South-East Asia’s monarchies struggle with succession
Bad heir days are more common than they would like
With the death of Queen Elizabeth, the title of longest-serving, still-breathing monarch passes to Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei. He has been on the throne for 55 years. Long reigns are not unusual in South-East Asia. It is home to a flush of potentates, from the kings of Cambodia and Thailand to the sultans of Malaysia, Brunei and Yogyakarta, a province of Indonesia. Most have sat on their thrones for decades. All are in their 60s and 70s. Some are whispered to be in ill health.
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Heirs aberrant”
Asia September 17th 2022
From the September 17th 2022 edition
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