# Which European monarchy is the most likely to return? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 16, 2012, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-european-monarchy-is-the-most-likely-to-return/622108 "2012-05-16T15:52:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-european-monarchy-is-the-most-likely-to-return/622108/1 "2012-05-16T15:52:56Z")
I know the probability of this happening is close to nil so you don’t need to tell me that it’ll never happen. Just play along and assume you read about someone in Europe retaking the throne. Who do you think it would be? Scotland & [The Stuarts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz,_Duke_of_Bavaria)? Would certainly be an interesting twist if the Scots gain independence. France and the [House Bourbon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Alphonse,_Duke_of_Anjou) or the [House Orleans](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_d%27Orl%C3%A9ans,_Count_of_Paris)? I remember from my French class in the 80’s that a French pretender would offer to take the throne every few years but was politely refused. Russia and the Czar ([House](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Dimitri_Romanov) [Romanov](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Duchess_Maria_Vladimirovna_of_Russia))? Maybe back about 5 years ago with renewed interest in the Romanovs but they can’t decide on who the pretender is so no organized effort to bring back the Czardom. A unified Germany under the [Hohenzollern](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_Friedrich,_Prince_of_Prussia)? Might have happened if Germany were unified in 1945 and not 45 years later. Somewhere else? [Portugal](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duarte_Pio,_Duke_of_Braganza)? [Greece](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_II_of_Greece)? [Italy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vittorio_Emanuele,_Prince_of_Naples)? [Bulgaria](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simeon_Saxe-Coburg-Gotha)? [Albania](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Leka_of_Albania)? ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-european-monarchy-is-the-most-likely-to-return/622108/2 "2012-05-16T15:59:14Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I know the probability of this happening is close to nil so you don’t need to tell me that it’ll never happen. While I agree that the probability of restoring any monarchy is zip, I find the prospect of some sort of dictatorship seizing power in at least one European country to be all too likely, given the economic chaos, failure of leadership, and the sprinting of large numbers of voters into the arms of extremist parties with communist or fascist tendencies. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-european-monarchy-is-the-most-likely-to-return/622108/3 "2012-05-16T16:08:59Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > While I agree that the probability of restoring any monarchy is zip, I find the prospect of some sort of dictatorship seizing power in at least one European country to be all too likely, given the economic chaos, failure of leadership, and the sprinting of large numbers of voters into the arms of extremist parties with communist or fascist tendencies. Which is why I think it would be Greece with the “This isn’t working. Let’s try something else.” attitude. Some other countries might have had a chance if 2 or 3 key historical events happened simultaneously like Russia if the veneration of the Romanov’s occur when the Communists lost power instead of years later. ---
**Author:** ![DearestDane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@DearestDane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DearestDane)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-european-monarchy-is-the-most-likely-to-return/622108/4 "2012-05-16T16:22:42Z")
**Åland Islands** joining **Sweden**.:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-european-monarchy-is-the-most-likely-to-return/622108/5 "2012-05-16T16:31:24Z")
Leka I, Albanian pretender and son of the deposed Zog I, re-entered Albania in 1993 with a passport that he had essentially issued to himself, in which he listed his profession as “King.” That didn’t go over well, but he continued trying to jockey for power for another 10 years or so. He died in 2011. His son, Leka II, is a government employee in Albania and president of the Albanian Golf Federation. There is reportedly some monarchichal sentiment still active in the country, but he does not appear to be actively pursuing the throne. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-european-monarchy-is-the-most-likely-to-return/622108/6 "2012-05-16T16:59:01Z")
The MacArthurs of the Philipines. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-european-monarchy-is-the-most-likely-to-return/622108/7 "2012-05-16T21:08:14Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > The MacArthurs of the Philipines. Not European ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-european-monarchy-is-the-most-likely-to-return/622108/8 "2012-05-16T21:13:19Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Scotland & [The Stuarts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz,_Duke_of_Bavaria)? Would certainly be an interesting twist if the Scots gain independence. Better they should go with [“Prince Michael of Albany”.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Roger_Lafosse) He might be a total fraud, but he’s **interesting.** ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-european-monarchy-is-the-most-likely-to-return/622108/9 "2012-05-16T21:15:32Z")
I expect any moment to receive a call from Spain to come back and assume the throne… -XT ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-european-monarchy-is-the-most-likely-to-return/622108/10 "2012-05-16T21:16:45Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > France and the [House Bourbon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Alphonse,_Duke_of_Anjou) or the [House Orleans](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_d%27Orl%C3%A9ans,_Count_of_Paris)? I remember from my French class in the 80’s that a French pretender would offer to take the throne every few years but was politely refused. _Ancien regime?! Nom de plume, **non!** :mad: Vive [Les Bonapartes!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonaparte)_ ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-european-monarchy-is-the-most-likely-to-return/622108/11 "2012-05-16T21:21:59Z")
Bulgaria would do better-they could have a Tsar! Maybe the New Greece might take a second chance with a monarch. But I’d like to see Romania become a monarchy again. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-european-monarchy-is-the-most-likely-to-return/622108/12 "2012-05-16T21:24:15Z")
> [@XT](#): > > I expect any moment to receive a call from Spain to come back and assume the throne… > > -XT Consider yourself [forestalled.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LmTbjWt16k) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-european-monarchy-is-the-most-likely-to-return/622108/13 "2012-05-16T21:27:28Z")
The [Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish%E2%80%93Lithuanian_Commonwealth) was an **elective** monarchy, so if the Poles and/or the Lithuanians ever wanted to “restore” it (reunification would be a different question), I guess they could choose anybody they like, and it need not be Pole nor a Lithuanian (several Kings of Poland & Grand Dukes of Lithuania were foreign). ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-european-monarchy-is-the-most-likely-to-return/622108/14 "2012-05-16T22:08:07Z")
> [@XT](#): > > I expect any moment to receive a call from Spain to come back and assume the throne… > > -XT How’s it going there at the Pizza Pizza, King? ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-european-monarchy-is-the-most-likely-to-return/622108/15 "2012-05-16T23:04:51Z")
> [@XT](#): > > I expect any moment to receive a call from Spain to come back and assume the throne… > > -XT I think the current royal family might object. ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-european-monarchy-is-the-most-likely-to-return/622108/16 "2012-05-16T23:14:41Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I know the probability of this happening is close to nil so you don’t need to tell me that it’ll never happen. Just play along and assume you read about someone in Europe retaking the throne. Who do you think it would be? > > Scotland & [The Stuarts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz,_Duke_of_Bavaria)? Would certainly be an interesting twist if the Scots gain independence. I doubt it! The Stuarts ‘died out’ with the death of Queen Anne in 1714, even if her father had been ousted from the throne in 1688. The Stuarts were as much English kings as Scottish, and the Scots will almost certainly share England’s monarchy, as a Commonwealth realm. I think either Serbia or Romania are likely-ish. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-european-monarchy-is-the-most-likely-to-return/622108/17 "2012-05-16T23:46:29Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Scotland & [The Stuarts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz,_Duke_of_Bavaria)? Would certainly be an interesting twist if the Scots gain independence. > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Better they should go with [“Prince Michael of Albany”.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Roger_Lafosse) He might be a total fraud, but he’s **interesting.** > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > The [Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish%E2%80%93Lithuanian_Commonwealth) was an **elective** monarchy, so if the Poles and/or the Lithuanians ever wanted to “restore” it (reunification would be a different question), I guess they could choose anybody they like, and it need not be Pole nor a Lithuanian (several Kings of Poland & Grand Dukes of Lithuania were foreign). Or. then again, maybe the [Sobieskis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sobieski_Stuarts) could rule Scotland . . . ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-european-monarchy-is-the-most-likely-to-return/622108/18 "2012-05-17T05:20:25Z")
It woud be nice if there were a High King of Ireland once again. (And if he were installed at Tara of the Kings by the ancient traditional Celtic pagan rituals. Which involved the king fucking a horse.) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-european-monarchy-is-the-most-likely-to-return/622108/19 "2012-05-17T06:18:02Z")
I wish the Czechs and the Hungarians would restore their monarchies, 'cos they had such [kewl](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_of_Saint_Wenceslas) [crowns!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_Jewels_of_Hungary) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-european-monarchy-is-the-most-likely-to-return/622108/20 "2012-05-17T06:37:35Z")
But not a patch on [Austria’s!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austrian_Crown_Jewels) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-european-monarchy-is-the-most-likely-to-return/622108.md?page=2)