Princess vs. Queen — What's the Difference?
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By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 15, 2024
A princess is typically a monarch's daughter or wife, with varying roles and titles, while a queen is the reigning female monarch or the monarch's wife.
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Difference Between Princess and Queen
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A princess is usually associated with the daughter of a king or queen, although the term can also apply to a king's wife, depending on the country's traditions and royal hierarchy. The role and status of a princess can vary significantly across different cultures and royal families. On the other hand, a queen can either be a reigning monarch, known as a queen regnant, who holds the crown and governing powers in her own right, or a queen consort, who is the wife of a reigning king and typically does not have sovereign power.
In some cases, princesses may have specific duties or represent the royal family in public engagements, while in others, their roles may be more ceremonial. A queen regnant's responsibilities are akin to those of a king, involving state governance, legislative roles, and serving as a national symbol. A queen consort's role is usually more focused on ceremonial duties and supporting the king.
Princesses often become queens consort through marriage to a reigning king, although this is not the only path to becoming a queen. A queen regnant usually ascends to the throne through hereditary succession, depending on the country's specific laws and traditions regarding female monarchs.
The titles and roles of princesses and queens can also be influenced by additional factors such as birth order, marital status, and specific laws governing titles and succession in each monarchy. For example, in some monarchies, the title of "princess" is reserved for women born into the royal family, while in others, it can be conferred by marriage.
While a princess may have a certain level of influence and responsibilities, a queen, especially a queen regnant, typically holds a higher position within the hierarchy of the monarchy, with greater responsibilities and public duties.
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Comparison Chart
Title Origin
Daughter or wife of a monarch.
Reigning monarch or monarch's wife.
Role
Ceremonial, public engagements, may have specific duties.
Governance (if queen regnant), ceremonial duties, national symbol.
Power
Limited official power, influence varies.
Sovereign power (if queen regnant), otherwise mainly ceremonial.
Path to Title
Birth or marriage into the royal family.
Hereditary succession (if queen regnant) or marriage to a king.
Position in Hierarchy
Below the monarch and potentially other royals.
Highest in the monarchy, except for a reigning king (if queen consort).
Compare with Definitions
Princess
A title used in fairy tales to denote a woman of high rank or nobility.
The story tells of a princess who overcomes great challenges.
Queen
A female monarch who reigns in her own right, known as a queen regnant.
Queen Elizabeth II was the queen regnant of the United Kingdom.
Princess
A female member of a royal family, especially the daughter of a king or queen.
Princess Anne is the daughter of Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen
A woman considered preeminent in a particular field.
Aretha Franklin is often called the Queen of Soul.
Princess
A term used to describe a woman admired for her qualities or achievements.
She's considered the princess of pop music.
Queen
In some countries, a queen mother, who is the widow of a king and mother of the reigning monarch.
Queen Mary was known as the queen mother after her husband's death.
Princess
In some cultures, a title given to women of noble status.
In certain regions, noblewomen are often referred to as princesses.
Queen
The wife of a king, known as a queen consort, without governing powers.
Queen Sophia of Spain is a queen consort.
Princess
The wife of a prince.
Diana became a princess upon her marriage to Prince Charles.
Queen
The title can also be used symbolically to denote a woman of outstanding quality or importance in a specific area.
She's regarded as the queen of her local community for her charitable work.
Princess
Princess is a regal rank and the feminine equivalent of prince (from Latin princeps, meaning principal citizen). Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or for the daughter of a king or prince.
Queen
The wife or widow of a king.
Princess
A woman member of a royal family other than the monarch, especially a daughter of a monarch.
Queen
A female sovereign.
Princess
A woman who is a ruler of a principality.
Queen
A woman considered preeminent in a particular field
The reigning queen of hip-hop.
Princess
A woman who is a hereditary ruler; a queen.
Queen
A woman chosen as the winner of a contest or the honorary head of an event
A beauty queen.
The queen of the prom.
Princess
A noblewoman of varying status or rank.
Queen
Something having eminence or supremacy in a given domain and personified as a woman
Paris is regarded as the queen of cities.
Princess
A woman regarded as having the status or qualities of a princess.
Queen
The most powerful chess piece, able to move in any direction over any number of empty squares in a straight line.
Princess
Designed to hang in smooth, close-fitting, unbroken lines from shoulder to flared hem
A princess dress.
Queen
A playing card bearing the figure of a queen, ranking above the jack and below the king.
Princess
A female member of a royal family other than a queen, especially a daughter or granddaughter of a monarch.
Queen
The sole reproductive female, or one of several such females, in a colony of eusocial insects, such as bees, wasps, ants, or termites.
Princess
A woman or girl who excels in a given field or class.
Queen
The reproductive female in a colony of naked mole rats.
Princess
A female ruler or monarch; a queen.
Queen
A mature female cat, especially one kept for breeding purposes.
Princess
A young girl; used as a term of endearment.
Queen
Offensive Slang Used as a disparaging term for a gay man.
Princess
A young girl or woman (or less commonly a man) who is vain, spoiled or selfish; a prima donna.
Queen
A queen-size bed.
Princess
A tinted crystal marble used in children's games.
Queen
To make (a woman) a queen.
Princess
A type of court card in the Tarot pack, coming between the 10 and the prince (Jack).
Queen
(Games) To raise (a pawn) to queen in chess.
Princess
A female lemur.
Queen
To become a queen in chess.
Princess
A female prince; a woman having sovereign power, or the rank of a prince.
So excellent a princess as the present queen.
Queen
Of or relating to a queen-size bed
Queen sheets.
A queen bed skirt.
Princess
The daughter of a sovereign; a female member of a royal family.
Queen
The wife, consort, or widow of a king.
The divorced king was looking for a new queen.
Royal family
Princess
The consort of a prince; as, the princess of Wales.
Queen
A female monarch.
Royal family
Princess
A female member of a royal family other than the queen (especially the daughter of a sovereign)
Queen
A woman whose pre-eminence, power, or forcefulness is comparable to that of a queen.
Queen
(Christianity) The Virgin Mary (especially in formulations such as Queen of Heaven, Queen of Glory).
Queen
An excellent woman.
Queen
A woman pre-eminent in a particular group or field.
Queen
An attractive woman; a female partner in a romantic relationship.
Queen
Something regarded as the greatest of its kind or as having pre-eminence or power comparable to that of a queen over a given area.
Queen
Playing card) of all four suits in the English pattern |image2=Carromboard.JPG |width2=3264 |height2=2448 |alt2= |caption2=A carrom board with the red queen (carrom piece) in the centre}} Referring to one of several items used in tabletop games:
Queen
A chess piece that, under contemporary rules, is the most powerful, able to move any number of spaces horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
Chess set
Queen
A playing card with a depiction of a queen on it, generally ranking next below the king and above the jack in a given suit.
Queen Bess
Queen
A red disk that is the most valuable piece in the Asian game of carrom.
Queen
[[File:Apis mellifera scutellata 1355021.jpg|thumb|upright|Worker bees around the queen (reproductive female insect in a hive) of the hive, marked with a pink dot]] A reproductive female insect in a hive, such as an ant, bee, termite or wasp.
Queen bee
Queen
(obsolete) A type of flatfish, specifically the lemon sole.
Queen
(rare) A queen apple.
Queen
A queen scallop.
Queen
Senseid|en|queen post}} {{ellipsis of queen post
Queen
A type of large roofing slate.
Queen
An adult female cat capable of breeding.
Queen
Senseid|en|queen olive}} {{ellipsis of queen olive
Queen
Senseid|en|drag queen}} {{ellipsis of drag queen
Queen
Pertaining to a queen-size bed or queen-size bedding.
Queen
A monarch butterfly (Danaus spp., especially Danaus gilippus).
Queen
To act the part of a queen; to behave imperiously; to queen it.
Queen
(transitive) To make a queen or (figuratively) to give the status of a queen.
Queen
(chess) To promote a pawn to a queen.
Queen
(beekeeping) To be the queen bee of a colony.
Queen
(beekeeping) To provide with a new queen bee.
Queen
The wife of a king.
Queen
A woman who is the sovereign of a kingdom; a female monarch; as, Elizabeth, queen of England; Mary, queen of Scots.
In faith, and by the heaven's quene.
Queen
A woman eminent in power or attractions; the highest of her kind; as, a queen in society; - also used figuratively of cities, countries, etc.
Queen
The fertile, or fully developed, female of social bees, ants, and termites.
Queen
The most powerful, and except the king the most important, piece in a set of chessmen.
Queen
A playing card bearing the picture of a queen; as, the queen of spades.
Queen
To act the part of a queen.
Queen
To make a queen (or other piece, at the player's discretion) of by moving it to the eighth row; as, to queen a pawn.
Queen
The only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
Queen
A female sovereign ruler
Queen
The wife or widow of a king
Queen
Something personified as a woman who is considered the best or most important of her kind;
Paris is the queen of cities
The queen of ocean liners
Queen
A competitor who holds a preeminent position
Queen
One of four face cards in a deck bearing a picture of a queen
Queen
(chess) the most powerful piece
Queen
Especially large and only member of a colony of naked mole rats to bear offspring sired by only a few males
Queen
Female cat
Queen
Promote to a queen, as of a pawn in chess
Queen
Become a queen;
Her pawn queened
Common Curiosities
Can a princess automatically become a queen?
A princess does not automatically become a queen; she may become a queen consort through marriage to a king or a queen regnant through hereditary succession, depending on the monarchy's rules.
Is the title of "princess" always inherited?
The title of "princess" can be inherited by birth within a royal family or conferred by marriage to a prince.
What's the difference between a queen regnant and a queen consort?
A queen regnant is a reigning monarch with sovereign powers, while a queen consort is the wife of a reigning king and typically does not hold governing power.
What duties might a princess have?
A princess's duties can vary but often include public engagements, charitable work, and representing the royal family at events.
How are princesses and queens addressed?
The manner of addressing a princess or queen can vary by country but often includes formal titles such as "Her Royal Highness" for princesses and "Her Majesty" for queens.
Can a queen consort become a queen regnant?
A queen consort does not become a queen regnant unless she ascends to the throne through hereditary succession, which is a separate process from her role as consort.
Do princesses and queens have political power?
Queens regnant hold political power, while princesses and queens consort typically have limited or no official political power, focusing instead on ceremonial roles.
Are the roles of princesses and queens defined by law?
The roles and titles of princesses and queens can be defined by the laws and traditions of each monarchy, which dictate succession, titles, and duties.
How does a queen consort contribute to the monarchy?
A queen consort contributes through ceremonial duties, charitable work, and supporting the king and the royal family in their public engagements.
Can a queen regnant also be called a princess?
A queen regnant may have been a princess before ascending to the throne, but once she becomes a queen, that title takes precedence.
Can a woman marry into royalty and become a queen?
A woman who marries a reigning king can become a queen consort, but not a queen regnant, which requires ascending to the throne through hereditary succession.
Are there any countries where a princess has ruled as a queen?
Yes, in some monarchies, princesses have ascended to the throne to become queen regnants, such as Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.
What's the significance of a queen mother?
A queen mother is the widow of a king and mother of the reigning monarch, often holding a respected position within the royal family but without ruling power.
Do princesses receive any formal training?
Princesses often receive formal education and training in protocol, languages, and public duties to prepare them for their roles in representing the royal family.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
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Co-written by
Maham Liaqat