DOWAGER-QUEEN

dowager-queen.  The  widow  of  the  king  of  England.  —  Also  termed  queen  dowager.  See

QUEEN MOTHER.

“A  queen  dowager  is  the  widow  of  the  king,  and  as  such  enjoys  most  of  the  privileges

belonging to her as queen consort. But it is not high treason to conspire her death; or to violate her

chastity … because the succession to the crown is not thereby endangered. Yet still, … no man can

marry a queen dowager without special licence from the king, on pain of forfeiting his lands and

goods….  A  queen  dowager,  when  married  again  to a  subject,  doth  not lose  her  regal  dignity,  as

peeresses  dowager  do  their  peerage  when  they  marry  commoners.”  1  William  Blackstone,

Commentaries on the Laws of England 217 (1765). [Blacks Law 8th]