for the first time in decades, the royal landscape of Europe looks somewhat different as the New Year gets under way. Queen Elizabeth II was the longest reigning Monarch and the oldest for many years but now, all that has changed. As 2023 begins, this is how Europe is ruled
Margrethe II of Denmark
(Photographer Per Morten Abrahamsen for Kongehuset)
Margrethe II is now the longest reigning Monarch in Europe. In the early days of 2023, she will mark the 51st anniversary of her reign.
Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid was born on April 16th 1940 and will celebrate her 83rd birthday this year. She took the throne on the death of her father, King Frederik IX, on January 14th 1972. Margrethe was widowed on the death of her husband, Prince Henrik, in 2017. Her heir is her elder son, Crown Prince Frederik.
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden
(Photo: Peter Knutson, The Royal Court, Sweden)
King Carl XVI Gustaf is the longest reigning King in Europe and, in 2023, he will celebrate his Golden Jubilee.
Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus was born on April 30th 1946 and will mark his 77th birthday this year. King Carl Gustaf took the throne on the death of his grandfather, King Gustaf VI Adolf, on September 15th 1973. He is married to Queen Silvia and his heir is his eldest child, Crown Princess Victoria.
Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein
Prince Hans-Adam II’s rule of Liechtenstein began in 1989 but his tenure has been different from that of others.
Johannes Adam Ferdinand Alois Josef Maria Marco d’Aviano Pius, known as Hans-Adam, was born on February 14th 1945 in Zurich. He was heir from the moment of his birth. In 1984, his father, Franz Joseph II, passed day to day power to Hans-Adam. However, he remained technically heir until Franz Joseph’s death when he became reigning prince. In 2004, Hans-Adam passed much of his day to day power to his own heir, Alois, but he remains Prince of Liechtenstein. Hans-Adam was married to Countess Marie Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau who died in 2021. Alois is the eldest of their four children.
King Harald V of Norway
(Sven Gj. Gjeruldsen, The Royal Court)
King Harald is now the oldest Monarch in Europe. He will turn 86 in the early part of 2023.
Harald was born on February 21st 1937. He became King of Norway on January 17th 1991, on the death of his father, King Olav V. He will mark the 32nd anniversary of his reign this year. Harald is married to Queen Sonja and his heir is his only son, Crown Prince Haakon.
Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg
(© Cour grand-ducale / Claude Piscitelli)
The Grand Duke of Luxembourg will mark the 23rd anniversary of his rule this autumn. Henri became Grand Duke on October 7th 2000 on the abdication of his father, Grand Duke Jean.
Henri Albert Gabriel Félix Marie Guillaume was born on April 15th 1955, the eldest son of Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte. He is married to Grand Duchess Maria Teresa and his heir is their eldest son, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume.
Prince Albert II of Monaco
(By The Chancellery of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, CC BY-SA 3.0 pl)
Prince Albert of Monaco will mark a milestone birthday in 2023 when he turned 65. He is also approaching almost two decades as Sovereign Prince of Monaco.
Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre was born on March 14th 1958 and became Sovereign Prince of Monaco on April 6th 2005 on the death of his father, Prince Rainier III. He is married to Princess Charlene and his heir is their younger child, Prince Jacques, who, at eight is the youngest heir in Europe.
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
King Willem-Alexander marks the first major milestone of his reign in 2023. He will complete a decade of rule in April.
Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand was born on April 27th 1967 and became King of the Netherlands on April 30th 2013 on the abdication of his mother, Beatrix. He was the country’s first King in over a century. He is married to Queen Maxima and his heir is their eldest daughter, Princess Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange.
King Philippe of the Belgians
(Bas Bogaerts)
King Philippe marks a decade of rule in 2023.
Philippe Leopold Louis Marie was born on April 15th 1960 and became King of the Belgians on the abdication of his father, Albert II, on July 21st 2013. He is married to Queen Mathilde and his heir is their eldest child, Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant.
King Felipe VI of Spain
(Casa de S. M. el Rey)
King Felipe VI of Spain is the youngest ruler in Europe, turning 55 as 2023 gets under way.
Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso was born on January 30th 1968 and became King of Spain on the abdication of his father, King Juan Carlos I, on June 19th 2014. He is married to Queen Letizia and his heir is their elder daughter, Princess Leonor, Princess of Asturias.
King Charles III of the United Kingdom
(i-Images/ Pool)
King Charles III’s reign is currently the shortest of any Monarch in Europe.
Charles Philip Arthur George was born on November 14th 1948 and became King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of 14 other Commonwealth realms on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on September 8th 2022. He is married to Queen Camilla. His heir is Prince William, The Prince of Wales who is the elder child of King Charles and his first wife, Diana, Princess of Wales.
