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Feb 2025
46m 17s

7 Living Former Monarchs Who Retired

Lindsay Holiday
About this episode

Queen Elizabeth II considered abdication to be a dirty word. She remained on the throne until her death at 96, and left her son Charles to waiting 73 years to take the job he was born to. But abdication is not so despised in other countries. In recent decades more monarchs have elected to retire and pass the throne on to the next generation. Thus allowing them to spend their golden years relaxing and enjoying their ridiculously well-funded retirement plans. Plus we’ll find out what an ex monarch does in retirement; from studying fish to living in a log cabin to getting into even more scandal than they did on the throne. Let’s meet the world’s 6 living former monarchs...

Akihito, Former Emperor of Japan

Albert II, Former King of Belgium

Juan Carlos I, Former King of Spain

Beatrix, Former Queen of the Netherlands

Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Former Emir of Qatar

Jigme Singye Wangchuck, Former Dragon King of Bhutan

Margrethe II , Former Queen of Denmark


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Intro Music: Baroque Coffee House by Doug Maxwell

Music: 'Dream of the Ancestors' by Asher Fulero

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