During a recent assembly of the Polish Monarchist Movement in the southern city of Sosnowiec, the organization's head Leszek Wierzchowski bestowed five aristocratic titles, including the title of "prince" to Polish President Lech Wałęsa and his family.

In a speech delivered during the meeting, Wierzchowski, formerly a member of the Polish communist party (PZPR), said the aristocracy either left Poland or its descendants have died out. He added that, like Napoleon before him, he must now begin to create a new aristocracy, regardless of whether the newly titled have any links to Poland's historic aristocratic families.