A queen consort is a woman who becomes queen by marrying a king, but usually has no political power. She may act as regent until her children grow up. The male counterpart is a king consort. The title is given as a courtesy, and the queen consort is an important public figure. In rare cases, kings and queens have ruled equally.
A queen consort is a woman who earns the title of queen because she is married to a king. She usually has no official political power and she may not legally hold the throne in many countries after her husband’s death, although she may act as regent to look after her kingdom until her children grow up. The male counterpart of a queen consort is a king consort.
Typically, a queen consort is of royal blood, but is not entitled to rule her country by birthright like her husband, the reigning king. In the case of a king consort, the queen rules the country by right. In both cases, the title is given as a courtesy, acknowledging the important role of the Queen or King Consort in the life of the monarch. The queen consort also typically has the same titles as her husband and is to be treated with the same gravity and respect that her husband is accustomed to.
In addition to Queens Consort, Princesses Consort and Empresses Consort can also be found, along with Princes Consort and so on. As a general rule, when someone marries a King, the King and his advisers bestow the title of Consort on her. However, in some cases a different title may be attributed to it, for political or social reasons. For example, Camilla Parker-Bowles, the Duchess of Cornwall is said to be known as Princess Consort when her husband ascends the throne of England.
While a queen consort officially has no political power, she is often a very powerful and prominent social figure. Many kings take advice from their consorts and consider their input in the running of the nation, so although the woman is not officially the monarch, she in some sense acts as one.
The queen consort is also an important public figure for the monarchy. She attends social events, sponsors charities, and engages in various social and political issues in her country, and often becomes a much-loved and prominent figure. Many have famously championed specific causes, ranging from child welfare to votes for women. She is also, of course, the mother of the heirs to the throne.
In rare instances, kings and queens have ruled their nations and estates equally, with neither partner considered a consort. In general, this happens when a King Regnant and Queen Regnant marry, uniting two empires.
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