totally random garbage: Heirs to Defunct European Royal Houses

I’ve always been fascinated by royalty. Not sure why exactly.

It could be because I’m a Brit in the US. I’m also a big history buff, with a particular interest in the Belle Epoque, the heyday of European royalty. I also know reading the book Nicholas and Alexandra as a highschooler had a major impact.

All that said, I’ve always found the defunct rulers much more interesting than the actual current ones. I’ve read several books on the former, and also used to read and enjoy a very obscure mag called The Monarchist in my voluminous college library.

So, here they are, the men (and women) who would be king. I’m listing these from most obscure to least obscure.

Albania – Leka II

Grandson of King Zog I, the last Albanian monarch
Born in South Africa, 1982
Full name is Leka Anwar Zog Reza Baudouin Msiziwe Zogu
Educated at Sandhurst
Married Elia Zaharia (Albanian actress & singer), divorced
Has worked in Albanian foreign office and interior ministry; currently political advisor to the president
Heir is 5-year-old Princess Geraldine

Montenegro – Nicholas II

Great-grandfather was Nicholas I, the last monarch
Born 1944, in France
Last name is Petrović-Njegoš
Married Francine Navarro, a fashion designer
Is an architect by trade
Lives in the former royal palace & gets a stipend from the state
Heir apparent is Prince Boris (born 1980)

Bulgaria – Simeon II

Born 1937, in Sofia
Last name is Sakskoburggotski (i.e., Saxe-Coburg)
Was actually king, as a child, for 2 years at the end of WWII
Lived in exile in Egypt & Madrid
Educated in France, the US (Valley Forge Military Academy) & Spain
Married Doña Margarita Gómez-Acebo y Cejuela
Worked as a businessman
Returned to Bulgaria in 1990, started his own political party, and was elected prime minister
Heir is Prince Kyril (born 1946)

Serbia – Alexander II

Father was Peter II, the last Serbian monarch
Born 1945, at Claridge’s Hotel, in London
Cousin is King Charles III
Educated in Switzerland, the UK, and the US
Was a military officer and businessman
Marriages to Princess Maria da Gloria de Orléans-Bragança (of the Brazilian imperial family) and Katherine Clairy Batis
Returned to Serbia in 2000, and now lives in the former royal palace
Heir is Prince Filip (born 1982)

Romania – Margareta

Father was King Michael
Born 1945, in Switzerland
Grew up there & in England
Educated in those 2 countries as well as Italy, France & Switzerland
Dated future UK PM Gordon Brown
Worked in academia & at the UN
Returned to Romania in 1990, doing humanitarian work
Married Radu Duda, an actor and art therapist
No issue, so her heir would be her sister Princess Elena

Greece – Pavlos (Paul)

Son of King Constantine II
Born 1967, in Greece
Grew up in Greece, Italy, Denmark, and London
Educated in London, New Mexico, and at Sandhurst & Georgetown
Married Marie-Chantal Miller
Runs a hedge fund
Lives in London & NYC
Bluewater yachtsman
Heir is Constantine-Alexios (age 26)

Portugal – Duarte (Edward) Pio

Great-grandson of Miguel I, the last monarch
Born in 1945, in Switzerland
Claims are disputed by Maria Pia
Returned to Portugal at age 5
Educated there & in Switzerland
Flew a helicopter for the Portuguese Air Force during the Angolan war of independence
Married Portuguese businesswoman Isabel Inês de Castro Curvelo de Herédia
Heir is Alphonso (born 1996)

Austria – Ferdinand Zvonimir

Great-grandfather was Charles, the last Habsburg monarch
Born in 1997, in Salzburg
Full name is Ferdinand Zvonimir Maria Balthus Keith Michael Otto Antal Bahnam Leonhard Habsburg-Lothringen
Professional race car driver!
Actually won Le Mans!!

Italy – Emanuele Filiberto

Grandfather was King Umberto II
Born in 1972, in Geneva
Full name is Emanuele Filiberto Umberto Reza Ciro René Maria di Savoia
Claims contested by Amadeo, Duke of Aosta
Returned to Italy in 2002
Married award-winning French actress Clotilde Courau
Has sued the Italian government for $90M euros for the pain & suffering of exile, as well as for the return of the crown jewels
Has appeared on the Italian version of Dancing with the Stars, as well as “starring” in commercials for olives
Is an honorary Kentucky Colonel
Heir is 22-year-old Princess Vittoria