So, this is a thread dedicated to discussion pertaining to various versions of the Changeling Queens. How does the Queen work, exactly? Is she an integral part of the hive, laying all the eggs and telepathically controlling the entire thing like a body made of giant bug ponies? Or is she just the most powerful of a bunch of aristocratic Changelings, using her might to control the hive like any other petty tyrant with power?

Well, we all have our own opinions, here is the place to discuss them. Feel free to exposit (chat about) your views, both for your versions of Equestria, or for the Canon Equestria. Just be sure mention if you're talking about your suppositions (guess) about canon, or discussing your headcanon worlds, as they are different things.

I think as Changeling Queens as being the size of alicorns, protective and loving of their drones, and territorial. Changelings from other Hives, unless they are ambassadors or invited in, are not welcome and are warned off, physically chased off, or at worst killed. A Hive varies according to the Changeling Queen in charge of it. Those that live in the Badlands, or in certain deep parts of the Everfree Forest, can live in plain sight. Some might live in Hives like we think of that look from the outside like gigantic termites nest, others might have castles every bit as ornate as Canterlot Castle. Still others live in hiding below pony cities. Their very size greatly restricts what they can change into-they can only become alicorns or perhaps royal griffins or sea serpents. So they rely on their drones to go out for them.

A Queen's duties involve laying eggs and looking after them, making sure her drones do what they are controlled and punishing malefactors, and checking that the rations of love are enough for them all. Apart from dire emergencies, only the Queen and perhaps a few of her leading officers may use the hive mind to contact everyling. A Queen normally has only a single daughter at a time to be her heir. Whilst not as long lived as alicorns, a well fed Queen can live for thousands of years. All Queens are different of course, in personality, attitude and the colour of their chitin. All however love their drones and will seek revenge on anybody who hurts or kills them.

2543071
doesn't much explain Chrysalis, though, as she pretty much threw her swarm like living bulletsat every problem.

Also, are you talking drones as in the scientific term, or as in the workers of the hive? Because those are two vastly different things, scientifically speaking.

I'm talking drones as in the hive workers. Of course not all Queens are protective of their swarm-still, maybe something happened to Chrysalis's Hive main love-well that destroyed the Hive's food supply? Why else would she publically attack Canterlot of all places with undisguised drones instead of at least passing it off as a griffin attack?

2541872 If you view them as insects, she lay the eggs and control the hive, via deputies or the like.
If you prefer to see them as Ponies, she would be the Alicorn of the Changelings.

2543071 Any good leader, Queen, Princess or what ever had to love the once under her rule and protection.
Or she would be a very bad leader.

They could inhabit any land where they are not hated, living freely. Although the change is a convenient means to blend in among the locals. There may be othewr advantasges and drawbacks in this characteristics as well. How much of their characteristics does actually change? How deep are the changes? Is there any chance they drop the loyalties in the process?

If you see the society of Changelings as ruled by more Queens, is there a High Queen, like the Royal Princesses, the Alicorns of the Ponies?

I imagine a Council of Queens meeting maybe once a year a little like a Mafia Commission to settle territory issues and the like. I doubt there is a High Queen but if there was her power and size would be considerable, as Changeling Queens are alicorn size in their own right.