Title of a Dowager Queen??

That's because Henry declared her marriage to Edward IV legal and legitimate again before marrying their eldest daughter, Elizabeth.

That's because Henry declared her marriage to Edward IV legal and legitimate again before marrying their eldest daughter, Elizabeth.

Yep, I know, just like Katherine of Aragon became 'Dowager Princess of Wales' after her divorce from Henry.

I think it depended on their status with regards to their husband's successor.
Evidently, if they were the mother of the new Queen or King, they be titled "the Queen Mother" or "the King Mother"
I don't think Catherine Parr was really called the Queen, after all, Edward VII succeeded and he had no wife.

That's because Henry declared her marriage to Edward IV legal and legitimate again before marrying their eldest daughter, Elizabeth.

Well, he couldn't be seen to marry a bastard now could he  

officially though when did the title Queen Mother come into existence in England? When did it become a permanent and recognized title for a dowager? Was Victoria, Duchess of Kent simply called the Queen's mother since she wasn't wife of a king? (They probably just called her Duchess of Kent) Oh and what did they call Queen Adelaide, wife of William IV? What did they call Augusta, Princess of Wales, after her son George III became King? Sorry for so many questions at once but I've never thought of this before.

Back in the mists of time, Aelfrida,widow of Edgar the Peaceable, was titled "Old Lady"

officially though when did the title Queen Mother come into existence in England? When did it become a permanent and recognized title for a dowager? Was Victoria, Duchess of Kent simply called the Queen's mother since she wasn't wife of a king? (They probably just called her Duchess of Kent) Oh and what did they call Queen Adelaide, wife of William IV? What did they call Augusta, Princess of Wales, after her son George III became King? Sorry for so many questions at once but I've never thought of this before.

Hi Duke of Lynnwood!

I'll have a go.

"queen mother" is not really a title it's just a way of referring to the widow of a king who is the mother of a reigning monarch. The title of a widowed queen is the same as that when her husband was alive i.e. Queen. The word dowager is used in the title to distinguish the woman from the new queen. Not many people like the word though - it sounds like "has-been", so it wasn't often used in practice. It was usually enough to distinguish them by their first names:

Queen Adelaide/ Queen Victoria
Queen Alexandra/ Queen Mary
Queen Mary/Queen Elizabeth

The mother of the present Queen adopted the title Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother to distinguish herself from her daughter, Queen Elizabeth. This is an exception though.

The mother of Queen Victoria had the title of HRH the(dowager) Duchess of Kent. there is no title for being the mother of the monarch. Similarly Augusta was HRH the (dowager) Princess of Wales.

Back in the mists of time, Aelfrida,widow of Edgar the Peaceable, was titled "Old Lady"

In Newcastle they say "the aould gorl"! (old girl = my mother)

thanks bell

Hi Duke of Lynnwood!

I'll have a go.

"queen mother" is not really a title it's just a way of referring to the widow of a king who is the mother of a reigning monarch. The title of a widowed queen is the same as that when her husband was alive i.e. Queen. The word dowager is used in the title to distinguish the woman from the new queen. Not many people like the word though - it sounds like "has-been", so it wasn't often used in practice. It was usually enough to distinguish them by their first names:

Queen Adelaide/ Queen Victoria
Queen Alexandra/ Queen Mary
Queen Mary/Queen Elizabeth

The mother of the present Queen adopted the title Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother to distinguish herself from her daughter, Queen Elizabeth. This is an exception though.

The mother of Queen Victoria had the title of HRH the(dowager) Duchess of Kent. there is no title for being the mother of the monarch. Similarly Augusta was HRH the (dowager) Princess of Wales.

Quite right Bell.   The mother of Elizabeth II was the first to use 'Queen Mother' as an official title, though Eleanor of Provence was sometimes referred to as 'My Lady Eleanor, Mother Queen of England' during her son Edward I's reign.

The Duchess of Kent did at one time wish to be treated as a Dowager Princess of Wales, but this received no sympathy from her archenemy, William IV. Queen Adelaide was generally called just that - Queen Adelaide - after her husband's death. Queen Mary expressed a particularly wish to be 'Queen Mary' during the reign's of her husband's successors.

I know she wasn't a queen, but what was Margaret Beaufort's title after Henry became King, if anything.

I know she wasn't a queen, but what was Margaret Beaufort's title after Henry became King, if anything.

She was Countess of Richmond and Derby, i.e. Dowager Countess of Richmond, as well as the wife of the Earl of Derby.
She didn't get anything for being the king's mum, but then everyone knew who she was!

I think she was sometimes called 'My Lady the King's Mother' informally.

Thanks Bell, I knew that one, It was "My Lady the King's Mother" that I couldn't remember (blonde moment)

Thanks Bell, I knew that one, It was "My Lady the King's Mother" that I couldn't remember (blonde moment)

Oh well, never mind!

Thename reminds me of Napoleons mother who was known as Madame Mère (don't think that was an official title) as it sounded better than the (dowager) Mrs Bonaparte.

I was thinking: Queen Mary could have been queen grandmother ( I used to wonder about this when I was litttle) - are there any other examples of queen grandmother?