Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-reigning monarch in Britain at the time of her death on September 8, 2022. The 96-year-old royal had been a pillar in the country and the world mourned the loss of her eldest son. Charles, formerly Prince of Wales, became the new king.
But does this mean that Charles’ wife Camilla will become queen?
Earlier this year, Queen Elizabeth wrote in her Platinum Jubilee message that it was her “sincere wish” that Camilla would be known as Queen Consort. In this role, she would “companion and provide moral and practical support” to the reigning monarch, according to the royal family’s website.
Camilla is now queen consort
In February, during a message to mark the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne, Queen Elizabeth determined that Camilla would become queen consort if Charles took the throne.
“This anniversary also gives me time to reflect on the goodwill shown over the years by people of all nationalities, religions and ages in this country and around the world,” the Queen said in a statement at the time. “I want to express my thanks to all of you for your support. I am eternally grateful and humbled for the loyalty and affection you continue to give me. And when, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes king Yes, I know that you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support you have given me; and it is my heartfelt wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort because of her faithful service. continues.”
In a statement released on Thursday following news of the Queen’s death, Charles mourned the death of his “beloved” mother.
“The passing of my beloved mother, Her Majesty the Queen, is a moment of greatest sadness for me and all my family members,” the statement said. “We deeply mourn the passing of a distinguished sovereign and a very dear mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt by countless people across the nation, the realms and the Commonwealth and around the world.”
“During this period of mourning and transformation, me and my family will be comforted and supported by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which the Queen was so widely held.”
Camilla wasn’t always ready to be queen
Although Camilla is married to the now-king of England, she was not always guaranteed the title of queen.
Charles and Camilla married back in 2005, and at the time, the Prince of Wales website said she would take the title of “princess consort”, not queen, if and when Charles ascended the throne.
Of course, this is the second marriage for both Charles and Camilla. The new king was married to Diana, Princess of Wales, from 1981 to 1996, when they divorced. Diana died in a car accident in 1997.
Camilla was previously married to British Army officer Andrew Parker Bowles. They divorced in 1995, although Charles and Camilla romanced for years while he was married to other people.
History shows us that the title of a princess consort would have been unusual. According to Susanna Lipscomb, a retired professor of history at the University of Roehampton who spoke to TODAY, a princess has never been a wife before, mainly because “in common law, a king’s wife becomes a queen.”
Over the years, Camilla has garnered the trust of Queen Elizabeth, which publicly acknowledged when she was appointed to the Order of the Garter in late 2021, the highest honor the monarchy can give, Royal Central’s chief reporter Kristin Contino and the author of “A” notes. House Full of Windsor.”
“Camilla has certainly come a long way in terms of public favor since the days of Diana,” Contino told TODAY. “It has also been said that Charles would prefer to be known as his Queen, which is understandable.”
Charles and Diana’s offspring are well arranged: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, is in line to the throne, followed by William’s children. William’s younger brother, Harry, Duke of Sussex, is sixth in the line of succession to the throne.
Could Camilla’s children from her first marriage inherit royal titles?
Camilla and Charles do not have any children together, but they have two older children from her first marriage to Andrew Parker Bowles: Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes. Will they be exalted in some way by being related to a princess wife/king’s wife/queen?
Not likely, Contino says. Tom, a noted food critic and cookbook author, helped with Camilla’s reading room project, and Laura’s daughter Eliza (William and Catherine) was a bridesmaid at the wedding. But other than that, we don’t see Parker. The Bowles family often goes out to royal events. Other than attending coronations or possibly some other big royal ceremony, I can’t see them changing it up or giving Charles the title.”
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