Queen Regnant

A queen regnant (plural: queens regnant) is a female monarch who reigns in her own right, in contrast to a queen consort, who is the wife of a reigning king. An empress regnant is a female monarch who reigns in her own right over an empire.

A queen regnant possesses and exercises sovereign powers. The husband of a queen regnant does not usually share his wife's rank, title or sovereignty. A queen consort shares her husband's rank and titles, but does not share the sovereignty of her husband.

A queen dowager is the widow of a king who reigned in his own right. A queen mother is a queen dowager who is also the mother of a reigning sovereign.

Read more about Queen Regnant:  History, Current Queens Regnant

Famous quotes containing the word queen:

    Ah petal, dust and wind-fall
    on the ground queen awaiting queen.
    Hilda Doolittle (1886–1961)