QUEEN, from the Saxon cjten, used to denote rtulier, famine, conjux, as well as the most distinguished of women and wives, to whom now it is only appropriated. The other use of it, as betokening a sovereign princess who has succeeded to the kingly power, is an application of it not originally contemplated.
The king's consort has been regarded in all countries as a person of eminent dignity, and has been invested with privileges not allowed to any other married woman. In England she can purchase lands, and tako grants from the king her husband ; she has separate courts and officers, including an attorney- and a solicitor-general ; she may sue and be sued apart from her husband, have separate goods, and dispose of them by will. She pays no toll, is not subject to atnereement, and has a share in fines made to tho king for certain privileges, which last is called queen's gold. Anciently manors belbnging to the crown were assigned to her in dower, but this provision is now made by a Parlia mentary grant. Again, there is thrown over her person a peculiar protection. It is as much treason to compass or imagine the death of
the king's consort as of the king himself. To violate or defile her person is also treason, though she be consenting. It has been the usual practice to crown the queen with the same kind of solemnities at the coronation of a king. In the case of Caroline, the consort of King George IV., who was living at the time apart from her husband, this was not done ; but her right was asserted at the time by Ifir. Brougham before the Privy Council.
The chief distinction between a queen-dowager and the widow of any other person of eminent rank lies in this, that though she marry with a commoner, she does not lose her rank ; but no one can marry a queen-dowager without the special licence of the sovereign.
A queen-regnant, or princess who has inherited the sovereign power, differs in no respect from a king as to the political rights vested in the dignity.