Not every monarchy in the world has a royal family, but most do. For example, 10 of Europe’s 12 manarchy countries are led by a royal family. This includes well-known royal families such as the Windsors in the United Kingdom and the Grimaldis in Monaco. However, monarchies in Africa and Asia also have notable royal families, many of whom have captivating stories. For example, Japan’s current Emperor Emeritus Akihito broke 2,600 years of tradition in 1959 by marrying his beloved, a commoner named Michiko Shōda, instead of choosing an aristocratic bride from the approved social group.
