Royal cypher Royal cypher In modern heraldry, a royal cypher is a monogram-like device of a country's reigning sovereign, typically consisting of the initials of the monarch's name and title, sometimes interwoven and often surmounted by a crown. Where such a cypher is used by an emperor or empress, it is called an "imperial cypher". In the system used by various Commonwealth realms, the title is abbreviated as "R" for "rex" or "regina" (Latin for "king" and "queen"). Previously, "I" stood for "imperator" or "imperatrix" (Latin words for "emperor" and "empress") of India. The cypher is displayed on some government buildings, impressed
British queen mothers "Scottish Queen Mothers (title not used in earlier periods)" "British Queen Mothers" British queen mothers Queen mother is defined as "a queen dowager who is the mother of the reigning sovereign". The term has been used in English since at least 1560. A queen mother is a person satisfying the following criteria: Queen mother does not mean "mother of the Queen"; it applies whether the current monarch is queen or king. As a queen, a queen mother retains the style of Her Majesty. The following is a list of women who can be classified as "Queen Mother" at some point