regent

A regent is a person who governs a state on behalf of a monarch who is unable to rule directly. This typically occurs when the rightful sovereign is a minor, is incapacitated, or is absent from the realm. In many constitutional systems, the regent’s powers and duties are defined by law or decree and are limited by checks and balances to ensure the monarch’s eventual authority is restored.

Regents may rule alone or as part of a regency council. The regent acts in the name of the monarch and is generally expected to preserve the monarch’s prerogatives while maintaining continuity of government. The arrangement is usually temporary, lasting until the monarch can assume full control or until a new succession is established.

Historically, regencies have appeared across monarchies in Europe, Asia, and other regions. Prominent examples include the Regency era in Britain (roughly 1811–1820), when the Prince of Wales acted as Regent during King George III’s illness, and various medieval regencies where a relative or trusted noble governed on behalf of a child king. In some contexts, regents were appointed by the monarch, while in others they were selected by a parliamentary or noble authority.

In modern times, regencies are comparatively rare and typically transitional. They are most common in constitutional monarchies, where the regent’s role is to ensure stable governance while the hereditary monarch cannot rule. The end of a regency occurs when the monarch can exercise sovereign powers or, in some cases, upon the monarch’s death.