Why doesn’t the title ‘King Consort’ exist?

While the title Queen Consort is well-established as the official designation for the wife of a reigning king, the male equivalent – King Consort – is notably absent from British royal tradition. Why does the monarchy have a Queen Consort, but no King Consort? The answer lies in constitutional principles, historical precedent, and royal protocol.

The King Is the Sovereign

The title king denotes the reigning monarch – one who holds sovereign authority by inheritance or law. Unlike queens, who can be either sovereigns (queen regnant) or consorts (queen consort), the title “king” is never used for a consort because it implies ruling power.

A queen consort is the wife of a king but holds no constitutional power. In contrast, a king is the monarch. Therefore, granting the title king consort would confuse the line between sovereign and spouse.

Male Consorts Have Held Different Titles

Though “king consort” does not exist, male consorts have historically been given alternative titles that acknowledge their role without implying sovereignty.

• Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, was officially created Prince Consort in 1857 – several years after their marriage. This title was unique and specifically created to formalise his position as the queen’s husband.
• Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, consort to Queen Elizabeth II, never took the title Prince Consort. Instead, in 1957 he was granted the title Prince of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Prince Philip chose to avoid the formal consort title altogether, and was not crowned during the coronation.

Coronation Traditions Reflect the Difference

Unlike queens consort, male consorts are traditionally not crowned during the monarch’s coronation ceremony. This practice symbolises their supporting role and lack of sovereign authority. The queen consort’s crowning signifies her status as the monarch’s spouse, but no parallel ceremony exists for male consorts.

What This Means Today

The distinction preserves the constitutional clarity of the monarchy. The king (or queen regnant) is the sovereign ruler; consorts, regardless of gender, have a supportive role without constitutional power. Thus, the title king consort remains absent because it would imply an authority male consorts have never possessed.