# Which of the dispossessed royal families has the best chance to regain its throne? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 24, 2010, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-dispossessed-royal-families-has-the-best-chance-to-regain-its-throne/558170 "2010-10-24T06:40:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-dispossessed-royal-families-has-the-best-chance-to-regain-its-throne/558170/21 "2010-10-25T14:33:20Z")
I’m not sure of the current status of Cambodia’s monarch, but IIRC he’s been deposed and then brought back a couple of times in his career. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-dispossessed-royal-families-has-the-best-chance-to-regain-its-throne/558170/22 "2010-10-25T14:40:22Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > I’m not sure of the current status of Cambodia’s monarch, but IIRC he’s been deposed and then brought back a couple of times in his career. Well, his father was, at least. The current king is head of state, but doesn’t really have any authority. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-dispossessed-royal-families-has-the-best-chance-to-regain-its-throne/558170/23 "2010-10-25T14:46:34Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > 6 foot, 300 lbs won’t get you on _Biggest Loser_, that’s for sure. No, but it gets you a BMI of 35 - the CDC does say that this constitutes obesity. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-dispossessed-royal-families-has-the-best-chance-to-regain-its-throne/558170/24 "2010-10-25T14:56:02Z")
How many of them are actually looking to be restored? Most, honestly, don’t seem too interested in pressing their claims - particularly those European monarchs who are several generations away. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-dispossessed-royal-families-has-the-best-chance-to-regain-its-throne/558170/25 "2010-10-25T15:00:05Z")
If we’re making wagers, I’ll take a longshot - The USA. The political situation continues to veer from left to right until any form of long term stability is deemed preferable. After a profuse apology, Elizabeth is declared constitutional monarch of the US. Teaparties are subjected to a vexed gaze. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-dispossessed-royal-families-has-the-best-chance-to-regain-its-throne/558170/26 "2010-10-25T15:23:01Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > If we’re making wagers, I’ll take a longshot - The USA. > > The political situation continues to veer from left to right until any form of long term stability is deemed preferable. After a profuse apology, Elizabeth is declared constitutional monarch of the US. Teaparties are subjected to a vexed gaze. Interesting. Assuming both Elizabeth and the USA wanted to do this, how would it be done? Would there have to be a Constitutional amendment, or would they simply say, “We’ll just forget about that ol’ USA thing and pick up where we left off in 1783?” Would there have to be legislation in the UK? ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-dispossessed-royal-families-has-the-best-chance-to-regain-its-throne/558170/27 "2010-10-25T15:31:01Z")
Why Elizabeth? We already have royalty on stand-by in Hawaii. ---
**Author:** ![Dan\_ch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a4c791/32.png) [@Dan\_ch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dan_ch)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-dispossessed-royal-families-has-the-best-chance-to-regain-its-throne/558170/28 "2010-10-25T15:42:27Z")
> [@Mississippienne](#): > > So, in your opinion, which of the current pretenders has the best snowball’s chance in hell of ever getting their ancestral throne back? Let me stress that it doesn’t have to be very likely, just the _likeliest_. [This guy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simeon_Saxe-Coburg-Gotha) kind of did it: king and, half a century later, prime minister of Bulgaria. However, I don’t think he’ll ever get the throne back: [QUOTE=Wiki] Simeon II has never renounced his royal claim to the Bulgarian throne. He used the title “Tsar of the Bulgarians” in his political statements during his exile. Since his return to Bulgaria, however, Simeon has consistently declined to reveal his views on the restoration of the Bulgarian monarchy. Upon taking office as prime minister, he took an oath to protect the country’s republican Constitution. [/QUOTE] …though I guess the oath he took is binding only as long as he is in office as prime minister. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-dispossessed-royal-families-has-the-best-chance-to-regain-its-throne/558170/29 "2010-10-25T15:58:19Z")
I must say I find it extremely disgusting with this bunch of has-beens going around pretending that they are somehow above the rest of the mere mortals. _Vive la république!_ ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-dispossessed-royal-families-has-the-best-chance-to-regain-its-throne/558170/30 "2010-10-25T16:02:02Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > If we’re making wagers, I’ll take a longshot - The USA. But I don’t think Emperor Norton left any heirs. I believe there’s a Hapsburg heir who’s very popular in Austria, but though he might win political office for himself, it’s pretty hard to see the monarchy being reinstated. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-dispossessed-royal-families-has-the-best-chance-to-regain-its-throne/558170/31 "2010-10-25T17:22:06Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Why Elizabeth? We already have royalty on stand-by in Hawaii. That would be awesome: Queen Liliokulani of America. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-dispossessed-royal-families-has-the-best-chance-to-regain-its-throne/558170/32 "2010-10-25T18:04:42Z")
I was thinking Italy might be a possibility. But reading about the current claimant, Vittorio Emanuele, makes it seem unlikely. He appears to be waging a campaign to make himself unpopular in Italy. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-dispossessed-royal-families-has-the-best-chance-to-regain-its-throne/558170/33 "2010-10-25T18:15:25Z")
The [former king of Bulgaria](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simeon_Saxe-Coburg-Gotha) is pretty popular. He actually used to be the prime minister, and he’s the head of one of the bigger political parties. One of his kids had a baby when I was living in Bulgaria and the news reported another member of the royal family being born breathlessly. He wasn’t overthrown until WW2, so there are still plenty of people who remember the royal family. I was used to people bemoaning the end of communism, but my landlady once surprised me by telling me that things were so much better when the king was in power. It’s not like there’s a movement to reinstall the monarchy, though. I still wouldn’t hold my breath. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-dispossessed-royal-families-has-the-best-chance-to-regain-its-throne/558170/34 "2010-10-25T18:35:12Z")
But I think everyone would agree we can rule out Ireland. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-dispossessed-royal-families-has-the-best-chance-to-regain-its-throne/558170/35 "2010-10-25T20:13:06Z")
> [@Todderbob](#): > > All if the royal families in Europe are related. Thanks to Great-Great-Grandmama Vicki. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-dispossessed-royal-families-has-the-best-chance-to-regain-its-throne/558170/36 "2010-10-26T05:09:50Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Thanks to Great-Great-Grandmama Vicki. Hey, at least the hemophilia has disappeared. The best chance of it popping up again seems to be in Spain: Victoria Eugenia (wife of King Alfonso XIII, the current king’s grandfather) was a confirmed carrier who had two hemophiliac sons and two daughters of unknown status who have lived quite a long time and had a bunch of descendants. None of the males have turned up with it, though I suppose it could still be lurking in an as-yet-unknown female carrier. Queen Sofia has both X chromosomes passed down from Victoria in some manner, but Prince Felipe seems quite healthy, so perhaps it’s gone for good. Sure did cause those Romanovs some problems, though. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-dispossessed-royal-families-has-the-best-chance-to-regain-its-throne/558170/37 "2010-10-26T16:18:32Z")
The Romanovs have a [website](http://www.imperialhouse.ru/eng/), and [so do](http://www.preussen.de/en/today.html) the Hohenzollerns. Could not find one for the Bourbons. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-dispossessed-royal-families-has-the-best-chance-to-regain-its-throne/558170/38 "2010-10-26T16:35:40Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Why Elizabeth? We already have royalty on stand-by in Hawaii. I’m pretty sure there are also other native American groups that had hereditary leadership. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-dispossessed-royal-families-has-the-best-chance-to-regain-its-throne/558170/39 "2010-10-26T16:37:30Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > But I think everyone would agree we can rule out Ireland. Does Boadicea have any direct lineal descendents? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-dispossessed-royal-families-has-the-best-chance-to-regain-its-throne/558170/40 "2010-10-26T16:43:18Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > But I don’t think Emperor Norton left any heirs. _NORTON I, Emperor of the United States_ left no acknowledged and legitimate heirs, but there might be some great-grand nephews running around. Didn’t he have a brother in South Africa? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-dispossessed-royal-families-has-the-best-chance-to-regain-its-throne/558170.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-dispossessed-royal-families-has-the-best-chance-to-regain-its-throne/558170.md?page=3)