Monarchies

There are still some monarchies all over the world. However, not so many as there were in the distant past.
In a monarchy there is a sovereign such as a king, a queen, an emperor or an empress- in short- a monarch.
There was a time when monarchies were absolute. Nowadays, they are often limited by a constitution, that is, the king or queen is the sovereign but the parliament is responsible for the real government.
One of the most ancient and famous monarchies in the world is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The countries of the United Kingdom are: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (or Ulster).
Among the British people there is some criticism about the empire, but even this is part of a millenary tradition.