Many kingdoms were officially elective long into historical times (though the election usually, or always, fell to family of the deceased monarch).

In complex cases, this can mean that there are closer blood relatives to the deceased monarch than the next in line according to primogeniture.

Its only ceremonial use is when it is placed on the castrum doloris of a deceased monarch.

After his or her death, legally the deceased monarch (abdicated or not) has no titles.

Depending on the identity of the deceased (a deceased monarch, for instance), there may also be a viewing for the public.

The emperor immediately commissioned artisans and sculptors to build a tomb for the deceased monarch, which still stands today.

Archaeologists have found some tombs in Ur in which members of the court were buried with the deceased monarch.

Many, if not most, kingdoms were officially elective historically, though the candidates were typically only from the family of the deceased monarch.

A posthumous name is sometimes accorded to a deceased monarch.

It was like seeing the plenipotentiary of a great nation lay a wreath on the tomb of a deceased monarch.