Dowager

A dowager is a widow who holds a title or property derived from her deceased husband. As an adjective, Dowager usually appears in association with monarchical and aristocratic titles.

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In loose popular usage, dowager as a stand-alone noun may refer to any elderly woman.

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In the United Kingdom, the title of "dowager" applies to women who fit one of two qualifications:

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• widow of a previous holder of a title of peerage
• ancestress of the present holder of the title

Generally speaking, dowager peeresses may use one of three styles:

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• "Duchess (or Marchioness, Countess, Viscountess, or Baroness, as appropriate) of X"
• "Dowager Duchess of X,"
• "N, Duchess of X"

where "N" stands for the forename.

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As long as the present male title-holder has no wife, a dowager retains the title she used when her late husband was the peer: "Duchess of X". However, the woman who marries the present peer will come to use the title "Duchess of X". Thus, when the present peer marries, the dowager must choose whether she wants to use the form "Dowager Duchess of X" or the form "N, Duchess of X," where N stands for the forename.

Dowager: Use in the United Kingdom ►



 

Monarchical: REDIRECT Monarchy...

Aristocratic: REDIRECT Aristocrat...




Dowager related Images and Photos (experimental)

Entry of Dowager Queen Adelaide on Board HMS Hastings into Valetta Harbour