Numerous empress dowagers held regency during the reign of underage emperors. All of them end up becoming Empresses or Empress Dowagers of three different dynasties. He honored both Empress Ashina and his mother Consort Li as empress dowagers. There have been many powerful empress consorts or empress dowagers, some of whom effectively ruled. Some grand empress dowagers held regency during the emperor's childhood. Prince Gong personally thanked the empress dowagers and made a tearful apology. The two empress dowagers were appointed joint "de facto" regents for the Tongzhi Emperor. Excluded from the list are "de facto" rulers such as regents and empress dowagers. This room was very important to the social life of the resident dowagers. She was known as "one of the reigning dowagers of Tuxedo Park" for four decades.