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King

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

King Frederik X of Denmark, shown in a formal portrait from the year 2025.

A king is a special title for a male ruler of a country. He is the leader of a land and its people. Sometimes, the husband of a ruling queen is also called a king. This is called a king consort.

Kings have played big roles in history. They have helped build wonderful cities and made important laws. Even today, some countries still have kings. Their jobs are often more about symbols than real power now.

The word king comes from an old English word called cyning, which means “ruler” or “leader.” It comes from an even older language called Proto-Germanic, kuningaz.

Here are some countries that still have kings today:

Learning about kings helps us understand the past and how people lived long ago.

Images

King Charles III meeting with an official during a discussion on global challenges.
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain meets with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in 2016 at Gudaibiya Palace.
King Mswati III of Eswatini meeting with Japan's Prime Minister during an international conference in Yokohama.
Official portrait of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands wearing royal attire from 2013.
King Harald V of Norway attending the opening of the Sámi Parliament in 2021.
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan meeting with a world leader during a formal ceremony.
World leaders, including King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia, participating in a formal diplomatic meeting at the Akasaka Palace State Guest House in 2019.
King Abdullah II of Jordan speaking at the European Parliament about peace-making.
Portrait of King Letsie III of Lesotho

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on King, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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