Queen Mother

The term Queen Mother is a title often held by the mother of a reigning monarch. Its full meaning is clear from the two words that make it up: queen indicates someone who served as queen consort (i.e. wife of a king), while mother indicates the holder of the title's relationship with the current monarch. The title is not held by someone unless she is simultaneously a former queen consort and mother of the current monarch - with the exception of Helena of Greece and Denmark (see below).

Recent British Queen Mothers

• Queen Alexandra the Queen Mother - widow of Edward VII and mother of George V. (QM from 1910-1925)

• Queen Mary the Queen Mother - widow of George V and mother of kings Edward VIII and George VI (When her granddaughter Elizabeth II became monarch in 1952, Queen Mary became Dowager Queen Mother) QM from 1936-1953)

• Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother - widow of George VI and mother of Queen Elizabeth II (QM from 1952-2002)

Other Queen Mothers

The title 'Queen Mother' has been widely used in monarchies. Among other Queen Mothers were:

• Blanche of Castile - Queen Mother of France (1226-1252)
• Catherine de Medici - Queen Mother of France (1559-1589)
• Maria de Medici - Queen Mother of France (1610-1642)
• Margrethe of Savoy, Queen Mother of Italy (1900-1926)
• Helena of Greece and Denmark[?] - wife, from 1921 - 1928, of Carol II of Romania, and mother of King Michael of Romania. Michael first ruled from 1927 - 1930, before his father did, and his mother was given the title of Queen Mother (of Romania) without having ever been a Queen Consort (having divorced Carol in 1928, before he became king in 1930.)
• Ingrid of Sweden - Queen Mother of Denmark (1972-2000)

In rare cases, the king of a nation may be divorced, or a widower. If he remarries, and his second wife outlives him, it is unclear what title this woman assumes., though Queen Dowager or Dowager Queen might be appropriate, under the circumstances.

Queen Noor of Jordan for example was King Hussein's fourth wife, and stepmother of current king Abdullah II. She is still referred to as Queen Noor, although rarely, and then inaccurately, as the "Queen Mother." If anything, she would be the "Queen Stepmother" although such a title has never been seriously floated.