Queen consort

A Queen Consort is the wife and consort of a reigning King. However she has no constitutional status or power, merely the title.

In contrast, the husband of a reigning queen is not called 'King Consort'. Such a husband is popularly called the prince consort; however, this title has so far been granted officially only to Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. In the British system, a male consort is not even automatically a prince until he is so created by the sovereign.

There are a few cases in which a married couple ruled a kingdom jointly. Ferdinand II of Aragon and his wife Isabella, in her own right Isabella I of Castile ruled their kingdoms as one dominion, and Ferdinand was also called Ferdinand V of Castile. However, the two kingdoms would not be de jure united until the monarchs' grandson Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor acceded to both thrones as Charles I of Spain.

The daughter of James II of England, Queen Mary II, married William of Orange; although Mary was the heiress to the throne, she and William chose to reign together and were made co-monarchs by Parliament, with William becoming King.

Examples of Queen Consorts

• Queen Mary, consort of King George V of the United Kingdom
• Queen Alexandra, consort of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom
• Queen Maria José[?], consort of King Umberto II of Italy
• Queen Anne Marie, consort of King Constantine II of Greece
• Queen Sofia, consort of King Juan Carlos I of Spain

See also: Prince Consort