The term queen regnant refers to a female monarch. In contrast with a queen consort, who is merely the spouse of a reigning king with no official power of her own, a queen regnant possesses all the monarchal powers that a king would have, without regard to gender.
Queens regnant are created when the order of succession of the country allows for it. Traditionally, the title of monarch passes from a king to his eldest son, or if there is no son, to his closest male relative. Some countries such as the United Kingdom allow the eldest daughter of a monarch to become queen regnant if a monarch has no sons. Other countries such as Norway, Sweden, Belgium, and the Netherlands allow the eldest child, regardless of gender, to succeed to the throne.
List of Queens Regnant
- Empress Maud - contested
- Mary I of Scotland (term December 14, 1542 - July 24, 1567),
- Lady Jane Grey (term July 10 - July 19, 1553) - a pretender.
- Mary I of England (term July 19, 1553 - November 17, 1558.
- Elizabeth I of England (term November 17, 1558 - March 24, 1603).
- Mary II of England/Mary II of Scotland (term February 13/April 11, 1689 - December 28, 1694).
- Anne of Great Britain (term March 8, 1702 - August 1, 1714).
- Victoria of the United Kingdom (term June 20, 1837 - January 22, 1901).
- Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom (term February 6, 1952 - ).
See also
