Book excerpt: A century ago, hereditary rulers governed the great world powers. The royal houses of Europe, Africa, and Asia once ruled continents and the dominions beyond the seas. Today, just ten monarchs still reign in Europe, their powers significantly curbed. Where have all the royals gone? This book presents postcard images of lost emperors, kings and queens, czars and czarinas, princes, grand dukes, dukes, and duchesses. From the Balkans to the Iberian peninsula, these regal portraits hint at the values of another era and capture something of the essence of the long-vanished world of international royalty.