Double-click on any word and see its definition from Cambridge Dictionaries Online.
Monarchies are one of the oldest forms of government, with echoes in the leadership of tribal chiefs. Many monarchies began with the Monarch as the local representative and temporary embodiment of the deity: (King of Babylon). The Monarch often ruled at the pleasure of the deity and was overthrown or sacrificed when it became apparent that supernatural sanction had been withdrawn: Celestial Emperor of China, Mayan kings, Achaemenid King of Kings of Persia. Other Monarchs derived their power by acclamation of the ruling or of the warrior caste of a clan or group of clans: Kings of the Franks, Roman emperors. Even where law is simply the monarch's will, the king must rule by custom.
Source: Wikipedia
Mālietoa Tanumāfili II (born January 4, 1913) (also called Susuga) is one of the paramount chiefs and the current head of state (O le Ao o le Malo) of Samoa (and also the oldest national leader in the world). He holds this position for life. He descends from Samoa's four princely families (Aiga Tupu) and holds the title Mālietoa, one of the paramount titles. As a tribal chief, he is currently the longest reigning monarch in the world. It must be stressed, however, that he is not a king, but rather a president for life. After his death a new head of state will be selected; the office is not inheritable.
Source: Wikipedia
The King and I (1956): directed by Walter Lang, written by Margaret Landon and Oscar Hammerstein II and starring Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr. Tagline: More Than You've Ever Seen On The Screen! Plot Outline: Musical about a widow who accepts a job as a live-in governess of the King of Siam's children.
Source: IMDb
Royal jelly is a type of bee secretion that aids in the development of immature or young bees. It is secreted by the heads of young workers and used (amongst other substances) to feed the young until they develop to the desired rank. If a queen is desired, the hatchling will receive only royal jelly as its food source, in order that she will become sexually mature and have the fully developed ovaries needed to lay more eggs for the hive.
Source: Wikipedia
Monarch by Feist
See lyrics
The Monarch is a supervillain from the Adult Swim cartoon The Venture Bros. He claims to have been raised by Monarch butterflies after surviving a plane crash that killed his parents, although his mannerisms and personality demonstrate almost no knowledge of their biology or behavior.
Source: Wikipedia
Mayonnaise de Homard
(as used at the Coronation Banquet of His Majesty King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, 10th May, 1937)
Filet de Boeuf Mascotte
(as used at the Coronation day banquet of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 2nd June, 1953)
Salade d'Asperges à la Vinaigrette
(as used at the Coronation banquet of His Majesty King George V, 22nd June, 1911)
Parfait à la Meringue au Citron
(as used at the State Banquet for the visit of the President of Finland, October 1995)
See recipes
A short list of monarchs (and other royalty and nobility) sorted by nickname:
"~ Barbe-torte" (French, "Crooked-beard"): Alan II, Duke of Brittany
"~ Beer-Jug": John George I, Elector of Saxony
"~ the Big Nest": Vsevolod III Yuriyevich of Vladimir
"~ Bloodaxe": Eric I of Norway
"~ the Cabbage": Ivailo of Bulgaria
"~ Coal-Burner": Anund Jacob of Sweden
"~ Do-Nothing", "~ the Indolent" or "~ the Sluggard": Louis V of France
"~ the Dung-Named": Constantine V, Byzantine Emperor
"~ the Gouty": Piero I de Medici of Florence
"~ the Hairy": Wilfred I of Urgel
"~ Hairy Breeches": Ragnar Lodbrok of Sweden
"~ the Impaler": Vlad III of Wallachia
"~ the Little Impaler": Basarab Ţepeluş cel Tânăr of Wallachia
"~ Minus-a-Quarter": Michael VII Dukas, Byzantine Emperor
"~ the Populator": Sancho I of Portugal
"~ Split-Nose": Justinian II, Byzantine Emperor
"~ the Stuttering and Lame": Eric XI of Sweden
"~ the Trembling": Garcia IV of Pamplona
Source: Wikipedia
In the Kingdom of Nepal, on June 1, 2001, the Heir Apparent Dipendra reportedly went on a killing spree in the royal palace, in response to his parents' rejection of his choice of wife. His parents were killed, as well as 7 other members of the royal family. Dipendra was also mortally wounded, either by his own hand or at the hands of the palace guard, and with the murder of his father, officially became king for the three days he lingered in a coma. Following the carnage, the throne was inherited by Birendra's brother Gyanendra. In the face of unstable governments and a Maoist siege on the Kathmandu Valley in August 2004, popular support for the monarchy waned.
Source: Wikipedia
Don't be a thief and you won't fear the king. (Afghan)
We are both queens, so who will hang out the laundry? (Indian)
Looking at a king's mouth one would never think he sucked his mother's breast. (African)
In every woman there is a Queen. Speak to the Queen and the Queen will answer. (Norwegian)
An unjust king is like a river without water. (Arabian)
Better to be queen for an hour than a countess for life. (Portuguese)
If the king says that it is night in the middle of the day, look up at the stars. (Arabian)
The fire that burns a royal palace only enhances its splendor. (Nigerian)
Better a live beggar than a dead king. (Chinese)
Conquerors are kings; the beaten are bandits. (Chinese)
Source: Creative Proverbs
The Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is a well-known North American butterfly. Since the 19th century, it is also found in New Zealand, and in Australia where it is also known as the Wanderer Butterfly. In Europe it is resident in the Canary Islands (except Lanzarote) and Madeira, and is found as a migrant in the Azores, Portugal and Spain. Its wings feature an easily recognisable orange and black pattern, with a wingspan of 8.5–12.5 cm. The females have darker veins on their wings, and the males have a spot in the center of each hindwing from which pheromones are released.
Source: Wikipedia
Kingfishers are birds of the three families Alcedinidae (river kingfishers), Halcyonidae (tree kingfishers), and Cerylidae (water kingfishers). There are about 90 species of kingfisher. All have large heads, long, sharp, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. They are found throughout the world.
Source: Wikipedia
The queen bee is an adult, mated female in a honeybee colony or hive; she is usually the mother of all the bees in the hive. The queens are developed from larvae selected by worker bees and specially fed in order to become sexually mature. There is normally only one adult, mated queen in a hive.
Source: Wikipedia
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