The monarchy in Albania refers to the historical system of governance where a king or queen ruled the country. Albania had a monarchy from the late 19th century until the establishment of a republic in 1946. The last reigning monarch was King Zog I, who ruled from 1928 until he was forced into exile during World War II. After the fall of the monarchy, Albania became a communist state, and the royal family lost its power. In recent years, there have been discussions about the role of the monarchy in modern Albania, but no formal restoration has taken place.