queen mother

noun

1. a queen dowager who is mother of a reigning sovereign.

queen mother

noun

1. the widow of a former king who is also the mother of the reigning sovereign

Word History and Origins

Origin of queen mother¹

First recorded in 1570–80

Example Sentences

"I just want to do something for the queen mother and the royal family," added the vendor, dressed head-to-toe in black while fielding calls from suppliers in Thailand and China.

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Charles sidestepped a similar controversy when Buckingham Palace announced that his wife, Camilla, wouldn’t wear the crown of Queen Elizabeth, the queen mother, on coronation day.

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Widows of British kings are called “dowager queens,” or, if their children accede to the throne, “queen mother.”

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But it turned out to be her sister, Princess Margaret, and the queen mother.

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Bassett, who portrays the grieving queen mother in Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” sequel, has been nominated for a supporting actress Oscar.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• monarch 
• ruler