4. Bhutan
The current king of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, started his reign in 2006. He is part of the Wangchuck family, which has ruled Bhutan since the early 20th century. Wangchuck has overseen dramatic democratic reforms, which were begun by his father. Over the past few years, Bhutan has transformed from a absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy with a popularly elected legislature.
Wangchuck is a popular king, in no small part because of his good looks and media-ready personality. His 2011 wedding was the most watched media event ever in Bhutan. He regularly takes charity trips to remote villages to give land to poor peasants. However, along with these public relations activities, the new Bhutanese constitution still gives him real power to veto laws approved by the parliament and to personally appoint members of the country's judiciary.
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