Royal consort explained

A royal consort is a person of either sex who has an official status through an intimate relationship, often through marriage or concubinage, with a monarch.[1] The term, consort, was thereafter extended to encompass similar relationships with other significant figures, such as a head of state. The term as pertains to royalty "has its roots in seventeenth-century vocabulary in both New England and England", where it was initially used to mean a spouse.[2] However, the word itself originates from the Latin term "consors", meaning "partner", and can be used in everyday English as a synonym for "partner", or as a verb meaning "to associate".[3]

In more recent usage it has been noted that the term, "though literally denoting a partner or spouse, is a heavily loaded term, for a consort is usually implied to be a mere appendage, far inferior in power and status to his or her spouse".[4] In invitations for the 2023 coronation of King Charles III and his wife Queen Camilla, the British royal family notably styled to Camilla as "The Queen" instead of "The Queen Consort", signifying a reluctance to keep using the position as part of the style.[5] [6]

Variations of the term in royalty include:

The spouses of Governor Generals of Commonwealth countries, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand, additionally have the title of viceregal consort, despite not being married to royalty.[11] [12] [13] In certain polytheistic religions such as Hinduism, female analogues to the main deities have often been described as consorts.[14]

Notes and References

  1. Clarissa Campbell Orr, Queenship in Europe 1660–1815: The Role of the Consort (2004).
  2. Association for Gravestone Studies, Markers: The Annual Journal of the Association for Gravestone Studies (2007), Vol. 24, p. 5.
  3. Web site: Definition of CONSORT . Merriam-Webster . May 10, 2023 . May 12, 2023.
  4. Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty, Women, Androgynes, and Other Mythical Beasts (1982), p. 78.
  5. Web site: The royals dropped 'consort' from Queen Camilla's title. What's the big deal? . NPR . April 5, 2023 . May 12, 2023.
  6. Web site: The Difference Between Queen and Queen Consort . Cosmopolitan . May 5, 2023 . May 12, 2023.
  7. News: 9 September 2022 . What is Queen Consort? What will be the role of Camilla? . The Economic Times . 2022-09-14.
  8. News: Gonzales . Erica . Why Prince Philip's Title Wasn't King . 12 May 2023 . Bazaar . 6 May 2023.
  9. News: Savin . Jennifer . What's the difference between a Queen and a Queen Consort? . 12 May 2023 . Cosmopolitan . 27 April 2023.
  10. News: Engber . Daniel . What Is a Princess Consort? . 12 May 2023 . Slate . 11 February 2005.
  11. Web site: Being Whit Fraser: From Reporter to Viceregal Consort . Policy Magazine . September 7, 2022 . May 12, 2023.
  12. Web site: Tugwell . James . Youth residential rehabilitation centre opens on the south coast . Bay Post-Moruya Examiner . February 24, 2023 . May 12, 2023.
  13. Web site: Battle of Britain commemorated – The Valley Profile . The Valley Profile – 100% local community news for the Hauraki Plains, Paeroa and Thames . September 13, 2022 . May 12, 2023.
  14. Lynn Foulston, Hindu Goddesses: Beliefs & Practices (2019), p. 54.

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