Princess Elizabeth gained the throne and became Queen Elizabeth while her husband Prince Philip was not a king. He remained a prince. So why wasn’t Prince Philip king? Have you ever asked ‘why is the queen’s husband, not king?’
Prince Philip got titles including Baron, Duke, Earl, Royal Knight, and other designations. But the highest and most obvious title ‘king’ was missing. King appears more powerful than other titles. You might have watched The Crown or learned by reading about British monarchs that women who marry kings are referred to as queens. For example, Queen Elizabeth II’s mother was called Queen Elizabeth after her husband gained the throne. Technically, the original phrase is queen consort, where consort refers to women who earned the title through marriage. Then, why was Prince Philip not King Philip? Find out everything about British monarchs and why Prince Philip wasn’t the king who passed away at the age of 99.
Why is the Queen’s Husband Not the king?
Why Doesn’t Prince Philip Become King?
Prince Philip was married to Queen Elizabeth II for over 70 years. Despite the Duke of Edinburgh marrying the queen, he had been known as Prince and not a king.
What is a King's Wife Called?
- A. Queen Consort
- B. Princess
- C. Duchess
- D. None of the Above
Why is the wife of a king called Queen? In British monarchs, men cannot use the title “king” because this is only given to men who inherit the throne directly. Males married to the British queens are known as prince consorts, not king consorts while a woman who marries the king will be known as the queen consort. The parliamentary succession law only relates the succession to bloodline but not gender.
Prince Philip married Elizabeth II in 1947 and was also honored with three other titles:
- Duke of Edinburgh
- Earl of Merioneth
- Baron Greenwich
According to Town & Country, Queen Elizabeth made him an official Prince of the United Kingdom and announced it in the new letters patent.
When a man in the Royal Bloodline Marries
His wife can take the female form of the king’s title. For example, when Prince William married Kate Middleton. He became Duke of Cambridge so Kate also became the Duchess of Cambridge. Queen Elizabeth held the queen’s title until George VI died and Elizabeth II became Queen and her mother became “Queen Mother.”
When a Woman in the Royal Bloodline Marries
Her spouse is not eligible to take the male form of her wife’s title. Therefore, Princess Eugenie’s husband Jack Brooksbank remained Mr. Jack Brooksbank and is not a prince after getting married in 2018.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s Marriage
Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark got married on November 20, 1947. In 2017, they celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary.
The couple met 13 years ago during the wedding of Princess Marina of Denmark and Greece and Prince George, Duke of Kent in 1934. They again met in July 1939, when she said she was in love with Philip. They started exchanging letters and secretly got engaged in 1946. In July of the same year, her father King George VI made an official announcement regarding their engagement. They had been married for 73 years before Edinburg died on April 9, 2021.