The widow of a marquess is officially known as The Dowager Marchioness of …….(unless there is already a dowager marchioness in that family still living in which case the  widow of the junior marquess is known by her forename e.g Elizabeth, Marquess of Twickenham).

In practice, many widows prefer to use their forename in place of 'Dowager'. If in doubt, use of the forename is recommended.

How to address the Widow of a Marquess

The recommended (social) style of address is as follows:

If the present holder of the marquessate is unmarried, the widow of the previous marquess does not use the term of either The Dowager Marchioness of Aberdeen, or June, Marchioness of Aberdeen, but continues to be known as The Marchioness of Aberdeen.

Widow of a Marquess by Courtesy

The same rules apply to the widow, as to the wife, of a marquess by courtesy.

See Courtesy Titles

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