15 things you may not know about Asian Royalty

1. Does Malaysia have a king?

Since independence, the country’s monarchs have mainly performed ceremonial functions, but King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad has emerged as a major political force amid recent turmoil. Learn more

Malaysia‘s King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, left, meets Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin at the National Palace. Photo: Handout / AFP

2. Who is the queen of Thailand?

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn is married to Queen Suthida, but has a consort named Sineenat. Learn more

Thai consort Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi greets royalists in Bangkok on November 1, 2020. Photo: Reuters

3. How do you marry a Malaysian prince?

A long line of Malaysian royals have married non-Malays, sometimes controversially. Learn more

Tengku Muhammad Faiz Petra and Swedish national Sofie Louise Johansson. Photo: Twitter

4. Is Cambodia's royal family linked to China?

Why Cambodia’s royals need close China ties that are separate from Hun Sen’s government. Learn more

Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and queen mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk greet people after arriving back in Cambodia after their recent trip to China, where they received a health check-up. Photo: AFP

5. Does India have a royal family?

Since India abolished the monarchy in 1971, its royal families have had to grapple with the changing role of nobility in the modern world, many taking down-to-earth jobs as painters, hoteliers and photographers. Learn more

Akshita M Bhanj Deo, from the royal family of Mayurbhanj in Orissa, eastern India. Photo: Handout

6. How influential is Malaysia's King?

The monarch has become increasingly influential in politics. Learn more

Malaysia’s King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah called on MPs to support the country’s proposed budget. Photo: AFP

7. Have any Asian royals 'done a Megxit'?

In Japan, there is a tradition of royals giving up their titles when they marry commoners. Learn more

Princess Nori admiring cherry blossoms before she got married. Photo: AFP

8. Who pays for the Thai monarchy?

The Crown Property Bureau, a quasi-governmental institution, manages the wealth of King Vajiralongkorn. Learn more

Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida greet supporters outside the Grand Palace in Bangkok after presiding over a religious ceremony at a Buddhist temple inside the palace earlier this month. Photo: AFP

9. Where does Thailand’s king call home?

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn has a home in the Bavarian Alps. Learn more

Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn has lived at the Bavarian Alps region since about 2007. Photo: Reuters

10. What happened to Thailand's Queen Suthida?

In early 2021, Queen Suthida's month-long absence from public view raised anxieties among some diehard royalist supporters. Learn more

King Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida at an event in November 2020. Photo: @thairoyalfamily/ Instagram

11. Who is the emperor of Japan?

After more than 30 years on the Chrysanthemum Throne, Emperor Akihito abdicated on April 30, 2019, making way for his son, Naruhito. Learn more

Japan’s Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. Photo: EPA

12. Which Asian countries are monarchies?

Monarchic rule was once the most common form of government across much of Asia, but today only six countries in East and Southeast Asia have monarchic rule. Learn more

Crowns, jewels and regalia have long been associated with royalty the world over. Photo: AP

13. "Who is Princess Norodom Pongsoriya?

The Gen Z Cambodian royal is popular in both Cambodia and China for her beauty and her brains. Learn more

Princess Pongsoriya of Cambodia, who completed her studies in China, is part of a new generation of Cambodian royals. Photo: Instagram@royalducambodge

14. Are Asia's royal families popular?

A new breed of social media-savvy royal is breathing new life into Asia's long love affair with its royal families. Learn more

Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah marks his golden jubilee. Photo: AFP

15. Who is Thailand's king?

King Maha Vajiralongkorn was crowned on May 4, 2019, following the death of his father King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 2016. Learn more

Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida greet royalists at The Grand Palace in Bangkok. Photo: Reuters