Reform to allow a female emperor, or an emperor descended from the female line of the royal family, has ground to a halt. This is despite overwhelming public support for a change.
South African President Jacob Zuma and Tobeka Madiba, his fifth wife, celebrate their traditional wedding with a dance.
Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko
A year ago, a military coup toppled Thailand’s elected government. The junta promised elections once a new constitution is adopted, but its authoritarian rule betrays a hostility to real democracy.
The retrospective nature of the changes to the rules of succession means it ultimately made no difference whether the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s first born was a boy or girl.
EPA/Tal Cohen
The Crown has become a little less discriminatory with changes to the rules of succession – and descendants of George II who failed to get permission to wed need no longer fear their marriage is void.
Thais pray at Bangkok’s Siriraj hospital for the king who has reigned over them for 69 years.
EPA/Narong Sangnak
Late last Friday the King of Thailand was rushed from his seaside palace in Hua Hin to Siriraj hospital in Bangkok. The Palace issued an announcement that the King was suffering from a fever and a rapid…