Queen regnant
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. In the most common method of succession, a monarch will be succeeded by the eldest son, or in absence of the son, a daughter, or the closest relative with males preferred to females. In some countries, females have no right to succession. Other countries such as Norway, Sweden, Belgium, and the Netherlands allow the eldest child, regardless of gender, to succeed to the throne. Finally, in the least common method of succession, there must be absolutely no male relatives for the succession rights to be given to females.
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List of Queens Regnant
Kingdom of Scotland/Kingdom of England/Kingdom of Great Britain/United Kingdom
- Matilda of England (reigned 1141) – deposed. Styled self "Lady of the English."
- Margaret of Scotland (reigned March 19, 1286 – September 26, 1290)
- Mary I of Scotland (reigned December 14, 1542 – July 24, 1567),
- Lady Jane Grey (reigned July 10 – July 19, 1553) – deposed after 9 days of rule
- Mary I of England (reigned July 19, 1553 – November 17, 1558) – retroactively declared to have been Queen during Lady Jane Grey's rule
- Elizabeth I of England (term November 17, 1558 – March 24, 1603).
- Mary II of England/Mary II of Scotland (reigned February 13/April 11, 1689 – December 28, 1694).
- Anne of Great Britain (reigned March 8, 1702 – August 1, 1714).
- Victoria of the United Kingdom (reigned June 20, 1837 – January 22, 1901).
- Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom (reigned February 6, 1952 – ).
The Netherlands
- Wilhelmina of the Netherlands (reigned November 23, 1890 – September 4, 1948)
- Juliana of the Netherlands (reigned September 4, 1948 – April 30, 1980)
- Beatrix of the Netherlands (reigned April 30, 1980 – ).
Sweden
Denmark
Spain/Castile
- Isabella I of Spain
- Joanna of Castile – pure figurehead, unable to rule
- Isabella II of Spain
Portugal
Hungary and Bohemia
See also
Categories: Queens regnant | Gender