Talk:Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother/Archive 1

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Was Elizabeth Woodville ever called the Queen Mother? Is there any record from the period in which she is refered to as such? -- Zoe

Yes, I was given to understand that the term was coined by the late Ms. Bowes-Lyon (or one of her immediate ancestresses) in preference to "Queen Dowager," which had been the previous title. - Montréalais

I would be VERY surprised if Elizabeth were ever called the Queen Mother. When would she have been called such? Her son, Edward V, the only one of her children ever to have been a monarch, succeeded his father as King on 9 April 1483, but was deposed by his uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester, 25 June 1483, before coronation. The only possible time Elizabeth might have been referred to as "Queen Mother" would be during those three months: and I doubt it happened, even inadvertently, then: it's a modern term. -- Someone else 21:33 Feb 25, 2003 (UTC)

"Queen Mother" is a title that seems to have been first included in the Prayer Book (for those qualifying) starting with Henrietta Maria, mother of Charles II. Its first use, then, would have been about 1651, well after Elizabeth's death and the time period in question. Its popular use probably dates to 1952. -- Someone else 22:31 Mar 8, 2003 (UTC)

No. Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary were both called Queen Mother. When George VI died, his widow became Queen Mother and Queen Mary was called the Dowager Queen Mother. BTW, Diana was so ignorant on constitutional titles that she thought that when William became king, she would be King Mother. (Not without a sex-change she couldn't, Queen Mother means mother of the sovereign who was herself a former queen consort.) STÓD/ÉÍRE 22:55 Mar 8, 2003 (UTC)

I guess the "No" part refers to how "popular" the use was? Regardless, Elizabeth Wodeville was certainly not "Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother", right? -- Someone else 23:19 Mar 8, 2003 (UTC)

I agree. PS - two people insist on putting King Otto of Greece in as Otto of Bavaria, contrary to our naming conventions. Any chance you could come to my aid on that page! :) STÓD/ÉÍRE 23:33 Mar 8, 2003 (UTC)

Woodvillectomy performed. :) -- Someone else 00:08 Mar 9, 2003 (UTC)

It just dawned on me. Queen Mother is not a new title. If I remember correctly it has been widely held by French and Italian royals. ( remember reading about some row over the behaviour of an Italian Queen Mother, and people centuries petitioning a French Queen Mother!) I think I remember hearing it used once with regard to a Romanov. So even if it is a twentieth century invention in the UK (which I very much doubt) it has a long history of existence. (I think Catherine de Medici was called 'Queen Mother') STÓD/ÉÍRE 04:56 Mar 9, 2003 (UTC)

Misceleanous References

  • Marie de Medicis - French Queen Mother declared regent of France. 14 May 1610. Source: French Diplomatic Archives.
  • "His widowed queen (1570s), Catherine de Medici, now Queen Mother, wanted to remain at the Louvre but not in the old palace". Quote from French diplomatic information sheet about the Louvre.
  • Blanche of Castile - mother of Saint Louis IX, King of France (1226-70). She is referred to as 'queen mother' in the Columbia Encyclopædia.
  • 1524, Agrippa von Nettesheim became physician to the queen-mother at the court of King Francis I in Lyons.

snippets

  • "Indeed, I still have a medal of my mother's, bearing the head of the Russian Queen Mother after whom her school was named." Article: Lithuania's tough test for toleration by Samuel Brittan: The Financial Times 02/09/2000 reference to Queen Margherita the Queen Mother - consort of King Umberto I. Mother of King Victorio Emanuele III
  • Queen Elizabeth became joint patron of the Women's Voluntary Service for Air Raid Precautions when it was founded on 16 May 1938. Queen Mary the Queen Mother was also patron and Lady Reading was appointed chairman.
  • The King's first public engagement after the coronation. Pictured with Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary the Queen mother and Princess Elizabeth.
  • 19 Nov. Queen Alexandra, the Queen Mother, suffers a heart attack at Sandringham. 20 Nov. Queen Alexandra dies.

In general Google search throws up

  • 10 references to the Queen Mother of Italy
  • 32 Italian Queen Mother
  • 44 French Queen Mother
  • 237 Queen Mother of France
  • 8 Spanish Queen Mother (Earliest, Anne of Austria, 1660s)
  • 22 Queen Mother of Spain (from mediæval to the current King's mother)
  • 2 Russian Queen Mother (including one dodgy Hollywood 'history' film script)
  • 3 Queen Mother of Russia (dating back to early 19th c.)
  • 8 Dutch Queen Mother (referring to former monarchs who had abdicated)
  • 60 Danish Queen Mother (largely about death of elderly Danish Queen Mother Ingrid in 2000)

So obviously the QM title exists well outside the UK and goes back in international usage half a millenium at least. And it was popularly in use throughout the twentieth century in the UK. STÓD/ÉÍRE 06:48 Mar 9, 2003 (UTC)