Monarchy of Scandinavia
| Queen of the Scandinavians | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Incumbent | |
 | |
| Margaret Christina since 5 April 2020 | |
| Details | |
| Style | Her Majesty |
| First monarch | Charles I |
| Formation | 3 December 1839 |
The monarchy of Scandinavia, better known as the Scandinavian monarchy, is the constitutional form of government whereby a hereditary sovereign reigns as a head of state of the United Kingdoms of Scandinavia, comprised of approximately three constituent kingdoms, namely Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The current monarch is Queen Margaret Christina, whom ascended to the throne upon the abdication of her father, King Charles IV, on April 5th 2020.
Uniquely enough, since the formal adoption of the title itself, the monarch has since been only referred to as such on the international stage, as he or she is instead more appropriately titled King/Queen of [Denmark/Norway/Sweden], depending on the said monarch's location at any given time. However, the monarch is still also referred to as King/Queen of the Scandinavians, particularly during a session of the Grand Chamber, as the upper house chamber is considered as an amalgamation of all the three respective parliaments in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Origins
Following the election of King Charles XIV of Sweden-Norway as the new King of Denmark, in which he succeeded the childless King Frederick VI of Denmark, he promptly issued a declaration that formally inaugurated the creation of the United Kingdoms of Scandinavia. Following this, the new King Charles I of Scandinavia had originally wished to crown himself King of the Scandinavians, as he had been the new, and legitimate monarch of all three independent Scandinavian kingdoms. However, this decision was initially abandoned following strong opposition from Tsar Nicholas I of Russia, whom had perceived the title as Charles extending his rights as sovereign over the Finnish realm, of which the Tsar himself is its Grand Duke. As a result, an alternative title was proposed instead, which resulted in the monarch of the new United Kingdoms of Scandinavia being titled King of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden which, from that point on, became the official title of Charles I's successors.
On September 20th 1917, a few days after the dismemberment of the Russian Empire, the then King Gustav I of Scandinavia markedly proposed for a renewed attempt in officially adopting the title once more, an effort that was met with unilateral support. However, this renewed decision was also criticised by a number of sectarian nationalists, whom feared that the replacement of the previous title with the new one instead would eradicate the separate and distinctive identities of each three kingdoms forming the union. Ultimately, a compromise was reached between the King and his critics in which the monarchs of Scandinavia would continue to be titled King of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden when overseeing domestic affairs only, and would instead be titled King of the Scandinavians when in correspondence with foreign powers, as to present the image of a formally united Scandinavian monarchy against any external threat.