Refers to a queen, the wife of a king. This term is less common than 女王 (じょおう) for a reigning queen, and is typically used for a queen consort.
The queen was loved by the people.
Compound of 王 (おう, 'king') and 后 (こう, 'empress' or 'queen'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with the meaning 'queen consort'.