Why do other countries have a King and a Queen, but we have a Queen and a prince?

Question

My son is 6 and wanted to know. In fact, so do I!!!

Answer 1

When the head of state is reigned by a "Queen Regent", for example Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Margrethe II of Denmark, and Beatrix of the Netherlands, their husbands were bestowed upon the title of "Prince Consort." A prince consort, generally speaking, is a common term for the husband of a Queen Regnant, unless he himself also is a king in his own right.

The Queen may also bestow upon him the title "King Consort", which is entirely at the will of the Queen. King consort is a title given in some monarchies to the husband of a queen regnant. Nowadays, it is a symbolic title only, the sole constitutional function of the holder being similar to a queen consort, namely to produce an heir to the throne.

Spain, Portugal, England and Scotland have all had kings consort; however, since the rank of king normally outranks that of queen, in most monarchies the queen's husband is given the title of prince or prince consort instead.

Note: In the British monarchy, the husband of a female monarch does not have any recognized special status, rank, or privileges. In actual fact Prince Philip does play a major role in royal affairs, but this is not recognized in terms of his title. Interestingly enough, the wife of a male monarch (e.g. the Queen Mother was the wife of King George VI) takes on her husband's rank and style upon marrying, becoming Queen.

Answer 2

Only a person with royal blood can rule the country as King George had no sons we have a Queen.

Answer 3

If the person actually on the throne is male, he may call his wife the Queen.

But if our monarch is a female, she does not have a king. King is a mightier title.

Answer 4

Taken in rank, a king in above all, if he marries his wife becomes queen, but if a queen marries her husband can not out rank her and become king.

Answer 5

The QUEEN was HEIR to the throne.Prince Philip is only a SPOUSE.When a REIGNING QUEEN exists,there are no kings,because the title of king is considered higher than queen,and this won't do in the UK because no one can be higher status than the monarch,the queen regent.The United Kingdom does not use the title of "King Consort" for the husband of a reining queen.The UK uses "Prince Consort."

In other countries the KING was HEIR to the throne.Their wives are Queen CONSORTS,or wives to the monarch.These queens are not rulers,just wives;they are not regents and are of lesser status than the monarch but of higher status than any other royal.Other countries may also use the title of "King Consort" for husbands of reigning queens.

Answer 6

The ghost is right and your Queen has more nuts than anyone I have every heard of.

Answer 7

Simple answer: A woman traditionally takes the rank of her husband, but not the other way around. This is also why, traditionally, a Miss Jones who marries a Mr Smith becomes Mrs Smith. Mr Smith does not become Mr Jones.

That being said, some countries had kings consort, that is kings by right of their wives. The most recent examples are Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and of Kohary, who was King Consort of Portugal because he was married to Maria II of Portugal (queen regnant, meaning queen in her own right), and Francis, Duke of Cadiz, who was King Consort of Spain because he was married to Isabella II of Spain (queen regnant, meaning queen in her own right).

The British Isles have also had kings consort. The husband of Mary I of England, Philip II of Spain, was king consort of England. Francis II of France and Lord Darnley were kings consort of Mary, Queen of Scots.

The style of king consort has fallen out of use, however. It was vetted for Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha but he was created Prince Consort instead. It has not been used in the British Isles since the examples of the husbands of Marys I of England and Scotland. William III of England is a strange case in that he was joint-sovereign and co-heir with his wife Mary II and he reigned after her death.

Rachelle gets it wrong again! Queen Regent? Head of state reigned by? Proofread your "work", please.

Answer 8

I have a hard enough time in the USA explaining to my 6 year old why Prince is a queen.

Answer 9

because it was the princess that ascended to the throne and became queen - her husband has no rights of sucession so never rises above prince.