[HPFGU-OTChatter] Combining Brit Royalty and Wizards...?

[Shaun Hately]

On 31 Oct 2003 at 6:52, Steve wrote:

> Let's assume for the moment that the reigning King of England married
> a witch before being crowned King of England, would that witch be
> considered Queen or merely the wife of the king? 
> 
> In a sense, I am asking if the spouse of the reigning monarch also
> holds the highest royal title, or is the highest royal title reserved
> excusively for the reigning King/Queen.

OK -

There is one type of King, but two types of Queen. A King is *always* the 
Monarch. A Queen generally is not. There is the Queen Consort (wife to the 
Monarch), and the Queen Regnans (Monarch in her own right).

The reason there have been so few Queens in their own right is that if there is 
any male heir of a similar relationship to the closest female heir to the crown, they 
have precedence. A Princess can become Queen of the United Kingdom only if 
she has no brothers - it doesn't matter if she is older than them - her brothers 
have precedence under British law.

For example - the Queen's children in order of birth are Charles, Anne, Andrew 
and Edward. In order of succession it is Charles, Andrew, Edward, Anne (I'm 
leaving out the children of Charles and Andrew, both of whom also have 
precedence over Anne). Put another way - when Prince Andrew was born, Anne 
went from second in line to the throne, to third.

> Does that question make sense?
> 
> Perhap, restate one more time; are the reigning monarch and spouse
> automatically King AND Queen, or does the title only reside with the
> one who is reigning at the time?

If the Monarch is male, he is King, and his wife is Queen (Queen Consort).

If the Monarch is female, she is Queen (Queen Regnan) and her husband is 
Prince Consort.

That is the current situation in Britain - Elizabeth II is Queen Regnans. Her 
husband is Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh - he is the Prince Consort, but he 
was also created Duke of Edinburgh in his own right.

> If Hermione married Prince William (they are about the same age) and
> Prince William became King, would that automatically make Hermione
> Queen, or would she only hold the title Queen if William died and
> Hermione took over.

Under normal circumstances, if Hermione married Prince William, she would 
become Queen. There is no circumstance under which she could take over as 
Queen in her own right (if King William died while his closest heir was still under 
age to reign effectively, his closest heir would still become King or Queen, and 
Hermione might be appointed Regent until such time as the Monarch came of 
age). She would retain the title of Queen - Dowager Queen Mother (the Queen 
Mother took that title without commonly using Dowager, because at the time her 
husband King George VI died, his mother Queen Mary (widow of King George V) 
was still alive and holding the title of Dowager Queen) - but she would have no 
special powers, except those granted by the Regency if applicable.

Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately | www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       | drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200 
"You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one
thing in common. They don't alter their views to fit the 
facts. They alter the facts to fit the views. Which can be 
uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that 
need altering." The Doctor - Doctor Who: The Face of Evil
Where am I: Frankston, Victoria, Australia