Two kings, three queens in Belgium

[observer]

It appears that King Albert II will retain the title of King, like his father Leopold III, after his abdication. This means that there will once again be two kings in Belgium (Albert and Filip) as well as three queens (Fabiola, Paola, and Mathilde). Does anyone know of a similar situation?

[paulchen]

That is indeed a strange situation...

Equally, does a monarch who has abdicated retain [all] the orders of chivalry that they were grand master of whilst on the throne or only those that they were invested with before their accession?

[observer]

I have realized that in 1936 Great Britain had the similar situation but with three kings - Georges V and Vi, and Edward VIII - and two queens - Mary and Elizabeth.

[observer]

Jul 5, 2013 10:33:23 GMT paulchen said:

That is indeed a strange situation...

Equally, does a monarch who has abdicated retain [all] the orders of chivalry that they were grand master of whilst on the throne or only those that they were invested with before their accession?

I imagine it may depend on the individual monarchy, but I note that Princess Beatrix, former Sovereign of the Military William Order, is not now included among its members.

There is an interesting paper by Neil Cox ( Professor of Law at the Auckland University of Technology) on this issue - see academia.edu/1471699/The_principles_of_international_law_governing_the_Sovereign_authority_for_the_creation_and_administration_of_Orders_of_Chivalry

[paulchen]

Jul 12, 2013 1:29:52 GMT observer said:

Jul 5, 2013 10:33:23 GMT paulchen said:

That is indeed a strange situation...

Equally, does a monarch who has abdicated retain [all] the orders of chivalry that they were grand master of whilst on the throne or only those that they were invested with before their accession?

I imagine it may depend on the individual monarchy, but I note that Princess Beatrix, former Sovereign of the Military William Order, is not now included among its members.

There is an interesting paper by Neil Cox ( Professor of Law at the Auckland University of Technology) on this issue - see academia.edu/1471699/The_principles_of_international_law_governing_the_Sovereign_authority_for_the_creation_and_administration_of_Orders_of_Chivalry

Many thanks for your help on the, Observer.