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Nothing is known of Nefertiti's natal family except that she had a sister named Mutbenret. Nefertiti was about 17 when she married Akhenaten. They had six daughters together. The "Early Proclamation" issued in the fifth year of Akhenaten's reign lists only Meritatan, the eldest. The "Later Proclamation" of Year 6 gives two daughters, Meritatan and Meketaten. It is thought that children were proclaimed after weaning. According to an inscription discovered in 2012, Nefertiti was present at a ceremony in Amarna in Year 16, near the end of Akhenaten's reign.<ref>A. Van Der Perre, "Nefertiti's last documented reference [for now]," in F. Seyfried (ed.) ''In the Light of Amarna. 100 Years of the Nefertiti Discovery,'' (Berlin, 2012), 195-197.</ref>

Nothing is known of Nefertiti's natal family except that she had a sister named Mutbenret. Nefertiti was about 17 when she married Akhenaten. They had six daughters together. The "Early Proclamation" issued in the fifth year of Akhenaten's reign lists only Meritatan, the eldest. The "Later Proclamation" of Year 6 gives two daughters, Meritatan and Meketaten. It is thought that children were proclaimed after weaning. According to an inscription discovered in 2012, Nefertiti was present at a ceremony in Amarna in Year 16, near the end of Akhenaten's reign.<ref>A. Van Der Perre, "Nefertiti's last documented reference [for now]," in F. Seyfried (ed.) ''In the Light of Amarna. 100 Years of the Nefertiti Discovery,'' (Berlin, 2012), 195-197.</ref>

Beginning in Year 15 or 16, the regent named Nerferneferuatan ruled. Her brief reign has been divided into three phases. In the first, she was described as "desired of Akhenaten." In the second, she was "effective for her husband." In the final phase, she was "Akhenaten-less." These various inscriptions have been interpreted to mean that she was at first a co-regent, then ruled on behalf of an incapacitated pharaoh, and finally emerged as sole ruler after Akhenaten died. This female ruler is usually identified as Nefertiti. The fourth daughter of Nefertiti and Akhenaten was also named Neferneferuaten, and some scholars have argued that this daughter was the regent. In a few late inscriptions, Neferneferuaten is described as "Akhenaten-less" and with Meritaten as queen. (Even a female pharaoh needed a queen to preside with her at temple ceremonies.) This implies that Neferneferuaten continued to rule after Akhenaten's death, at least for a brief period.<ref name=Allen>Allen, James, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20120301142642/http://cassian.memphis.edu/history/murnane/Allen.pdf The Amarna Succession]," ''Causing His Name to Live: Studies in Egyptian Epigraphy and History in Memory of William J. Murnane,'' University of Memphis, 2007.</ref> She was succeeded by Smenkhkare, a brother of Akhenaten and the father of [[Tutankhamun]]. Smenkhkare also married Meritaten, although she would have been his niece. Burial goods prepared for Neferneferuaten's funeral were found in Tut's tomb. This suggests that a pharaonic burial was prepared for her, but then denied. The unused burial goods were then repurposed for Tut's tomb. Perhaps unable to accept a female pharaoh, Smenkhkare may have demoted Nefertiti to queen.

Beginning in Year 15 or 16, a regent named Nerferneferuatan ruled. Her brief reign has been divided into three phases. In the first, she was described as "desired of Akhenaten." In the second, she was "effective for her husband." In the final phase, she was "Akhenaten-less." These various inscriptions have been interpreted to mean that she was at first a co-regent, then ruled on behalf of an incapacitated pharaoh, and finally emerged as sole ruler after Akhenaten died. This female ruler is usually identified as Nefertiti. The fourth daughter of Nefertiti and Akhenaten was also named Neferneferuaten, and some scholars have argued that this daughter was the regent. In a few late inscriptions, Neferneferuaten is described as "Akhenaten-less" and with Meritaten as queen. (Even a female pharaoh needed a queen to preside with her at temple ceremonies.) This implies that Neferneferuaten continued to rule after Akhenaten's death, at least for a brief period.<ref name=Allen>Allen, James, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20120301142642/http://cassian.memphis.edu/history/murnane/Allen.pdf The Amarna Succession]," ''Causing His Name to Live: Studies in Egyptian Epigraphy and History in Memory of William J. Murnane,'' University of Memphis, 2007.</ref> She was succeeded by Smenkhkare, a brother of Akhenaten and the father of [[Tutankhamun]]. Smenkhkare also married Meritaten, although she would have been his niece. Burial goods prepared for Neferneferuaten's funeral were found in Tut's tomb. This suggests that a pharaonic burial was prepared for her, but then denied. The unused burial goods were then repurposed for Tut's tomb. Perhaps unable to accept a female pharaoh, Smenkhkare may have demoted Nefertiti to queen.

The bust of Nefertiti, on display at the Egyptian Museum in [[Berlin]] is one of the masterpieces of ancient Egyptian art. Various authors have argued that mummy KV35YL ("The Younger Lady") is Nefertiti. Genetic testing has shown that the Younger Lady is Tut's mother, so this is unlikely. If Tut had been son of Akhenaten and Nefertiti, he would have been Akhenaten's heir.  

The bust of Nefertiti, on display at the Egyptian Museum in [[Berlin]] is one of the masterpieces of ancient Egyptian art. Various authors have argued that mummy KV35YL ("The Younger Lady") is Nefertiti. Genetic testing has shown that the Younger Lady is Tut's mother, so this is unlikely. If Tut had been son of Akhenaten and Nefertiti, he would have been Akhenaten's heir.