Queen Mother is a title reserved for a widowed queen consort whose son or daughter from that union is the reigning monarch.^[1] The term has been used in England since at least 1577.^[2] This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Origin and similar terms

The wife of a king is a queen consort. The widow of a king is a queen dowager (or dowager queen). If the dowager queen is the mother of the next monarch, she is also the queen mother, in those countries that use the tradition. A Queen Dowager or Dowager Queen is a title or status generally held by the widow of a deceased king. ...

Where a king was married more than once and a previous wife is still living, only the most recent wife is Queen Dowager (and only if she is still married to him at his death); any others are simply styled "Queen [personal name]." If one of the other queens is the mother of the reigning monarch, that person is not normally titled Queen Mother because she is not Queen Dowager - but there may be circumstances to allow a subjective exception.

For example, Victoria, Duchess of Kent, reputedly thought she was Queen Mother when her daughter acceeded to the throne as Queen Victoria. But the Duke of Kent had never been king, so she had never been queen - thus, she was not Queen Mother but she was the Queen's mother. Princess Elena of Romania (see below) was an exception to this rule. Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Duchess of Kent Marie Luise Viktoria, Princess of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Duchess in Saxony (b. ... Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837, and the first Empress of India from 1 May 1876, until her death on 22 January 1901. ... Princess Helen of Greece and Denmark was born on May 2, 1896 in Athens, the third child of the King Constantine I, King of the Hellenes and his Queen, Sophie Dorothea Ulrica of Prussia. ...

Likewise, Princess Muna al-Hussein (the former Antoinette Avril Gardiner, b. 1941, England), as mother of King Abdullah II of Jordan is the King's mother - but she is not Queen Mother, because she was not given the title Queen while she was married to King Hussein. (She was his second wife.) Princess Muna al-Hussein, born Antoinette Toni Avril Gardiner (Photo at time of marriage) (born in Chelmondiston, near Ipswich, England, on April 25, 1941) was the second wife of King Hussein, the late King of Jordan and is the mother of the current King of Jordan, King Abdullah II of... as-Sayyid Abdullah II bin al-Hussein al Hashimi, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (Arabic: ) (born January 30, 1962, in Amman, Jordan), has been the King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan since February 7, 1999. ...

There is no masculine equivalent to the term. If Albert, Prince Consort had survived Queen Victoria, instead of the other way around, he would not have been called "Prince Father" or a like title with respect to his reigning son Edward VII. Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (Francis Augustus Charles Albert Emanuel, later HRH The Prince Consort) (26 August 1819 – 14 December 1861) was the husband and consort of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. ...

The grandmother of a reigning monarch who was Queen Mother in reference to an earlier monarch in the same line is a "Dowager Queen Mother" and retains the style of Majesty though this circumstance rarely occurs. An example is Queen Mary, widow of King George V, who was Queen Mother with respect to her son George VI, and survived to be the living grandmother of the reigning Queen Elizabeth II from 1952 to 1953. (She was not Queen Mother during the reign of her son Edward VIII, as there was no other Queen then.) Mary of Teck (Victoria Mary Augusta Louise Olga Pauline Claudine Agnes; 26 May 1867 – 24 March 1953) was the Queen Consort of George V. Queen Mary was also the Empress of India and Queen of Ireland. ... George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was the first British monarch belonging to the House of Windsor, which he created from the British branch of the German House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. ... George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions from 11 December 1936 until his death. ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally. ... Edward VIII (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David; later The Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor; 23 June 1894 – 28 May 1972) was King of Great Britain, Ireland, the British Dominions beyond the Seas, and Emperor of India from the death of his father, George V (1910–36), on 20...

Recent British Queen Mothers

The following queens became queen mothers, though not all chose to use that style.

• Queen Alexandra (1844–1925) — widow of Edward VII and mother of George V.

• Queen Mary (1867–1953) — widow of George V and mother of kings Edward VIII and George VI. Queen Mary never used the title 'Queen Mother,' choosing instead to be known as "Queen Mary" and that style was used to describe her in the Court Circular. But she was a Queen Mother just the same, and when her granddaughter acceeded to the throne as Elizabeth II became monarch in 1952, she became a Queen Mother Dowager.

• Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (1900–2002) — the widow of George VI and mother of Queen Elizabeth II. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother was so enormously popular she was often referred to as the Queen Mum, and the term "Queen Mother" remains associated with her after her death.

Main article: English and British Queen Mothers Princess Alexandra of Denmark (later Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom; 1 December 1844 – 20 November 1925), was Queen Consort to Edward VII of the United Kingdom and thus Empress of India during her husbands reign. ... Jan. ... Year 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King of the Commonwealth Realms, and the Emperor of India. ... George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was the first British monarch belonging to the House of Windsor, which he created from the British branch of the German House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. ... Mary of Teck (Victoria Mary Augusta Louise Olga Pauline Claudine Agnes; 26 May 1867 – 24 March 1953) was the Queen Consort of George V. Queen Mary was also the Empress of India and Queen of Ireland. ... Cunt BAg Twat Fuk suck my penis ring 0778851865!!!!!!Year 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Court Circular is the official record of all the engagements carried out by the British Royal Family, as well as appointments to their staff and to the court. ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, later Queen Elizabeth (Elizabeth Angela Marguerite; 4 August 1900 – 30 March 2002), was the Queen Consort of George VI from 1936 until his death in 1952. ... Ğ: For the film, see: 1900 (film). ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... A Queen Mother is a person satisfying the following criteria: She is the mother of the current monarch, or possibly of the consort of the monarch (though this would not be normal practice). ...

Other Queen Mothers

The title 'Queen Mother' has been widely used. Other well-known Queen Mothers include:

• Blanche of Castile — Queen Mother of France (1226–1252)
• Bona Sforza - Queen Mother of Poland and Lithuania (1548– 1557)
• Catherine of Medici — Queen Mother of France (1559–1589)
• Maria of Medici — Queen Mother of France (1610–1642)
• Anne of Austria - Queen Mother of France (1643–1666)
• Margaret of Savoy — Queen Mother of Italy (1900–1926)
• Maria Christina of Austria — Queen Mother of Spain (1906–1929)
• Ingrid of Sweden — Queen Mother of Denmark (1972–2000)

Blanche of Castile (March 4, 1188 – November 26, 1252), wife of Louis VIII of France. ... Events Carmelite Order approved by Pope Honorius III Frederick II calls Imperial Diet of Cremona Births June 21 - King Boleslaus V of Poland (died 1279) Abul-Faraj, Syriac scholar (died 1286) Bar-Hebraeus, Syriac historian and bishop (died 1286) Deaths March 7 - William de Longespee, 3rd Earl of Salisbury, English... For broader historical context, see 1250s and 13th century. ... Bona Sforza in her youth Bona Sforza in 1517 Bona Sforza (February 2, 1494 - November 19, 1557) was a member of the Milanese Sforza dynasty, was a queen of Poland, Grand Duchess of Lithuania, and became the second wife of Sigismund I of Poland in 1518. ... Events Mary I of Scotland sent to France Births September 2 - Vincenzo Scamozzi, Italian architect (died 1616) September 29 - William V, Duke of Bavaria (died 1626) Francesco Andreini, Italian actor (died 1624) Giordano Bruno, Italian philosopher, astronomer, and occultist (burned at the stake) 1600 (died 1600) Honda Tadakatsu, Japanese general... Events Spain is effectively bankrupt. ... ... January 15 - Elizabeth I of England is crowned in Westminster Abbey. ... Events Rebellion of the Catholic League against King Henry III of France, in revenge for his murder of Duke Henry of Guise. ... Portrait of Marie de Medici. ... // Events January 7 - Galileo Galilei discovers the Galilean moons of Jupiter. ... Events January 4 - Charles I attempts to arrest five leading members of the Long Parliament, but they escape. ... Louis XIII by Philippe de Champaigne Anne of Austria (September 22, 1601 - January 20, 1666) was Queen Consort of France and Navarre and Regent for her son, Louis XIV of France. ... // Events January 21 - Abel Tasman discovers Tonga February 6 - Abel Tasman discovers the Fiji islands. ... 1666 is often called Annus Mirabilis. ... Margherita of Savoy Margherita or Margaret of Savoy (born November 20, 1851 in Turin, died January 4, 1926 in Bordighera), was the Queen consort of Italy during the reign (1878-1900) of her husband, Humbert I. She was the daughter of Ferdinand, Duke of Genoa and granddaughter of Carlo Alberto... Ğ: For the film, see: 1900 (film). ... Year 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Maria Christina of Austria, Queen of Spain Maria Christina, Princess Imperia and Archduchess of Austria, Princess Royal of Hungary and Bohemia (Maria Christina Désirée Henriette Felicitas Rainiera von Habsburg-Lothringen, 21 July 1858–6 February 1929) was the second Queen consort of King Alfonso XII of Spain and... 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Princess Ingrid Victoria Sofia Louise Margareta of Sweden , (28 March 1910 – 7 November 2000) was the queen consort of King Frederik IX of Denmark. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Exceptional cases and mistaken identity

• Elena of Greece — wife, from 1921–1928, of the future Carol II of Romania, and mother of King Michael of Romania. In circumstances that read like a soap opera, Michael first ruled from 1927–1930, before his father was king (and again after his father abdicated), and gave his mother the title. Thus, she became Queen Mother without having been Queen first. She subsequently divorced playboy Carol in 1928, before he became king in 1930.

• Similarly, Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur was the third wife of her husband, the monarch, but not the mother of his successor, a son by the king's first wife. She however has been accorded the title of Rajmata, or Queen Mother anyway.

• Queen Noor of Jordan is sometimes mistakenly referred to as the Queen Mother of Jordan. But while she is the widow of King Hussein and was his fourth wife, the current king, Abdullah II, is not her son; he's her step-son. His mother is Princess Muna al-Hussein (mentioned above).

Princess Helen of Greece and Denmark was born on May 2, 1896 in Athens, the third child of the King Constantine I, King of the Hellenes and his Queen, Sophie Dorothea Ulrica of Prussia. ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... Year 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... King Carol II of Romania Carol II of Romania (15 October 1893 _ 4 April 1953) reigned as King of Romania from June 8, 1930 until September 6, 1940. ... King Michael and Queen Anne King Michael (Romanian Mihai) of Romania (born October 25, 1921) was the son of King Carol II and reigned from July 20, 1927 to June 8, 1930, and again from September 6, 1940 until December 30, 1947. ... Year 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Maharani Gayatri Devi, Rajmata of Jaipur (born May 23 1919 as Princess Gayatri Devi of Cooch Behar), was the third Maharani of Jaipur from 1939 to 1970, and is currently styled (unofficially) as the Rajmata, or Queen Mother. ... , Jaipur   (Hindi: जयपुर), also popularly known as the Pink City, historically sometimes rendered as Jeypore, is the capital of Rajasthan state, India. ... Queen Noor (Arabic: الملكة نور) (born August 23, 1951 in Washington, D.C.) is the fourth wife and widow of the late King Hussein of Jordan; as such she is Queen Dowager of Jordan. ... Hussein bin Talal (Arabic: حسين بن طلال) (November 14, 1935 - February 7, 1999) was the King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan from 1952 to 1999. ... as-Sayyid Abdullah II bin al-Hussein al Hashimi, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (Arabic: ) (born January 30, 1962, in Amman, Jordan), has been the King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan since February 7, 1999. ...

King Mother

Diana, Princess of Wales reportedly once suggested to journalist Andrew Morton (author of Diana: Her True Story) that when her son, Prince William of Wales became king, she would be known as King Mother. (Source: Andrew Morton, interviewed by Gay Byrne on the Late Late Show on RTÉ.) No such designation has ever officially existed, nor is there independent evidence that such terminology was ever considered. Queen Mother means "queen who is mother to the current monarch", not "mother of the queen"; "King Mother" is a contradiction in terms. Diana, Princess of Wales (Diana Frances;[2] née Spencer; 1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997) was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales. ... Andrew Morton is a former British fleet street tabloid journalist who garnered notoriety as a biographer. ... “Prince William” redirects here. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Radio Telefís Éireann[1] (RTÉ; IPA: ,  ) is the Public Service Broadcaster of the Republic of Ireland. ...

However, of note, and possibly Diana's basis for the idea, is the style, during her son's reign, held by Lady Margaret Beaufort - My Lady The King's Mother. Henry VII (January 28, 1457 – April 21, 1509), King of England, Lord of Ireland (August 22, 1485 – April 21, 1509), was the founder and first patriarch of the Tudor dynasty. ... Margaret Beaufort, Mother of Henry VII, at prayer, by an anonymous artist, about 1500 Margaret Beaufort (May 31, 1443 – June 29, 1509) was the daughter of John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset, granddaughter of John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset and great-granddaughter of John of Gaunt and his mistress...

References