HER MAJESTY has announced that it is her “sincere wish” for Camilla to be called Queen.
As she celebrated her 70th Accession Day, The Queen, 95, announced that the Duchess of Cornwall will be given the title of Queen Consort when Prince Charles takes the throne.
What does Queen Consort mean?
The title of Queen Consort is given to the wife of a ruling king.
Queen Consorts can become queen dowagers or queen mothers at the passing of the King.
They can also be given the title of Queen Regent if the heir to the throne is too young to be crowned.
Camilla will be anointed and crowned holding the female version of Prince Charles‘ monarchic title.
When the pair were married in 2005, it was announced that it was intended for the Duchess of Cornwall to be given the new title of Princess Consort.
Who has been a Queen Consort?
Queen Elizabeth (1936 – 1952)
Queen Elizabeth was consort to King George VI until his death in 1952, ruling for 16 years.
The majority of her life was spent as the Queen Mother to Her Majesty, until her death at the age of 101.
Queen Mary (1910-1936)
After becoming Queen Consort in 1910, Queen Mary ruled for 26 years until her husband, King George V, died in 1936.
She held the title of Queen Mother to King George VI after the abdication of King Edward III.
Queen Charlotte (1761-1818)
Married to King George III on September 8, 1761, Queen Charlotte is the longest reigning Queen Consort.
She held her title for 57 years until her death in 1818 and maintained a close friendship with another Queen Consort, Marie Antoinette.
Most notably Queen Charlotte was an amateur botanist who helped expand Kew Gardens and also helped bring Christmas trees to the UK.
Catherine Parr (1543 – 1547)
The final wife of King Henry VIII, who married him in 1543 and reigned as Queen Consort until his death.
As King Edward VI was not yet old enough to rule, Catherine Parr was given the queen dowager but only lived for another year.
Catherine Howard (1540 – 1542)
King Henry VIII’s fifth wife, Catherine Howard came to the throne in 1540.
His previous wife Anne of Cleeves was never formally crowned as the marriage was annulled within six months.
After this Catherine Howard married the King but this only lasted two years because she was accused of adultery and beheaded in 1542.
Jane Seymour (1536 – 1537)
Both a maid-of-honour to Catherine of Aragon and a lady-in-waiting to Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour was the only wife to provide King Henry VIII with a male heir.
Her reign only lasted one year as she died 12 days after giving birth.
Anne Boleyn (1533- 1536)
Following his divorce, Anne Boleyn married King Henry VIII in 1533.
She was the reason he broke from the Catholic Church as the pope would not grant him an annulment from his first marriage.
Anne Boleyn was the first wife of Henry to be beheaded, only three years after being crowned.
Catherine of Aragon (1509 – 1533)
As the first wife of King Henry VIII, Catherine of Aragon came to the throne in 1509.
Catherine was one of only three queens to survive Henry, as he divorced her in 1533 after she failed to provide him with a male heir to the throne.
What does a Queen Consort do?
The role of a Queen Consort can be varied depending on the needs of the country and the King.
It is believed that Camilla’s role will be similar to that of the late Prince Philip to provide companionship and support to Prince Charles.
She will have little political or military power but will have the status and formalities of any other queen.
This is different to Queen Elizabeth II’s title, which is Queen Regnant but both are called the Queen.
