II is very popular and widely respected for her artistic abilities.

She has held public showings of her watercolours and textiles and has provided scenography for several theatrical productions in Denmark. Crown Prince Frederik holds a masters degree in political science. He studied international relations at Harvard University, served at the Danish missions at the UN in New York and the Danish Embassy in Paris, and has undergone an extensive military education.

They have four children. People and Culture. Facebook LinkedIn Twitter. The Danish monarchy today Today's Danish monarchy doesn't spend a lot of time on pomp or circumstance.

HM Queen Margrethe ll. Photo: Torben Eskelund. Famous Danish monarchs Since , male Danish monarchs have been named either Christian or Frederik. The Royal Guard, Amalienborg. Royal marriages in Japan have been linked to an uptick in marriages and births, a long-sought goal in a country with an aging population. After the marriage of Crown Prince Fumihito, the number of marriages rose 3. It peaked at 9. After the wedding, the newlyweds plan to live in the U. It may prove a welcome reprieve after years of tabloid scrutiny.

Earlier this month, the Imperial Household Agency, the government office that oversees the royal family, said that the princess had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of online abuse directed at the couple and their families. Are you looking for a stock? Try one of these. News Video.