7 Fascinating Monarchy Facts: Discover Royally Entertaining Trivia and Secrets

1. King Charles III: 15-Country Timeshare Throne

Talk about a king-size share house: The reigning monarch in the Commonwealth realms, presently King Charles III, serves as the head of state for a whopping 15 countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. This unique timeshare system for thrones can be traced back to the 1867 establishment of the first dominion, Canada, and continues to grow as old colonies gain independence and join the royal party.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Queen Elizabeth II: YouTube's Royal Channel Pioneer

Before hitting the 'subscribe' button became a royal affair, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II showed she was quite the digital monarch by diving into the world of online video sharing: In 2007, she launched the Royal Channel on YouTube, showcasing both archive and modern footage of the Royal Family and events, although not the first monarch to do so, as the original statement incorrectly suggests.
Source => royal.uk

Discover the intriguing story of Empress Dowager Cixi's fascination with California tourmaline gems and her mysterious pink tourmaline ring. Can you unravel the secrets behind this captivating tale? 💍✨

=> Fun Facts about Queens

3. Frederick the Great's Spud Scam

In a royal spud-dle: Prussian king Frederick the Great cleverly conned his potato-wary people into adoring the delightful tuber by having his army "guard" the precious fields, sparking curiosity and theft, ultimately establishing the potato as a staple crop in his kingdom - an achievement so beloved that spuds are still laid on his dearly departed Sanssouci palace grave.
Source => scihi.org

4. Rolls-Royce Phantom IV: Royal Car's Truck Disguise

Just when you thought Rolls-Royce vehicles were reserved for the royals, think again: the Phantom IV, a rare gem produced between 1950 and 1956, has a rebellious past, as one of the 18 models made was secretly moonlighting as an experimental truck at the factory, showing even the fanciest cars can get their hands (or in this case, wheels) dirty.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Charles I's Equestrian Statue: Royal Hide-and-Seek

Ever heard of a royal hokey-pokey? Well, the equestrian statue of Charles I sure has! After being sold and shoved into hiding during the English Civil War, this bad boy was dusted off and ready to horse around again: Created by the French sculptor Hubert Le Sueur as one of the first Renaissance-style equestrian statues in England, it now stands proudly at Charing Cross, London, marking the central point of the city and resting atop a plinth made of Portland stone—talk about an elaborate game of hide-and-seek!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. King Henry VIII: Wax Seal Salesman

King Henry VIII was like the original "stamp of approval" salesman: instead of modern-day stamps signifying "Read," "Approved," or "Top Secret," his was his own moniker to expedite justice and suits in his royal household. Lord of the Wax Seal, his stamp was less about password protection and more about a routine practice in Tudor governance, which shows the importance of the bureaucracy built around monarchy during his reign.
Source => academic.oup.com

7. "Rey": When Your Name Means "King" in Spanish

Reyes, roll out the red carpet and crown us with laughter, for it turns out a common Spanish name doubles as a knee-slapper: Rey, primarily used as a masculine given name in the Philippines and among Hispanic-Americans in the United States, actually means "king" in Spanish! While one may picture ancient monarchs as stuffy, serious figures, the moniker's origin from the Latin word "rex" implies a more upbeat and positive association with confident leadership and control.
Source => ohbabynames.com