Queen dowager · Lablypedia

As of 2026, there are four queens dowager: Kesang Choden of Bhutan (who is the only living queen grandmother worldwide), Norodom Monineath of Cambodia (who is also queen mother), Lisa Najeeb Halaby (Noor Al'Hussein) of Jordan and Sonja Haraldsen of Norway (who is also queen mother).

Status

A queen dowager has an important royal position (whether or not she is the mother of the reigning sovereign) but does not normally have any rights to succeed a king as monarch on his death unless she happens to be next in line to the throne (one possibility would be if the king and queen were also cousins and childless, the king had no other siblings, and she in her other position as his cousin was also his heiress presumptive).

A queen dowager continues to enjoy the title, style, and precedence of a queen, but is no longer referred to as the queen. A new reigning king would have (at accession or eventually) a wife who would be the new queen consort and therefore the queen; a queen regnant would also be called the queen. Many former queens consort do not formally use the word "dowager" as part of their titles. There may be more than one queen dowager at any given time. The Garter King of Arms's proclamation in the United Kingdom of the styles and titles of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother at her funeral on 9 April 2002 illustrates her dual status as a queen dowager and a queen mother:

Thus it hath pleased Almighty God to take out of this transitory life unto His Divine Mercy the late Most High, Most Mighty and Most Excellent Princess Elizabeth, Queen Dowager and Queen Mother, Lady of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Lady of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Lady of the Imperial Order of the Crown of India, Grand Master and Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order upon whom had been conferred the Royal Victorian Chain, Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Dame Grand Cross of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John, Relict of His Majesty King George the Sixth and Mother of Her Most Excellent Majesty Elizabeth The Second by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, Sovereign of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, whom may God preserve and bless with long life, health and honour and all worldly happiness.

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Distinction from queen mother

A queen mother is a former queen, often a queen dowager, who is the mother of the current monarch. Not every queen mother is a queen dowager, such as Queen Paola of Belgium, who became the queen mother of her son Philippe after her husband Albert II abdicated the throne but retained the title of king. Not all queens dowager are the queen mother; they may have a relation other than mother to the reigning monarch, such as aunt or grandmother. For example, Mary, Queen of Scots, was queen dowager of France after the death of her husband Francis II, to whom she bore no children. Similarly, Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen was queen dowager after her husband William IV was succeeded by his niece Victoria.

Not every mother of a reigning monarch is the queen mother or a queen dowager. For example, the mother of Queen Victoria of United Kingdom, Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, was neither a queen dowager nor the queen mother because her husband, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, had never been king. Similarly, whilst being the mothers of monarchs, both Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha and Srinagarindra of Thailand were not styled queen dowager because their respective husbands, Frederick, Prince of Wales and Mahidol Adulyadej, Prince of Songkla, were never kings. Instead, Augusta held the title of "Dowager Princess of Wales" (a precedent was Henry VII of England's mother, Lady Margaret Beaufort, titled "My Lady the King's Mother"); Srinagarindra meanwhile received the designation "Princess Mother".

As there is only one monarch, there can only be one queen mother. It is possible for there to be a queen mother and one or more queens dowager alive at any one time. This situation occurred in the Commonwealth realms in the period between the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952 and the death of her paternal grandmother on 24 March 1953, when, for slightly over a year, there were three queens alive:

Queen Elizabeth II (queen regnant).
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, the widow of the deceased King George VI and the mother of the reigning queen. Queen Elizabeth, the former queen consort, specifically adopted the appellation queen mother to distinguish herself from her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II. She reportedly loathed being referred to as a dowager queen, and felt there would be confusion if she were called simply by her name, as her two immediate predecessors, Queen Mary and Queen Alexandra, had been.
Queen Mary, the widow of King George V, the mother of the former king Edward VIII (the then Duke of Windsor) and of the late King George VI. Queen Mary had been the queen mother from the death of her husband in 1936 until the accession of her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1952. She continued to be titled and styled Her Majesty Queen Mary.

British queens dowager

There were several former queens consort of England, Scotland, and later the United Kingdom, who were never queen mothers. The following queens were dowagers between the given dates, whether queen mothers or not:

Of England:

Edith of Wessex 5 January 1066 – 18 December 1075, wife of Edward the Confessor; sister of Harold Godwinson.
Adeliza of Louvain 1 December 1135 – 23 April 1151, wife of Henry I; remarried to William d'Aubigny, 1st Earl of Arundel in 1139.
Eleanor of Aquitaine 6 July 1189 – 1 April 1204, wife of Henry II; queen mother to Richard I and John.
Berengaria of Navarre 6 April 1199 – 23 December 1230, wife of Richard I.
Isabella of Angoulême 18/19 October 1216 – 31 May 1246, wife of King John and queen mother to Henry III. Remarried to Hugh X of Lusignan 1220.
Eleanor of Provence 16 November 1272 – 24 June 1291, wife of Henry III and queen mother to Edward I.
Marguerite of France 7 July 1307 – 14 February 1317, wife of Edward I and stepmother to Edward II.
Isabella of France September 1327 – 22 August 1358, wife of Edward II and queen mother to Edward III, from her husband's deposition on 20 January 1327.
Isabella of Valois 14 February 1399 – 13 September 1409, wife of Richard II; ceased to be queen consort with Richard's deposition on 30 September 1399. Remarried to Charles I, Duke of Orléans on 29 June 1406.
Joanna of Navarre 20 March 1413—9 July 1437, wife of Henry IV and stepmother to Henry V.
Catherine of Valois 31 August 1422 – 3 January 1437, wife of Henry V and queen mother to Henry VI. Remarried to Owen Tudor in 1428 or 1429.
Margaret of Anjou 21 May 1471 – 25 August 1482, wife of Henry VI.
Elizabeth Woodville 9 April 1483 – 8 June 1492, wife of Edward IV and queen mother to Edward V until the latter's deposition in 1483.

Of England and Ireland

Catherine Parr 28 January 1547 – 5 September 1548, sixth and last wife of Henry VIII and stepmother to his children King Edward VI, Lady Mary, and Lady Elizabeth. Remarried to Thomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley most likely in mid-spring of 1547 and was mother to Mary Seymour.

Of Scotland

Margaret of Wessex 13 November 1093 – 16 November 1093, wife of Malcolm III.
Ermengarde de Beaumont 4 December 1214 – 12 February 1233/34, wife of William I and queen mother to Alexander II.
Marie de Coucy 6 July 1249 – 1285, wife of Alexander II and queen mother to Alexander III. Remarried to Jean de Brienne in 1257.
Yolande of Dreux 19 March 1286 – 2 August 1322, wife of Alexander III. Remarried to Duke Arthur II of Brittany in 1292.
Joan Beaufort 21 February 1437 – 15 July 1445, wife of James I and queen mother to James II. Remarried to James Stewart in 1439.
Mary of Guelders 3 August 1460 – 1 December 1463, wife of James II and queen mother to James III.
Margaret Tudor 9 September 1513 – 8 October 1541, wife of James IV and queen mother to James V. Remarried to Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus in 1514 and Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven in 1528.
Mary of Guise 14 December 1542 – 11 June 1560, wife of James V and queen mother to Mary, Queen of Scots.

Of England, Ireland and Scotland

Henrietta Maria of France 30 January 1649 – 10 September 1669, wife of Charles I and queen mother to Charles II.
Catherine of Braganza 6 February 1685 – 30 November 1705, wife of Charles II.
Mary of Modena 16 September 1701 – 7 May 1718, wife of James II and VII; ceased to be queen consort with his deposition on 11 December 1688.

Of the United Kingdom:

Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen 20 June 1837 – 2 December 1849, wife of William IV.
Alexandra of Denmark 6 May 1910 – 20 November 1925, wife of Edward VII, queen mother to George V.
Mary of Teck 20 January 1936 – 24 March 1953, wife of George V, queen mother to Edward VIII and George VI until the latter's death on 6 February 1952.
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon 6 February 1952 – 30 March 2002, wife of George VI and queen mother to Elizabeth II – styled as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

If the current queen consort, Queen Camilla, outlives the incumbent king, Charles III, she will become a queen dowager, while King Charles’ son and daughter-in-law become the new king and queen consort, respectively. She would not be known as a queen mother, as she is not the biological parent of Prince William.

Other

Note that in some of the countries mentioned below it is unusual to indicate a former queen-consort as a dowager.

Africa

Lesotho

'Mamohato Bereng Seeiso (1996–2003), widow of Moshoeshoe II of Lesotho

East Asia

China

Queen Dowager Xuan, concubine of King Xiaowen and mother of King Zhaoxiang of Qin.
Queen Dowager Zhao, wife of King Zhuangxiang of Qin and mother of Qin Shi Huang.
Empress Lü, wife of Emperor Gaozu of Han.
Wu Zetian, wife of Emperor Gaozong and mother of Emperors Zhongzong and Ruizong of Tang. Later became the only Empress regnant in the history of China.
Empress Dowager Cixi, wife of Xianfeng Emperor and mother of Tongzhi Emperor of Qing.

Japan

Empress Dowager Eishō (11 January 1835 – 11 January 1897), wife and widow of Emperor Kōmei of Japan.
Empress Shōken (9 May 1849 – 9 April 1914), wife and widow of Emperor Meiji of Japan.
Empress Teimei (25 June 1884 – 17 May 1951), wife and widow of Emperor Taishō of Japan and mother of Emperor Shōwa.
Empress Kōjun (6 March 1903 – 16 June 2000), wife and widow of Emperor Shōwa of Japan and mother of Emperor Akihito.

Korea

Queen Heonae (997–1009), third wife and widow of Gyeongjong of Goryeo and sister of Seongjong of Goryeo, mother of Mokjong of Goryeo and daughter of Gwangjong of Goryeo
Queen Gongye (1126–1146), third wife and widow of Injong of Goryeo and mother of Uijong of Goryeo, Myeongjong of Goryeo, Sinjong of Goryeo
Queen Jangryeol (1624–1688), wife and widow of Injo of Joseon step-mother of Hyojong of Joseon, step-grandmother of Hyeonjong of Joseon, step-great-grandmother of Sukjong of Joseon.
Queen Jeongsun (1745–1805), second wife and widow of Yeongjo of Joseon and step-grandmother of Jeongjo of Joseon and step-great-grandmother of Sunjo of Joseon.

Europe

Aragon

Sancha of Castile (1196–1208), widow of King Alfonso II of Aragon.
Constance II of Sicily (1285–1302), widow of King Peter III of Aragon.
Elisenda of Montcada (1327–1364), widow of King James II of Aragon.
Eleanor of Castile (1336–1359), widow of King Alfonso IV of Aragon.
Violant of Bar (1395–1431), widow of King John I of Aragon.
Margaret of Prades (1410–1429), widow of King Martin of Aragon. Remarried to John of Vilaragut.
Eleanor of Alburquerque (1416–1435), widow of King Ferdinand I of Aragon.
Germaine of Foix (1516–1536), widow of King Ferdinand II of Aragon. Remarried to Johann of Brandenburg-Ansbach and later Ferdinand, Duke of Calabria.

Bavaria

Caroline of Baden (1825–1841), second wife and widow of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria.
Marie of Prussia (1864–1889), widow of King Maximilian II of Bavaria.

Bohemia

Świętosława of Poland (1092–1126), widow of King Vratislaus I.
Judith of Thuringia (1172–1210), widow of King Vladislaus I.
Constance of Hungary (1230–1240), widow of King Ottokar I.
Kunigunda of Halych (1278–1285), widow of King Ottokar II.
Elizabeth Richeza of Poland (1305–1306; 1307–1335), widow of King Wenceslaus II and King Rudolf I.
Viola of Teschen (1306–1317), widow of King Wenceslaus III.
Beatrice of Bourbon (1346–1383), widow of King John.
Elizabeth of Pomerania (1378–1393), widow of King Charles I.
Sophia of Bavaria (1419–1428), widow of King Wenceslaus IV.
Barbara of Cilli (1437–1451), widow of King Sigismund.
Elizabeth of Luxembourg (1439–1442), widow of King Albert.
Joanna of Rožmitál (1471–1475), widow of King George.
Mary of Austria (1526–1558), widow of King Louis II.
Maria of Austria (1576–1603), widow of King Maximilian.
Eleonora Gonzaga (1637–1655), widow of King Ferdinand II.
Eleonora Gonzaga (1657–1686), widow of King Ferdinand III.
Eleonore Magdalene of Neuburg (1705–1720), widow of King Leopold I.
Wilhelmine Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1711–1742), widow of King Joseph I.
Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1740–1750), widow of King Charles II.
Maria Luisa of Spain (1792), widow of King Leopold II.
Caroline Augusta of Bavaria (1835–1873), widow of King Francis I.
Maria Anna of Savoy (1875–1884), widow of King Ferdinand V.

Bulgaria

Giovanna of Savoy (1943–1946), widow of Tsar Boris III of Bulgaria

Castile

Eleanor of England, (1161–31 October 1214), wife of King Alfonso VIII of Castile, mother of King Henry I of Castile and Queen Berengaria of Castile
Mafalda of Portugal (1197-1 May 1256), wife of King Henry I of Castile
Constance of Portugal (3 January 1290 – 18 November 1313), wife of King Ferdinand IV of Castile, mother of King Alfonso XI of Castile
Maria of Portugal (9 February 1313 – 18 January 1357), wife of King Alfonso XI of Castile, mother of King Peter I of Castile
Isabella of Portugal (1428 – 15 August 1496), wife of King John II of Castile, mother of Isabella I of Castile
Joan of Portugal (20 March 1439 – 12 December 1475), wife of King Henry IV of Castile

Croatia

Helen of Zadar (969 – 976), wife and widow of King Michael Krešimir II of Croatia.

Denmark

Jutta of Saxony (1250–1267), widow of King Eric IV of Denmark. Remarried to Burchard VIII, Count of Querfurt-Rosenburg.
Matilda of Holstein (1252–1288), widow of Abel, King of Denmark. Remarried to Birger Jarl in 1261.
Margaret Sambiria (1259–1282), widow of King Christopher I of Denmark.
Agnes of Brandenburg (1286–1304), widow of King Eric V of Denmark. Remarried to Gerhard II, Count of Holstein-Plön in 1293.
Dorothea of Brandenburg (1448–1449, 1481–1495), widow of King Christopher III and later King Christian I of Denmark.
Christina of Saxony (1513–1521), widow of John, King of Denmark.
Sophie of Pomerania (1533–1568), second wife and widow of King Frederick I of Denmark.
Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg (1559–1571), widow of King Christian III of Denmark.
Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow (1588–1631), widow of King Frederick II of Denmark.
Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Calenberg (1670–1685), widow of King Frederick III of Denmark.
Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel (1699–1714), widow of King Christian V of Denmark.
Anne Sophie Reventlow (1730–1743), second wife and widow of King Frederick IV of Denmark.
Sophie Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach (1746–1770), widow of King Christian VI.
Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1766–1796), second wife and widow of King Frederick V of Denmark.
Marie of Hesse-Kassel (1839–1852), widow of King Frederick VI of Denmark.
Caroline Amalie of Augustenburg (1848–1881), second wife and widow of King Christian VIII.
Louise of Sweden (1912–1926), widow of King Frederick VIII of Denmark.
Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1947–1952), widow of King Christian X.
Ingrid of Sweden (1972–2000), widow of King Frederik IX.

Etruria

Maria Luisa of Spain (27 May 1803 – 10 December 1807), widow of King Louis I of Etruria.

France

Judith of Bavaria (20 June 840–19 Apr 843), widow of King Louis the Pious.
Richilde of Provence (6 Oct 877–2 Jun 910), widow of King Charles the Bald.
Adelaide of Paris (10 Apr 879–10 Nov 901), widow of King Louis the Stammerer.
Théodrate of Troyes (1 Jan 898–903), widow of King Odo of France.
Eadgifu of Wessex (922–951), widow of King Charles the Simple.
Beatrice of Vermandois (15 June 923–931), widow of King Robert I of France.
Gerberga of Saxony (10 September 954–5 May 984), widow of King Louis IV of France.
Emma of Italy (26 March 986–987), widow of King Lothair of France.
Adelaide of Aquitaine (24 October 996–1004), widow of King Hugh Capet.
Constance of Arles (20 July 1031–25 July 1034), widow of King Robert II of France.
Anne of Kiev (4 August 1060–1075), widow of King Henry I of France.
Bertrade of Montfort (29 July 1108–1117), widow of King Philip I of France
Adelaide of Maurienne (1 August 1137–18 November 1154), widow of King Louis VI of France.
Adela of Champagne (18 September 1180–4 June 1206), widow of King Louis VII of France.
Ingeborg of Denmark, Queen of France (14 July 1223–29 July 1236), widow of King Philip II of France.
Blanche of Castile (8 November 1226–26 November 1252), widow of King Louis VIII of France.
Margaret of Provence (25 August 1270–21 December 1295), widow of King Louis IX of France.
Marie of Brabant, Queen of France (5 October 1285–10 January 1322), widow of King Philip III of France.
Clementia of Hungary (5 June 1316–13 October 1328), widow of King Louis X of France.
Joan II of Burgundy (3 January 1322–21 January 1330), widow of King Philip V of France.
Joan of Évreux (1 February 1328–4 March 1371), widow of King Charles IV of France.
Blanche of Navarre, Queen of France (22 August 1350–5 October 1398), widow of King Philip VI of France.
Isabeau of Bavaria (21 October 1422–24 September 1435), widow of King Charles VI of France.
Marie of Anjou (22 July 1461–29 November 1463), widow of King Charles VII of France.
Charlotte of Savoy (30 August 1483–1 December 1483), widow of King Louis XI.
Anne of Brittany (7 April 1498–8 January 1499), widow of King Charles VIII of France.
Mary Tudor, Queen of France (1 January 1515–25 June 1533), widow of King Louis XII.
Eleanor of Austria (31 March 1547–25 February 1558), widow of King Francis I of France.
Catherine de' Medici (10 July 1559–5 January 1589), widow of King Henry II of France.
Mary, Queen of Scots (5 December 1560–8 February 1587), widow of King Francis II of France.
Elisabeth of Austria, Queen of France (30 May 1574–22 January 1592), widow of King Charles IX of France.
Louise of Lorraine (2 August 1589–29 January 1601), widow of King Henry III of France.
Marie de' Medici (14 May 1610–3 July 1642), widow of King Henry IV of France.
Anne of Austria (14 May 1643–20 January 1666), widow of King Louis XIII.

Greece

Olga Constantinovna of Russia (1913–1924), widow of King George I of Greece.
Sophia of Prussia (1923–1924), widow of King Constantine I of Greece.
Frederica of Hanover (1964–1973), widow of King Paul of Greece.

Hungary

Giselle of Bavaria (1038–1065), widow of King Stephen I.
Anastasia of Kiev (1060–1074), widow of King Andrew I.
Richeza of Poland (1063–1075), widow of King Béla I.
Synadene (1077–1079), widow of King Géza I.
Helena of Serbia (1141–1146), widow of King Béla II.
Euphrosyne of Kiev (1162–1193), widow of King Géza II.
Agnes of Austria (1172–1182), widow of King Stephen III.
Maria Komnene (1165–1190), widow of King Stephen IV.
Margaret of France (1296–1297), widow of King Béla III.
Constance of Aragon (1204–1222), widow of King Emeric.
Beatrice d'Este (1235–1245), widow of King Andrew II.
Maria Laskarina (1270), widow of King Béla IV.
Elizabeth the Cuman (1272–1290), widow of King Stephen V.
Elizabeth of Sicily (1290–1300), widow of King Ladislaus IV.
Agnes of Austria (1301–1364), widow of King Andrew III.
Elizabeth of Poland (1342–1380), widow of King Charles I.
Elizabeth of Bosnia (1382–1387), widow of King Louis I.
Margaret of Durazzo (1386–1412), widow of King Charles II.
Barbara of Cilli (1437–1451), widow of King Sigismund.
Elizabeth of Luxembourg (1439–1442), widow of King Albert I.
Beatrice of Naples (1490–1491, 1502–1508), widow of King Matthias I.
Mary of Austria (1526–1558), widow of King Louis II.
Isabella Jagiellon (1540–1559), widow of King John I.
Maria of Austria (1576–1603), widow of King Maximilian.
Eleonora Gonzaga (1637–1655), widow of King Ferdinand II.
Eleonora Gonzaga (1657–1686), widow of King Ferdinand III.
Eleonore Magdalene of Neuburg (1705–1720), widow of King Leopold I.
Wilhelmine Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1711–1742), widow of King Joseph I.
Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1740–1750), widow of King Charles III.
Maria Luisa of Spain (1792), widow of King Leopold II.
Caroline Augusta of Bavaria (1835–1873), widow of King Francis I.
Maria Anna of Savoy (1875–1884), widow of King Ferdinand V.

Italy

Margherita of Savoy (1900 – 1926), wife and widow of King Umberto I of Italy.

León

Urraca of Portugal (1151–1222), wife of King Ferdinand II of León, mother of King Alfonso IX of León
Teresa of Portugal (4 October 1178 – 8 June 1250), wife of King Alfonso IX of León
Constance of Portugal (3 January 1290 – 18 November 1313), wife of King Fernando IV of León, mother of King Alfonso XI of León
Maria of Portugal (9 February 1313 – 18 January 1357), wife of King Alfonso XI of León, mother of King Peter I of León
Isabella of Portugal (1428 – 15 August 1496), wife of King John II of León, mother of Isabella I of León
Joan of Portugal (20 March 1439 – 12 December 1475), wife of King Henry IV of León

Naples

Margaret of Burgundy (1285–1308), widow of King Charles I
Mary of Hungary (1309–1323), widow of King Charles II
Sancia of Majorca (1343–1345), widow of King Robert
Margaret of Durazzo (1386–1412), widow of King Charles III
Mary of Enghien (1414–1446), widow of King Ladislaus
Joanna of Aragon (1494–1517), widow of King Ferdinand I
Joanna of Naples (1496–1518), widow of King Ferdinand II
Isabella del Balzo (1504–1533), widow of King Frederick
Germaine of Foix (1516–1536), widow of King Ferdinand III
Mariana of Austria (1665–1696), widow of King Philip III
Maria Anna of Neuburg (1700–1740), widow of King Charles V

Navarre

Urraca of Castile (1150–1164), widow of King García Ramírez of Navarre
Margaret of Bourbon (1253–1256), widow of King Theobald I of Navarre
Isabella of France (1270–1271), widow of King Theobald II of Navarre
Blanche of Artois (1274–1302), widow of King Henry I of Navarre
Clementia of Hungary (1316–1328), widow of King Louis I of Navarre
Joan II of Burgundy (1322–1330), widow of King Philip II of Navarre
Joan of Évreux (1328–1371), widow of King Charles I of Navarre
Marie de' Medici (1610–1620), widow of King Henry III of Navarre

Norway

Ingrid Ragnvaldsdotter (1136–1161), widow of King Harald IV
Margaret of Sweden (1202–1209), widow of King Sverre
Margaret Skulesdatter (1263–1270), widow of King Haakon IV
Ingeborg of Denmark (1280–1287), widow of King Magnus VI
Isabel Bruce (1299–1358), widow of King Eric II
Margaret I of Denmark (1380–1388), widow of King Haakon VI
Dorothea of Brandenburg (1448–1449, 1481–1495), widow of King Christopher and later King Christian I
Christina of Saxony (1513–1521), widow of King John
Sophie of Pomerania (1533–1568), widow of King Frederick I
Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg (1559–1571), widow of King Christian III
Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow (1588–1631), widow of King Frederick II
Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Calenberg (1670–1685), widow of King Frederick III
Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel (1699–1714), widow of King Christian V
Anne Sophie Reventlow (1730–1743), widow of King Frederick IV
Sophie Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach (1746–1770), widow of King Christian VI
Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1766–1796), widow of King Frederick V
Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp (1818), widow of King Charles II
Désirée Clary (1844–1860), widow of King Charles III John
Josephine of Leuchtenberg (1859–1876), widow of King Oscar I
Sonja Haraldsen (2026–present), widow of King Harald V

Portugal

Beatrice of Castile (1242 – 27 October 1303), wife of King Afonso III of Portugal and mother of King Dinis I of Portugal
Elizabeth of Aragon (1271 – 4 July 1336), wife of King Dinis I of Portugal and mother of King Afonso IV of Portugal
Beatrice of Castile (8 March 1293 – 25 October 1359), wife of King Afonso IV of Portugal and mother of King Peter I of Portugal
Leonor Telles de Menezes (1350 – 27 April 1386), wife of King Fernando I of Portugal
Eleanor of Aragon (1 February 1402 – 19 February 1445), wife of King Duarte I of Portugal and mother of King Afonso V of Portugal
Eleanor of Viseu (2 May 1458 – 17 November 1525), wife of King João II of Portugal
Eleanor of Austria (15 November 1498 – 25 February 1558), third wife of King Manuel I of Portugal
Catherine of Austria (14 January 1507 – 12 February 1578), wife of King João III of Portugal and grandmother of King Sebastião I of Portugal
Luisa of Guzman (13 October 1613 – 27 February 1666), wife of King João IV of Portugal and mother of Kings Afonso VI and Pedro II
Maria Anna of Austria (7 September 1683 – 14 August 1754), wife of King João V of Portugal and mother of King José I of Portugal
Mariana Victoria of Spain (31 March 1718 – 15 January 1781), wife of King José I of Portugal and mother of Queen Maria I of Portugal
Carlota Joaquina of Spain (25 April 1775 – 7 January 1830), wife of King João VI of Portugal and mother of King-Emperor Pedro IV of Portugal and King Miguel I of Portugal
Maria Pia of Savoy (14 February 1847 – 5 July 1911), wife of King Luís I of Portugal and mother of King Carlos I of Portugal
Amélie of Orleans (28 September 1865 – 25 October 1951), wife of King Carlos I of Portugal and mother of King Manuel II of Portugal

Prussia

Sophia Louise of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (25 February 1713 – 29 July 1735), third wife and widow of King Frederick I of Prussia.
Sophia Dorothea of Hanover (31 May 1740 – 28 June 1757), widow of King Frederick William I of Prussia.
Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern (17 August 1786 – 13 January 1797), widow of King Frederick II of Prussia.
Frederica Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt (16 November 1797 – 25 February 1805), second wife and widow of King Frederick William II of Prussia.
Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria (2 January 1861 – 14 December 1873), widow of King Frederick William IV of Prussia.
Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (9 March 1888 – 7 January 1890), widow of Wilhelm I, German Emperor and King of Prussia.
Victoria, Princess Royal (15 June 1888 – 5 August 1901), widow of Frederick III, German Emperor and King of Prussia.

Romania

Elisabeth of Wied (27 September 1914 – 2 March 1916), widow of King Carol I of Romania
Marie of Edinburgh (20 July 1927 – 18 July 1938), widow of Ferdinand I of Romania

Sardinia

Maria Theresa of Austria-Este (1 November 1773 – 29 March 1832), widow of King Victor Emmanuel I
Maria Cristina of Naples and Sicily (17 January 1779 – 11 March 1849), widow of King Charles Felix of Sardinia
Maria Theresa of Austria (21 March 1801 – 12 January 1855), widow of King Charles Albert of Sardinia

Saxony

Amalie of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld (10 May 1752 – 15 November 1828), widow of King Frederick Augustus I of Saxony.
Maria Anna of Bavaria (27 January 1805 – 13 September 1877), second wife and widow of King Frederick Augustus II of Saxony.
Amalie Auguste of Bavaria (13 November 1801 – 8 November 1877), widow of King John of Saxony.
Carola of Vasa (5 August 1833 – 15 December 1907), widow of King Albert of Saxony.

Sicily

Beatrice of Rethel (1151–1185), widow of King Roger II
Margaret of Navarre (1166–1183), widow of King William I
Joan of England (1189–1199), widow of King William II
Sibylla of Acerra (1194–1205), widow of King Tancred
Elisabeth of Bavaria (1254–1273), widow of King Conrad I
Helena Angelina Doukaina (1266–1271), widow of King Manfred
Eleanor of Anjou (1337–1341), widow of King Frederick III
Elizabeth of Carinthia (1342–1352), widow of King Peter II
Blanche I of Navarre (1409–1441), widow of King Martin I
Margaret of Prades (1410–1429), widow of King Martin II
Eleanor of Alburquerque (1416–1435), widow of King Ferdinand I
Germaine of Foix (1516–1536), widow of King Ferdinand II
Mariana of Austria (1665–1696), widow of King Philip III
Maria Anna of Neuburg (1700–1740), widow of King Charles III

Spain

Mariana of Austria (24 December 1634 – 16 May 1696), second wife and widow of King Philip IV of Spain.
Maria Anna of Neuburg (28 October 1667 – 16 July 1740), second wife and widow of King Charles II of Spain.
Louise Élisabeth d'Orléans (9 December 1709 – 16 June 1742), widow of King Louis I of Spain.
Elisabeth Farnese (25 October 1692 – 11 July 1766), second wife and widow of King Philip V of Spain.
Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies (27 April 1806 – 22 August 1878), fourth wife and widow of King Ferdinand VII of Spain.
Maria Christina of Austria (21 July 1858 – 6 February 1929), second wife and widow of King Alfonso XII of Spain.

Sweden

In Sweden, there has also been another title for a dowager queen, called Riksänkedrottning, which means Queen Dowager of the Realm. This title was used in the 16th and 17th centuries. The last time the title queen dowager was used was in 1913.

Helvig of Holstein, (1259–1325), widow of King Magnus III
Christina Abrahamsdotter, (1432–1492), third wife and widow of King Charles VIII.
Catherine Stenbock, (1537–1610), third wife and widow of King Gustav I.
Gunilla Bielke, (1568–1597), second wife and widow of King John III of Sweden.
Christina of Holstein-Gottorp, (1573–1625), second wife and widow of King Charles IX of Sweden.
Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg, (1599–1655), widow of King Gustavus Adolphus.
Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp, (1636–1715), widow of King Charles X Gustav.
Louisa Ulrika of Prussia, (1720–1781), widow of King Adolph Frederick of Sweden.
Sophia Magdalena of Denmark, (1746–1815), widow of King Gustav III.
Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp, (1759–1818), widow of King Charles XIII.
Désirée Clary, (1777–1860), widow of King Charles XIV John.
Josephine of Leuchtenberg, (1807–1876), widow of King Oscar I of Sweden.
Sophia of Nassau, (1836–1913), widow of King Oscar II.

Two Sicilies

María Isabella of Spain (1830–1848), second wife and widow of King Francis I of the Two Sicilies. Remarried to Francesco, Count dal Balzo dei Duchi di Presenzano in 1839.
Maria Theresa of Austria (1859–1861), second wife and widow of King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies.

Württemberg

Charlotte, Princess Royal of Great Britain and Ireland (30 October 1816 – 5 October 1828), second wife and widow of King Frederick I of Württemberg and stepmother of King William I of Württemberg.
Pauline Therese of Württemberg (25 June 1864 – 10 May 1873), second wife and widow of William I of Württemberg and mother of Charles I of Württemberg.
Olga Nikolaevna of Russia (6 October 1891 – 30 October 1892), widow of Charles I of Württemberg.

Yugoslavia

Maria of Romania (1934 – 1945), wife and widow of King Alexander I of Yugoslavia.

Pacific

Hawaii

Dowager Queen Ka'ahumanu, favoured wife of King Kamehameha I
Queen Emma of Hawaii, queen consort of King Kamehameha IV

Tonga

ʻAnaseini Takipō (1918), widow of George Tupou II
Halaevalu Mataʻaho ʻAhomeʻe (2006–2017), widow of Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV

South America

Brazil

Amélie of Leuchtenberg (July 31, 1812 – January 26, 1873), second wife and widow of Pedro I of Brazil.

South Asia

Bhutan

Phuntsho Choden (1952–2003), widow of Jigme Wangchuck
Pema Dechen (1952–1991), widow of Jigme Wangchuck
Kesang Choden (1972–present), widow of Jigme Dorji Wangchuck

Nepal

Rajendra Rajya Laxmi Devi (1777–1785), widow of Pratap Singh Shah
Queen Tripurasundari of Nepal (1804–1832), widow of Rana Bahadur Shah
Gorakshya Rajya Lakshmi Devi (1816), widow of Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah
Rajya Lakshmi Devi (1881–1900), widow of Rajendra Bikram Shah
Divyeshwari (1911–1933), widow of Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah
Kanti Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah (1955–1973), widow of Tribhuvan of Nepal
Ishwari Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah (1955–1983), widow of Tribhuvan of Nepal
Queen Ratna of Nepal (1972–2008), widow of Mahendra of Nepal

Southeast Asia

Malaysia

Raja Perempuan Zainab II of Kelantan, widow of Sultan Yahya Petra
Raja Perempuan Tengku Anis of Kelantan, widow of Sultan Ismail Petra
Tunku Puan Nora of Johor, widow of Sultan Ismail
Tunku Puan Zanariah of Johor, widow of Sultan Iskandar
Raja Permaisuri Tuanku Bainun of Perak, widow of Sultan Azlan Shah
Tengku Ampuan Jemaah of Selangor, widow of Sultan Hisamuddin
Permaisuri Siti Aishah of Selangor, widow of Sultan Salahuddin
Che Puan Besar Haminah of Kedah, widow of Sultan Abdul Halim
Maria Menado of Kedah, widow of Sultan Abu Bakar
Cik Puan Besar Kalsom of Pahang, widow of Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah
Tengku Ampuan Tua Intan Zaharah of Terengganu, widow of Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin
Tengku Ampuan Bariah of Terengganu, widow of Sultan Mahmud
Raja Perempuan Budriah of Perlis, widow of Raja Putra

Myanmar

Yun San, chief queen consort of King Alaungpaya and mother to three successive kings, Naungdawgyi, Hsinbyushin and Bodawpaya
Shin Phyo Oo, chief queen consort of King Naungdawgyi, mother to Phaungka
Shin Min Hla, the chief queen consort of Hsinbyushin and mother to Singu Min
Me Myat Shwe, Princess of Taungoo, chief queen consort of King Tharawaddy, mother of King Pagan and Queen Consort Setkya Dewi
Kyaut Maw Mibaya, Shin Min Yin, queen of the southern department of King Tharawaddy and mother of King Mindon
Laungshe Mibaya, Nanzwe queen consort of King Mindon and mother of King Thibaw

Thailand

Amarindra, (7 September 1809 – 25 May 1826), wife and widow of King Rama I of Siam and mother of King Rama II of Siam.
Sri Suriyendra, (21 July 1824 - 18 October 1836), wife and widow of King Rama II of Siam and mother of King Mongkut and King Pinklao.
Saovabha Phongsri, (23 October 1910 – 20 October 1919), wife and widow of King Chulalongkorn of Siam and mother of King Vajiravudh and King Prajadhipok.
Savang Vadhana, (23 October 1910 – 17 December 1955), wife and widow of King Chulalongkorn of Siam and grandmother of King Ananda Mahidol and King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Sukhumala Marasri, (23 October 1910 – 9 July 1927), wife and widow of King Chulalongkorn of Siam.
Rambai Barni, (30 May 1941 – 22 May 1984), wife and widow of King Prajadhipok of Siam.
Sirikit, (13 October 2016 – 24 October 2025), wife and widow of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand and mother of King Vajiralongkorn.

West Asia

Iraq

Huzaima bint Nasser (1884 – 27 March 1935), wife of Faisal I of Iraq and mother of Ghazi of Iraq.
Aliya bint Ali (19 January 1911 – 21 December 1950), wife of Ghazi of Iraq and mother of Faisal II of Iraq.

Jordan

Musbah bint Nasser (1884 – 15 March 1961), wife of Abdullah I of Jordan and mother of Talal of Jordan.
Zein Al-Sharaf Talal (2 August 1916 – 26 April 1994), wife of Talal of Jordan and mother of Hussein of Jordan.
Lisa Najeeb Halaby (Noor Al'Hussein) (b. 23 August 1951), the fourth wife and widow of King Hussein of Jordan and the stepmother of the current king, Abdullah II.

Fiction

In the novel series The Princess Diaries, the character Princess Clarisse Marie Grimaldi Renaldo is the princess dowager of the principality of Genovia. In the films, where Genovia is portrayed as a kingdom, Clarisse is portrayed as a dowager queen.

In the fantasy novel series A Song of Ice and Fire, and later the HBO series Game of Thrones, the character Cersei Lannister became the queen mother to King Joffrey Baratheon after her husband Robert Baratheon was killed in a hunting accident, although she managed to strong-arm the position of regent as well, and was thus known as the "queen regent". In the episode "High Sparrow", the new queen consort, Margaery Tyrell, mocks Cersei's loss of power by asking her to clarify whether she should be addressed as queen mother or dowager queen.

In the 2015 Indian movie Baahubali-The Beginning and its sequel Baahubali-the Conclusion, actress Ramya Krishnan portrays the character "Rajamatha Shivagami Devi". In most Indian languages, the word 'rajamata' means 'Queen-Mother'.

In the video game Long Live the Queen, after the queen regnant of the kingdom of Nova is assassinated, her widower is referred to as the king-dowager.

In the 2023 Netflix series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, actress Michelle Fairley portrays Augusta, Dowager Princess of Wales, King George's mother.