What title is given to the consort of Rex in New Orleans Mardi Gras?

What title is given to the consort of Rex in New Orleans Mardi Gras? The answer is Queen of Carnival.

Rex is New Orleans’ Carnival monarch, and his consort is officially titled the Queen of Carnival. Each year, Rex and the queen preside over the Rex court and appear at major Carnival ceremonies, including the Rex Ball. The queen is traditionally selected from among the season’s debutantes, and her identity is kept secret until the royal announcements around Lundi Gras.

The title reflects Rex’s role as “King of Carnival,” although the organization’s monarch is technically titled simply Rex rather than “King Rex.” The queen’s title similarly identifies her connection to the broader Carnival celebration, not merely to a private social club.

New Orleans Mardi Gras includes many krewes, each with its own royalty and titles. That variety can make alternatives such as “Duchess of Rex” sound plausible, but they are not the official title for Rex’s consort. The Queen of Carnival and Rex together form the ceremonial centerpiece of Rex’s royal pageantry.