Will Camilla be Queen when Prince Charles is King?

CAMILLA Parker-Bowles will now be a Queen Consort as Her Majesty  announced in her Platinum Jubilee message.

It was previously thought she should not take the default title and instead be a ‘Princess Consort’.

What will Camilla’s title be when Prince Charles is King?

It was originally thought that Camilla would be a “Princess Consort” when Prince Charles becomes king.

This decision would have actually necessitated new legislation, as the default is that the wife of monarch becomes the Queen Consort automatically.

The Princess of Wales was Princess Diana’s former title, and in respect to her, the Prince Charles and Camilla decided when they married in 2005, that she would not take on the Queen Consort title.

But in a surprising u-turn from Her Majesty, she has given his blessing for Camilla to become a Queen Consort when she passes over her reign to her son.

The news came amid a heartfelt speech to mark the Platinum Jubilee, which celebrates the staggering 70 years the Queen has been on the throne, on February 6 2022.

What has the Queen said about Camilla becoming Queen Consort?

In her Platinum Jubilee message, the Queen said she “sincerely wished” for Camilla to become Queen Consort.

She said: “I am fortunate to have had the steadfast and loving support of my family. I was blessed that in Prince Philip I had a partner willing to carry out the role of consort and unselfishly make the sacrifices that go with it.

“It is a role I saw my own mother perform during my father’s reign.

“This anniversary also affords me a time to reflect on the goodwill shown to me by people of all nationalities, faiths and ages in this country and around the world over these years. I would like to express my thanks to you all for your support. I remain eternally grateful for, and humbled by, the loyalty and affection that you continue to give me.

“And when, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.”

What is a royal consort?

A royal consort supports the monarch in almost all of their duties from public engagements and tours, decisions and support.

But unlike the king or queen, they do not have a formal position or set tasks and responsibilities.

Women married to a monarch have historically been crowned Queen Consort.

Such was the case for the George VI’s wife, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and for George V’s wife Queen Mary – the Queen’s grandmother.

The exception was Queen Mary II who, with her husband, King William III, was joint-Sovereign from 1689 to 1694.

Queen Victoria’s husband, Albert, was appointed Prince Consort 17 years after his marriage.

Victoria had wanted him to be King Consort when they married, but the then prime minister Lord Melbourne ruled it out.

The Duke of Edinburgh did not hold the title Prince Consort, having rejected the offer in the early years of the Queen’s reign.

Any mention of “Princess Consort” was removed from Charles’s website during a revamp in 2018.