king consort

plural king consorts · plural kings consort

1. The husband of a queen regnant who is given the title of king as a courtesy title, but does not rule in his own right.

   Coordinate term: queen consort

   4 more examples

   Near-synonym: prince consort (if not recognized as a king)

   It is also worth an aside here and noting that when Mary Queen of Scots married François, the French Dauphin in April 1558, he likewise became king consort of Scotland.

   1998, Michael Ashley, British Monarchs: The Complete Genealogy, Gazetteer, and Biographical Encyclopedia of the Kings & Queens of Britain, page 639

   Make no mistake, should Rhaenyra ever sit the Iron Throne, it will be Daemon who rules us, a king consort as cruel and unforgiving as Maegor ever was.

   2018, George R. R. Martin, Fire & Blood, unnumbered page

   Forged by King Consort Radagon to proudly symbolize the tenets of the Golden Order.

   2022, FromSoftware (developer), Hidetaka Miyazaki, George R. R. Martin (writers), Elden Ring, →OCLC, scene: "Golden Order Greatsword" item description

   Synonyms: prince consort

2. rareThe husband of a reigning king.

   He jumped as trumpeters announced the arrival of the king and his king consort.

   2013, Jana Downs, Ravyn's Temptation, page 69

   2 more examples

   The man strolled over to his King Consort and cupped his face in his strong hands.

   2018, Carl Houston Roach IV, The Fall of Avalon, unnumbered page

   And so Miquella made his heartfelt wish. That Radahn would one day be his king consort.

   2024, FromSoftware (developer), Hidetaka Miyazaki, George R. R. Martin (writers), Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, scene: "Remembrance of a God and a Lord" item description