# power behind the throne

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/power-behind-the-throne
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Someone who appears to be without special status, but who has great covert influence on a person in authority.

## Examples

- The assistant is the real power behind the throne.
- Everyone thinks the manager makes the decisions, but his wife is the power behind the throne.
- While the king officially signed the decrees, his quiet advisor remained the true power behind the throne, shaping the nation's policy from the shadows.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.