# Prince consort

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Husband of a regnant monarch

Not to be confused with [Prince's Consent](/source/King's_Consent).

Part of a series on Imperial, royal, noble, gentry and chivalric ranks in Europe Emperor, Empress dowager High king, High queen Great king, Great queen King consort dowager Queen regnant consort dowager mother Archduke, Archduchess Grand duke, Grand duchess Grand prince, Grand princess Prince consort Princess consort Duke, Duchess Knyaz, Knyaginya Fürst, Fürstin Herzog Jarl Prince-elector, Princess-elector Heir apparent presumptive Voivode Count palatine Marquess, Marchioness Margrave, Margravine Marcher lord Landgrave Boyar Count, Countess Earl Mormaer Ealdorman Viscount, Viscountess Castellan Burgrave, Burgravine Captal Vidame Starosta Baron, Baroness Lord of Parliament Lord paramount Overlord Tenant in chief Territorial lord Liege lord Mesne lord Lendmann Nobile Edler Primor Fidalgo Baronet, Baronetess Vavasour Imperial knight Knight/Chevalier Ritter Seigneur Knight bachelor Thane Druzhinnik Lord of the manor Vogt Esquire Gentleman, Gentlewoman Franklin Yeoman Man at arms Edelfrei Ministerialis v t e

A **prince consort** is the husband of a [monarch](/source/Monarch) who is not a monarch in his own right. In recognition of his status, a prince consort may be given a formal title, such as *[prince](/source/Prince)*. Most monarchies do not allow the husband of a [queen regnant](/source/Queen_regnant) to be titled as a king because it is perceived as a higher title than queen. However, some monarchies use the title of **king consort** for the role.

## Usage in Europe

### United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the title *Prince Consort* is unique to [Prince Albert](/source/Albert%2C_Prince_Consort), although the term applies as a description to other British princes consort. The title was awarded to him in 1857 by his wife, [Queen Victoria](/source/Queen_Victoria). Before Prince Albert, there had only been five English, Scottish or British male consorts, being the husbands of [Mary I of England](/source/Mary_I_of_England), [Queen Anne](/source/Anne%2C_Queen_of_Great_Britain), and [Mary, Queen of Scots](/source/Mary%2C_Queen_of_Scots), the last of whom was married three times during her long reign. The remaining queens regnant before Victoria sidestepped the question of the proper title for a male consort, [Elizabeth I](/source/Elizabeth_I_of_England) having never married, and [Mary II](/source/Mary_II)'s husband [William III](/source/William_III_of_England) having been explicitly made king in his own right.[1]

*[Portrait of Prince Albert](/source/Queen_Victoria_and_Prince_Albert_in_Garter_Robes)* by [Franz Xaver Winterhalter](/source/Franz_Xaver_Winterhalter). [Prince Albert](/source/Albert%2C_Prince_Consort) was awarded the title *Prince Consort* in 1857 by his wife, [Queen Victoria](/source/Queen_Victoria).

The titles of the five pre-Victorian male consorts varied widely. [Philip of Spain](/source/Philip_II_of_Spain), the husband of Mary I of England, was declared king *[jure uxoris](/source/Jure_uxoris)* and given powers equal to his wife while she reigned, but Queen Anne's husband [Prince George of Denmark](/source/Prince_George_of_Denmark) received no British titles other than the Dukedom of Cumberland (his princely title being Danish). Meanwhile, the titles of the three husbands of [Mary, Queen of Scots](/source/Mary%2C_Queen_of_Scots), was never fully resolved. At least one ([Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley](/source/Henry_Stuart%2C_Lord_Darnley)), was declared king consort, and both he and his predecessor [Francis II of France](/source/Francis_II_of_France) sought recognition as king *jure uxoris* (under a proffered theory of the "[Crown Matrimonial](/source/Crown_Matrimonial) of Scotland"), but the title and powers of the consort were a constant issue during Mary's reign and remained unresolved when Mary was captured and executed.[2][3]

The only male consort since Prince Albert's death, [Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh](/source/Prince_Philip%2C_Duke_of_Edinburgh), the consort of [Elizabeth II](/source/Elizabeth_II), was made a [peer of the United Kingdom](/source/Peerage_of_the_United_Kingdom) in advance of his marriage to then-Princess Elizabeth in 1947. After Elizabeth's accession in 1952, there was debate in royal circles and among senior politicians (both in Britain and in other [Commonwealth Realms](/source/Commonwealth_Realm), particularly [Canada](/source/Canada)) about her husband's proper title. Some leaders, including the prime minister of the day, [Winston Churchill](/source/Winston_Churchill), suggested reviving Prince Albert's title of *Prince Consort*. Others put forward other styles, including "Prince of the Realm" and "Prince of the Commonwealth" (the latter of which was suggested by [John Diefenbaker](/source/John_Diefenbaker), at the time a member of the Canadian Opposition front bench). In 1957, Elizabeth created Philip a [prince of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland](/source/British_prince), the same title borne by sons of the sovereign.[4][5]

The distinction between the positions of prince consort and king is important in the British patriarchal hierarchical system. Within this hierarchy, the king holds a higher position in the British social hierarchy than any other, and so more power is attributed to him. When the monarch is female, such as [Queen Victoria](/source/Queen_Victoria), who ascended to the throne in 1837, power is attributed to the queen, for she holds the highest position in the absence of a king.[6] Unlike a queen consort, a prince consort is not crowned and anointed alongside his wife at her coronation.[7]

### Other countries

[Jacques I](/source/Jacques_I%2C_Prince_of_Monaco) became the prince consort of [Monaco](/source/Monaco) in 1731 after his wife, [Louise Hippolyte](/source/Louise_Hippolyte%2C_Princess_of_Monaco), became the sovereign princess.[8]

In 2005, [Prince Henrik](/source/Henrik%2C_Prince_Consort_of_Denmark), the husband of [Margrethe II of Denmark](/source/Margrethe_II_of_Denmark), was awarded the title. He had requested the title of "king consort" and style of *His Majesty* but was denied.[9] In 2016, he announced that upon his retirement, he would revert to the title of prince that he had received upon their marriage in 1967.[10][11]

## King consort

A **king consort** or **emperor consort** is a rarely used title to describe the husband of a [queen regnant](/source/Queen_regnant). Examples include:

- [Mary, Queen of Scots](/source/Mary%2C_Queen_of_Scots) (reigned 1542–1567) was first [married to Francis](/source/Wedding_of_Mary%2C_Queen_of_Scots%2C_and_Francis%2C_Dauphin_of_France), [Dauphin of France](/source/Dauphin_of_France) (later [Francis II of France](/source/Francis_II_of_France)), who became king consort of Scotland upon their marriage.[12][13] [She then married](/source/Wedding_of_Mary%2C_Queen_of_Scots%2C_and_Henry%2C_Lord_Darnley) [Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley](/source/Henry_Stuart%2C_Lord_Darnley), the eldest son of the Earl and Countess of [Lennox](/source/Earl_of_Lennox) in July 1565. Darnley was a great-grandson of [Henry VII of England](/source/Henry_VII_of_England) and Mary's first cousin, and he was considered to have a strong claim to the Scottish throne. On the evening before their marriage, Mary proclaimed Darnley "King of Scots", a title that she could not legally grant him without the consent of Parliament, but which was never formally challenged. However, this title did not grant him any automatic right of rule or of succession to the throne should Mary die. For that to happen, it was necessary that Mary grant him the [Crown Matrimonial](/source/Crown_Matrimonial) of Scotland, which never happened.

- When the reigning [Isabella II](/source/Isabella_II_of_Spain) (reigned 1833–1868) married [Francis, Duke of Cádiz](/source/Francis%2C_Duke_of_C%C3%A1diz), he became king consort of Spain. Like his wife, he retained the style and title of king even after her abdication in favour of their son, [Alfonso XII](/source/Alfonso_XII).

## List of male consorts

**Bhopal State**

- Baqi Muhammad Khan – husband of [Shah Jahan Begum](/source/Shah_Jahan_Begum_of_Bhopal)

- [Siddiq Hasan Khan](/source/Siddiq_Hasan_Khan) – husband of [Shah Jahan Begum](/source/Shah_Jahan_Begum_of_Bhopal)

- Ahmad Ali Khan Bahadur – husband of [Sultan Jahan Begum](/source/Sultan_Jahan%2C_Begum_of_Bhopal)

**Đại Việt**

- [Trần Thái Tông](/source/Tr%E1%BA%A7n_Th%C3%A1i_T%C3%B4ng) – he was first a male consort of the empress regnant [Lý Chiêu Hoàng](/source/L%C3%BD_Chi%C3%AAu_Ho%C3%A0ng), but later became a male monarch

**Denmark**

- [Prince Henrik of Denmark](/source/Prince_Henrik_of_Denmark) – husband of Queen [Margrethe II](/source/Margrethe_II)

**Duchy of Parma**

- [Adam Albert, Count of Neipperg](/source/Adam_Albert%2C_Count_of_Neipperg) – husband of the sovereign duchess [Marie Louise](/source/Marie_Louise%2C_Duchess_of_Parma)

- [Charles-René de Bombelles](/source/Charles-Ren%C3%A9_de_Bombelles) – husband of the sovereign duchess [Marie Louise](/source/Marie_Louise%2C_Duchess_of_Parma)

**Ecatepec**

- [Moctezuma II](/source/Moctezuma_II) – husband of [Tlapalizquixochtzin](/source/Tlapalizquixochtzin)

**Ethiopian Empire**

- [Gugsa Welle](/source/Gugsa_Welle) – husband of the empress regnant [Zewditu](/source/Zewditu)

**Grand Duchy of Tuscany**

- [Felice Pasquale Baciocchi](/source/Felice_Pasquale_Baciocchi) – husband of [Elisa Bonaparte](/source/Elisa_Bonaparte)

**Hawaiian Kingdom**

- [John Owen Dominis](/source/John_Owen_Dominis) – husband of Queen [Liliʻuokalani](/source/Lili%CA%BBuokalani)

**Kingdom of Aragon**

- [Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona](/source/Ramon_Berenguer_IV%2C_Count_of_Barcelona) – husband of [Petronilla](/source/Petronilla_of_Aragon)

**Kingdom of England**

- [Geoffrey of Anjou](/source/Geoffrey_Plantagenet%2C_Count_of_Anjou) – husband of [Matilda](/source/Empress_Matilda)

- [Guildford Dudley](/source/Lord_Guildford_Dudley) – husband of [Lady Jane Grey](/source/Lady_Jane_Grey)

**Kingdom of Georgia**

- [Yury Bogolyubsky](/source/Yury_Bogolyubsky) – husband of [Tamar the Great](/source/Tamar_the_Great)

- [David Soslan](/source/David_Soslan) – husband of [Tamar the Great](/source/Tamar_the_Great)

- [Ghias ad-Din](/source/Ghias_ad-Din) – husband of [Rusudan](/source/Rusudan_of_Georgia)

**Kingdom of the Maldives**

- [Mohamed el-Jameel](/source/Mohamed_el-Jameel_of_the_Maldives) - husband of [Sultana Khadijah](/source/Khadijah_of_the_Maldives)

- [Abdullah I](/source/Abdullah_I_of_the_Maldives) - husband of [Sultana Khadijah](/source/Khadijah_of_the_Maldives)

- [Mohamed I](/source/Mohamed_I_of_the_Maldives) - husband of [Sultana Raadhafathi](/source/Raadhafathi_of_the_Maldives)

- [Abdullah II](/source/Abdullah_II_of_the_Maldives) - husband of [Sultana Dhaain](/source/Dhaain_of_the_Maldives)

**Kingdom of Naples**

- [Andrew, Duke of Calabria](/source/Andrew%2C_Duke_of_Calabria) – husband of Queen [Joanna I](/source/Joanna_I_of_Naples)

- [James IV of Majorca](/source/James_IV_of_Majorca) – husband of Queen [Joanna I](/source/Joanna_I_of_Naples)

- [Otto, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen](/source/Otto%2C_Duke_of_Brunswick-Grubenhagen) – husband of Queen [Joanna I](/source/Joanna_I_of_Naples)

- [James II, Count of La Marche](/source/James_II%2C_Count_of_La_Marche) – husband of Queen [Joanna II](/source/Joanna_II_of_Naples)

**Kingdom of Pontus**

- [Archelaus](/source/Archelaus_of_Cappadocia) – husband of [Pythodorida](/source/Pythodorida_of_Pontus)

**Kingdom of Scotland**

- [Francis II of France](/source/Francis_II_of_France) – husband of Queen [Mary](/source/Mary%2C_Queen_of_Scots)

- [Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley](/source/Henry_Stuart%2C_Lord_Darnley) – husband of Queen [Mary](/source/Mary%2C_Queen_of_Scots)

- [James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell](/source/James_Hepburn%2C_4th_Earl_of_Bothwell) – husband of Queen [Mary](/source/Mary%2C_Queen_of_Scots)

**Kingdom of Rarotonga**

- [Ngamaru Rongotini Ariki](/source/Ngamaru_Rongotini_Ariki) – husband of [Makea Takau Ariki](/source/Makea_Takau_Ariki)

**Kingdom of Tahiti**

- [Tapoa II](/source/Tapoa_II) – husband of [Pōmare IV](/source/P%C5%8Dmare_IV)

- [Ariifaaite](/source/Ariifaaite) – husband of [Pōmare IV](/source/P%C5%8Dmare_IV)

**Luxembourg**

- [Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma](/source/Prince_Felix_of_Bourbon-Parma) – husband of the sovereign grand duchess [Charlotte](/source/Charlotte%2C_Grand_Duchess_of_Luxembourg)

**Majapahit**

- Cakradhara – husband of [Queen Tribhuwana](/source/Queen_Tribhuwana)

- Ratnapangkaja – husband of Queen [Suhita](/source/Suhita)

**Māori King Movement**

- [Whatumoana Paki](/source/Whatumoana_Paki) – husband of [Te Atairangikaahu](/source/Te_Atairangikaahu)

**Merina Kingdom**

- [Rainiharo](/source/Rainiharo) – husband of [Ranavalona I](/source/Ranavalona_I)

- [Rainijohary](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rainijohary&action=edit&redlink=1) [[nl](https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainijohary)] – husband of [Ranavalona I](/source/Ranavalona_I)

- [Rainivoninahitriniony](/source/Rainivoninahitriniony) – husband of [Rasoherina](/source/Rasoherina)

- [Rainilaiarivony](/source/Rainilaiarivony) – he married three queens in succession: [Rasoherina](/source/Rasoherina), [Ranavalona II](/source/Ranavalona_II) and [Ranavalona III](/source/Ranavalona_III)

**Monaco**

- [Jacques I, Prince of Monaco](/source/Jacques_I%2C_Prince_of_Monaco) – he was first a male consort of the sovereign princess [Louise Hippolyte](/source/Louise_Hippolyte%2C_Princess_of_Monaco), but later became a male monarch

**Netherlands**

- [Duke Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin](/source/Duke_Henry_of_Mecklenburg-Schwerin) – husband of Queen [Wilhelmina](/source/Wilhelmina_of_the_Netherlands)

- [Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld](/source/Prince_Bernhard_of_Lippe-Biesterfeld) – husband of Queen [Juliana](/source/Juliana_of_the_Netherlands)

- [Prince Claus of the Netherlands](/source/Prince_Claus_of_the_Netherlands) – husband of Queen [Beatrix](/source/Beatrix_of_the_Netherlands)

**Portugal**

- [Auguste, Duke of Leuchtenberg](/source/Auguste%2C_Duke_of_Leuchtenberg) – husband of [Maria II](/source/Maria_II_of_Portugal)

- [Ferdinand II of Portugal](/source/Ferdinand_II_of_Portugal) – he was first a male consort of the female monarch [Maria II](/source/Maria_II_of_Portugal), but later became a co-monarch

**Ptolemaic Kingdom**

- [Seleucus VII Kybiosaktes](/source/Seleucus_VII_Kybiosaktes) – husband of [Berenice IV](/source/Berenice_IV)

- [Archelaus I of Comana](/source/Archelaus_(high_priest_of_Comana_Cappadocia)) – husband of [Berenice IV](/source/Berenice_IV)

- [Mark Antony](/source/Mark_Antony) – husband of [Cleopatra VII](/source/Cleopatra_VII)

**Silla**

- [Galmunwang Eum](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Galmunwang_Eum&action=edit&redlink=1) [[ko](https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%9D%8C%EA%B0%88%EB%AC%B8%EC%99%95)] – husband of [Queen Seondeok](/source/Queen_Seondeok)

- [Kim Wi-hong](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kim_Wi-hong&action=edit&redlink=1) [[ko](https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EA%B9%80%EC%9C%84%ED%99%8D)] – husband of Queen [Jinseong](/source/Jinseong_of_Silla)

**Spain**

- [Francisco de Asís, Duke of Cádiz](/source/Francisco_de_As%C3%ADs%2C_Duke_of_C%C3%A1diz) – husband of Queen [Isabella II](/source/Isabella_II)

**Sweden**

- [Frederick I of Sweden](/source/Frederick_I_of_Sweden) – he was first a male consort of the queen regnant [Ulrika Eleonora](/source/Ulrika_Eleonora_of_Sweden), but later became a male monarch

**Tonga**

- [Viliami Tungī Mailefihi](/source/Viliami_Tung%C4%AB_Mailefihi) – husband of [Sālote Tupou III](/source/S%C4%81lote_Tupou_III)

**Travancore**

- [Raja Raja Varma](/source/Raja_Raja_Varma_Koil_Thampuran) – [Koyi Thampuran](/source/Koyi_Thampuran) of [Gowri Lakshmi Bayi](/source/Gowri_Lakshmi_Bayi)

**United Kingdom/Great Britain**

- [Prince George, Duke of Cumberland](/source/Prince_George_of_Denmark) – husband of Queen [Anne](/source/Anne%2C_Queen_of_Great_Britain)

- [Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha](/source/Prince_Albert_of_Saxe-Coburg_and_Gotha) – husband of [Queen Victoria](/source/Queen_Victoria)

- [Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh](/source/Prince_Philip%2C_Duke_of_Edinburgh) – husband of Queen [Elizabeth II](/source/Elizabeth_II)

## See also

- [Consort crown](/source/Consort_crown)

- *[Jure uxoris](/source/Jure_uxoris)*

- [Princess consort](/source/Princess_consort)

- [Queen consort](/source/Queen_consort)

- [List of British consorts](/source/List_of_British_consorts)

- [Category:Kings consort](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Kings_consort)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Who Has Held the Queen Consort Title Throughout History?"](https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/g42860996/queen-consort-title-history-united-kingdom/). *Town & Country*. 2023-05-03. Retrieved 2023-06-09.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), p. 184.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Daniel2_3-0)** Daniel, William S. (Edinburgh, 1852), *History of The Abbey and Palace of Holyrood*, p. 67.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Bousfield_4-0)** Bousfield, Arthur; Toffoli, Gary (2002). [*Fifty Years the Queen*](https://books.google.com/books?id=w8l5reK7NjoC). Toronto: Dundurn Press. p. 12. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-55002-360-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-55002-360-8).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-veldephilip_5-0)** Velde, François. ["Title of Prince: HRH Philip Duke of Edinburgh"](http://www.heraldica.org/topics/britain/LCO_6_3677.htm). *Royal styles and titles: Files from the UK National Archives*. Retrieved 3 November 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Klein, P. (2017). Kings & Queens. Library Journal, 142(8), 37-39.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Consort to Her Majesty The Queen"](https://www.royal.uk/consort-her-majesty-queen). *Royal.uk*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Prince Jacques I of Monaco: Prior Owner of Matignon, the French Prime Minister's Residence in Paris"](https://www.hellomonaco.com/news/latest-news/prince-jacques-i-of-monaco-prior-owner-of-matignon-the-french-prime-minister-s-residence-in-paris/). *HelloMonaco*. 2017-12-03. Retrieved 2022-01-14.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Sorensen, Martin Selsoe (2018-02-16). ["Final Resting Place for Danish Prince Who Yearned to Be King: Not Beside the Queen"](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/16/world/europe/prince-henrik-denmark.html). *The New York Times*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0362-4331](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved 2023-07-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Dronningen i sin nytårstale: Prins Henrik går på pension"](http://politiken.dk/indland/ECE2997852/dronningen-i-sin-nytaarstale-prins-henrik-gaar-paa-pension/). *Politiken.dk* (in Danish). 31 December 2015. Retrieved 2017-01-29.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-xinhuanet_11-0)** ["Denmark's Prince Henrik renounces title as Prince Consort"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160419190248/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-04/15/c_135279487.htm). *Xinhuanet, China-Europe*. 15 April 2016. Archived from [the original](http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-04/15/c_135279487.htm) on April 19, 2016. Retrieved 2017-09-06.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Anonymous (1558). [*Discours du grand et magnifique triumphe faict au mariage du tresnoble & magnifique Prince Francois de Valois Roy Dauphin, filz aisné du tres-chrestien Roy de France Henry II du nom & de treshaulte & vertueuse Princesse madame Marie d'Estreuart Roine d'Escosse*](http://special-1.bl.uk/treasures/festivalbooks/BookDetails.aspx?strFest=0021) (in French). Paris: Annet Briere.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Teulet, Alexandre (1862). [*Relations politiques de la France et de l'Espagne avec l'Écosse au XVIe siècle*](https://books.google.com/books?id=UYVCAAAAcAAJ) (in French). Vol. 1. Paris: Renouard. pp. 302–311.

Authority control databases GND

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Prince consort](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_consort) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_consort?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.