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What was the title of Queen Mary, widow of George V, after her granddaughter became Queen Elizabeth II and her mother Elizabeth became the Queen Mother?

Question #121262. Asked by davejacobs.

Related Trivia Topics: Royalty & Monarchs   England  
Watchkeeper
Answer has 13 votes
Currently Best Answer
Watchkeeper
18 year member
412 replies

Answer has 13 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
Although she became Queen Mother on the death of her husband George V and the accession of her son Edward VIII (and, following his abdication, George VI) she never used that title and remained Her Majesty Queen Mary until her death in March 1953.

link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_of_teck%23Queen_Mother

Queen Elizabeth, wife of George VI, adopted the title "Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother" on his death and the accession of her daughter because to have remained simply Queen Elizabeth would have caused confusion. Queen Mary had no such problem.

Apr 29 2011, 10:25 AM
davejacobs
Answer has 5 votes
davejacobs
22 year member
956 replies

Answer has 5 votes.
This site suggests she was for a brief period before her death, "Dowager Queen Mother"
link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_queens_dowager

Apr 29 2011, 1:15 PM
Watchkeeper
Answer has 0 votes
Watchkeeper
18 year member
412 replies

Answer has 0 votes.
A queen dowager is the widow of a deceased king. Thus both Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth were Queens Dowager. Neither of them wished to use that status as a title.

In addition both Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth were queen mothers as mothers of the monarch; in the case of Queen Mary, George VI whilst he lived and in the case of Queen Elizabeth, Elizabeth II.

The Garter King of Arms' proclamation 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 - "the late Most High, Most Mighty and Most Excellent Princess Elizabeth, Queen Dowager and Queen Mother ..." As mentioned, she adopted the status of queen mother as a tile - Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother - to distinguish herself from her daughter who is also Queen Elizabeth.

"Dowager Queen Mother" does not exist as a title, and I cannot find it in the reference quoted. Once George VI died, Queen Mary ceased to be a queen mother but remained a queen dowager. Her title, Queen Mary, did not change.

Apr 29 2011, 5:24 PM
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