In common parlance, members of any family which reigns by hereditary right are often referred to as royalty. Some countries have abolished royalty altogether, as in post-revolutionary France and Russia. But in many countries they still command significant power.
In certain monarchies, such as that found in Saudi Arabia or Kuwait, the monarch actually exercises executive power. In most constitutional monarchies, however, members of a royal family perform certain public, social, or ceremonial functions, but refrain from any involvement in electoral politics or the actual governance of the country.
Look at the world's richest surviving royal families, who continue to enjoy vast resources.
Images of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit hang over a roadside food stall in BangkokReutersHaji Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei, buttons his jacket while walking to his car, at the airport.ReutersSaudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud attends prayers on the first day of Eid al-Fitr at Al-Safa Palace in Mecca.ReutersUAE's President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan attends the opening of the GCC summit in MuscatReutersPrince Hans-Adam II von und zu Liechtenstein and his wife Countess Marie attend the Requiem of Otto von Habsburg-Lothringen in ViennaReutersMoroccan King Mohammed VI delivers his speech to mark the 58th anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People, in MarrakechReutersEmir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani looks on while attending a meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in TehranReutersPrince Albert II of Monaco and his wife Princess Charlene pose for photographers during the Variety Club Golden Jubilee Ball at Harewood House in Leeds ReutersPrince Aga Khan arrives at the Place du Palais ReutersOman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said attends the International Conference on Global Fight against Terrorism in TehranReuters
