Monarchism in France

The French monarchist movements are roughly divided today in three groups: In France, Louis Philippe abdicated on 24 February, 1848, opening way to the Second Republic (1848–1852), which lasted until Napoleon III's 2 December, 1851 coup d'état and the establishment of the Second Empire (1852–1870).

Legitimists and Orléanists controlled the majority of the Assemblies, and supported Patrice de MacMahon, Duke of Magenta, as president of the Ordre moral government.

However, since the monarchy and Catholicism were long entangled ("the alliance of the Throne and the Altar"), republican ideas were often tinged with anti-clericalism, which led to some turmoil during Radical Émile Combes' cabinet in the beginning of the 20th century.

Monarchists were then active under the Vichy regime, with the leader of the Action Française Charles Maurras qualifying as "divine surprise" the overthrow of the Republic and the arrival to power of Marshal Pétain.

[3] However, a little-known, non-sovereign form of monarchy remains in France, with the three traditional kings of Wallis and Futuna, a small Pacific archipelago organized as three kingdoms, who are granted recognition under article 75  of the Constitution.