Consort In The Description.

I see many early Canadian stamps described as consort.

Example. Canada #17 prince consort.

I know it is not someones name. I looked in the catalog and I see no mention of the word. This is Unitrade, maybe another catalog using this word.

Any help would be appreciated. I am sure it is something simple that I just can't figure out.

Here's a definition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_consort It is a prince who is married to a queen and who is not a king. Prince Albert was married to Queen Victoria and he is the prince consort who is on these early Canadian stamps. Another prince consort appears to be Prince Philip who is married to Queen Elizabeth.

Thanks jogil, I did not know any of that. It IS a little more complicated than I expected. Great to learn something new everyday.

I guess that what it is saying is that an original king can make someone a queen by marriage who is a princess since king is above queen. However, an original queen cannot make someone a king by marriage who is a prince since queen is not above king.

"Prince" Philip was born a prince, as a member of the Greek and Danish royal families. He abandoned his royal titles upon his engagement to Princess Elizabeth in 1948, leaving him without any real royal status. As a wedding gift, George VI allowed him to use HRH (His Royal Highness) and when Elizabeth ascended to the throne, she appointed him as a prince.

As an interesting side-note, Prince Philip is, in his own right, something like 500th in line to the throne, as a direct descendant of Queen Victoria (and Queen Elizabeth`s third cousin).

Note that not every wife of a King will become a Queen. For example, when Prince Charles inherits the throne from Elizabeth II, his wife will not be known as Queen Camilla.

Good clarification. My French background suggested it meant the prince qu'on sort (the one the queen shows to her people when she goes out in public...) I guess I was wrong all along....

I guess that what it is saying is that an original king can make someone a queen by marriage who is a princess since king is above queen. However, an original queen cannot make someone a king by marriage who is a prince since queen is not above king.


Ok that clears it up a bit. About clear as mud ...lol

Thanks for the help.

Yes, you see the same thing with regard to Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband.

Allo Giles, donc ......... "My French background suggested it meant the prince qu'on sort (the one the queen shows to her people" means "not the prince that the Queen keeps at home......." +]