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For the station on the Docklands Light Railway, see Prince Regent DLR station.

A prince regent is a prince who rules a country instead of a sovereign, e.g., due to the sovereign's incapacity (minority or illness) or absence (remoteness or non-existence). While the term itself can have the generic meaning and refer to any prince who fills the role of regent, historically it has only been used to describe a small number of individuals.

In the English language the title Prince Regent is most commonly associated with George IV, who held the style HRH The Prince Regent during the incapacity of his father, George III (see Regent for other regents). Regent's Park and Regent Street in London are named after him.

This period is known as the English Regency, or just the Regency.

The title was conferred by the Regency Act on February 5, 1811. Subject to certain limitations for a period, the Prince Regent was able to exercise the full powers of the King. The precedent of the Regency Crisis of 1788 (from which George III recovered before it was necessary to appoint a Regent) was followed. The Prince of Wales continued as regent until his father's death in 1820, when he became George IV.

In Germany the title Prince Regent is most commonly associated with Prince Luitpold of Bavaria who served as regent for his nephews King Ludwig II of Bavaria and King Otto of Bavaria from 1886 until 1912.

The years of Luitpold's regency were marked by tremendous artistic and cultural activity in Bavaria where they are known as the Prinzregentenjahre or the Prinzregentenzeit. There are numerous streets in Bavarian cities and towns called Prinzregentenstrasse. Many institutions are named in Luitpold's honour including the Prinzregententheater in Munich. Prinzregententorte is a multi-layered cake with chocolate butter cream named in his honour.

At Luitpold's death in 1912 his son Prince Ludwig succeeded as Prince Regent. Ludwig held the title for less than a year, since the Bavarian Legislature decided to recognise him as king.

Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark served as regent from 1784 to 1808 for his father King Christian VII of Denmark, who was insane.

Prince William of Prussia served as regent from 1858 to 1861 for his older brother King Frederick William IV of Prussia, who had become mentally unfit to rule.

Prince Charles of Belgium served as Prince Regent of Belgium from 1944 to 1950 during the German captivity and then exile to Switzerland of his brother, King Leopold III of Belgium.

Prince Dorgon of the Qing Dynasty served as regent for his nephew, Emperor Shunzhi, from 1643 to 1650, because the latter was only six at the time of his ascension. Dorgon was instrumental in moving Manchu forces into Beijing in 1644, proclaiming the Qing dynasty to be the legitimate successor to the Ming Dynasty. In Qing Dynasty historical records, Dorgon was the first to be referred to as Shezhengwang 摄政王(The Prince Regent).

Zaifeng, 2nd Prince Chun during the Qing Dynasty China, served as regent from 1908 to 1911 for his young son Puyi, the Xuantong Emperor. Apart from Dorgon, Zaifeng was the only person in Chinese history who was specifically referred to as Prince Regent.

Crown Prince Hirohito served as regent from 1921 to 1926 for his ailing father, Emperor Taishō.

Although other princes have served as regents (e.g. Prince Paul of Yugoslavia from 1934 to 1941), they are not necessarily referred to as "the Prince Regent."

Michael Bates, "heir-apparent" to the micronation Sealand is referred to as its Prince Regent.