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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, a female regent with the reign name Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten ruled. The inscriptions for her reign have been grouped into three types. In the some, she was described as "desired of Akhenaten." In others, she was "effective for her husband." In a few late inscriptions, she was "Akhenaten-less." This last description suggests that she was Egypt sole ruler, at least for a brief period. In some inscriptions, Meritaten is described as Neferneferuaten's queen. (Even a female pharaoh needed a queen to preside with her at temple ceremonies.)<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>

Beginning in Year 15 or 16, a female regent with the reign name Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten ruled. The inscriptions for her reign have been grouped into three types. In some, she was described as "desired of Akhenaten." In others, she was "effective for her husband." In a few late inscriptions, she was "Akhenaten-less." This last description suggests that she was Egypt sole ruler, at least for a brief period. In some inscriptions, Meritaten is described as Neferneferuaten's queen. (Even a female pharaoh needed a queen to preside with her at temple ceremonies.)<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>

Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten was succeeded by Ankhkheperure Smenkhkare, a brother of Akhenaten and the father of [[Tutankhamun]]. It is highly unusual for two pharaohs to use the same prenomen. The practice suggests that Smenkhkare did not recognize the legitimacy of Neferneferuaten's reign. Some writers argue that Neferneferuaten and Smenkhkare were the same person using two different reign names. But Neferneferuaten was female while Smenkhkare was male, so this is unlikely. Meritaten continued to serve as queen. 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.

Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten was succeeded by Ankhkheperure Smenkhkare, a brother of Akhenaten and the father of [[Tutankhamun]]. It is highly unusual for two pharaohs to use the same prenomen. The practice suggests that Smenkhkare did not recognize the legitimacy of Neferneferuaten's reign. Some writers argue that Neferneferuaten and Smenkhkare were the same person using two different reign names. But Neferneferuaten was female while Smenkhkare was male, so this is unlikely. Meritaten continued to serve as queen. 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.