Perhaps this will surprise many but the oldest extant, though non-reigning, dynasties are to be found on the very edges of Europe. Those mediatized princely families in the Caucasus, and the former families who provided High Kings and regional kings in Ireland. The later either fled to the continent or were mediatized by the English Tudors (yes they are Welsh and Norman but were sovereigns of England and self appointed lords of Ireland) during the push for English supremacy.
Although Ireland (the southern portion is a republic) the government with the consent of the president and supervised by the Chief Herald of Ireland, in Dublin have always acknowledged the former dynastic families and their septs. The Chiefs of Family apart from their territorial titles are acknowledged as eith Serene Highness or Most Serene Highness. As the old saying goes: all the Irish are sons of kings isn't as far fetched as it seems, their being over thirty chiefly and princely families.
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