So, how many nations still consider their leaders kings or royalty? As of 2025, 43 sovereign states officially have a monarchy. Among these, a few are absolute monarchies, but most are constitutional in nature. Their kings, queens, sultans, and emirs range from symbolic figureheads to powerful rulers with significant authority.

Royalty is, at its heart, a human invention—a storytelling tradition imbued with culture, faith, and politics. It is a living legacy of how societies organize power, commemorate history, and imagine greatness.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is more than a holiday—it’s a call to action, a moral checkpoint, and an opportunity to realign our values with those of justice, compassion, and service. Whether through service, education, or advocacy, we each have a role to play in keeping the dream alive—not just on one day in January, but every day.

Presidents Day may not have the fireworks of Independence Day or the somber reflection of Memorial Day, but its importance is just as profound. It is a day to celebrate leadership, legacy, and the ongoing American experiment in self-governance.