What Is a Female Monarch Called
A female monarch is most commonly called a queen, while a queen regnant rules in her own right. A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king, and a queen dowager is the widow of a former king. The term queen is the standard title used in constitutional and historical references across modern monarchies. For current examples, see the official page of the British Royal Family royal.uk.
In some monarchies, female rulers also use titles such as sultanah, rajmata, or maharani, depending on local tradition. The choice of title often reflects constitutional roles, succession laws, and historical precedent. In absolute monarchies, the queen may hold direct executive authority, while in constitutional systems the role is largely ceremonial.
Queen Regnant vs Queen Consort vs Queen Dowager
Queen Regnant
A queen regnant is a female monarch who reigns in her own right, usually inheriting the throne by succession. Examples include Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. The distinction matters because a queen regnant holds sovereign power, while a queen consort does not.
A queen consort is the spouse of a reigning king and typically supports the monarch's duties without sovereign authority. A queen dowager is the widow of a former king and usually retains the title but not the powers of rule. These roles are defined by constitutional conventions and historical precedent in each monarchy.
Current Queens and Governance Roles
As of the latest public records, several countries have reigning queens or female heads of state in constitutional monarchies. The British monarchy, the Danish monarchy, and the Dutch monarchy are prominent examples where queens have served or are serving. In these systems, the queen acts as head of state within the limits of the constitution and elected government.
In corporate and financial contexts, the term queen is sometimes used metaphorically for leading female executives and founders. For instance, Forbes regularly profiles top female CEOs and founders, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission publishes filings for major public companies led by women. See the SEC EDGAR search page sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar for filings by major public companies.