When I was doing a deep dive into the history of the royals in Europe, I made an exciting discovery.

The Pope is technically a royal. Yes, you read that right, our man Fran is a king.

So why is he a monarch?

Pope's visit to Ireland
Move over Elizabeth, we have a new monarch in town Pic: AFP

Well you see, the Vatican City is its own State (the smallest state in the world in fact). 

In the 19th century the annexation of the Papal States by the Kingdom of Sardinia, and the subsequent establishment of the Kingdom of Italy was not recognized by the Vatican.

However, the Lateran treaty of 1929 saw the Kingdom of Italy recognize Vatican City as an independent state and vice versa.

He certainly knows how to rock a white suit! Pic: PA

And while the Pope is elected, he is an elected monarch and he still carries the official title of ‘King of the Ecclesiastical State’.

The Vatican City is a theocratic absolute elective monarchy. A theocracy is a form of government in which God or a deity of some type is recognized as the supreme ruling authority.

An absolute monarchy is a form of monarchy in which the monarch holds supreme autocratic authority and is not restricted by written laws, legislature, or customs.

Yes, the Vatican is a monarchy and I don’t know what to do with this information Pic: PA

And of course, an elective monarchy means that the Pope is elected by the College of Cardinals.

Every day is a school day!