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Camilla Reportedly Will Be Called ‘Queen’ Instead Of ‘Queen Consort’ After King Charles’ Coronation

Rachel Ellis |

The change in Camilla's description appears to go against the wishes of her late mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II.

View galleryPrince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall arrive for their visit to The Prince's Foundation training site for arts and culture Royal visit to The Prince's Foundation, Trinity Buoy Wharf, London, UK - 03 Feb 2022EMBARGOED TO 2200 BST TUESDAY APRIL 4 MANDATORY CREDIT: Hugo Burnand EDITORIAL USE ONLY This photograph can not be used after 0001 Tuesday May 9, 2023, without prior, written permission from Royal Communications. After that date, no further licensing can be made. Any questions relating to the use of the photographs should be first referred to Buckingham Palace before publication. The portrait should be used only in the context of Their Majesties' Coronation. The photograph is provided to you strictly on condition that you will make no charge for the supply, release or publication of it and that these conditions and restrictions will apply (and that you will pass these on) to any organisation to whom you supply it. There shall be no commercial use whatsoever of the photograph (including by way of example only) any use in merchandising, advertising or any other non-news editorial use. The photograph must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form. Handout photo dated March 2023 issued by Buckingham Palace of King Charles III and the Queen Consort taken by Hugo Burnand in the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace, London. The portrait has been released to mark their Coronation on May 6. Issue date: Tuesday April 4, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story ROYAL Coronation. Photo credit should read: Hugo Burnand/Buckingham Palace NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. King Charles III Coronation, Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace, London, UK - 04 Apr 2023Camilla, Queen Consort and King Charles III King Charles III and Camilla Queen Consort visit to York, Yorkshire, UK - 09 Nov 2022 The King and The Queen Consort will be welcomed to the City of York at a ceremony at Micklegate Bar where, traditionally, The Sovereign is welcomed to the city. On arrival in York, Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort will be met by a civic party which will include the Lord Mayor, Councillor David Carr. To initiate the ceremony, The Lord Mayor will invite His Majesty to approach the Sword and Mace Bearers at the gate where The King will touch the sword. The sword bearer will then turn the sword while the Mace bearer will turn the mace. Once the Sword and Mace bearers stand aside Their Majesties, escorted by the Lord Mayor, will enter the city through the gateway. The Town Clerk will read the 'Declaration of Welcome' to the City before Their Majesties depart for York Minster.

Queen Consort Camilla reportedly will be known as “Queen Camilla” once her husband, King Charles III, has his official coronation in May. Buckingham Palace will recognize the new description for Camilla, which appears to go against the late Queen Elizabeth’s wishes, according to a report by Daily Mail on Feb. 25.

Camilla will be referred to as “queen” instead of “queen consort” after Charles’ coronation. (ANL/Shutterstock)

“There’s a view in the Palace that ‘Queen Consort’ is cumbersome and it might be simpler for Camilla to be known just as the ‘Queen’ when the time is right,” a source for the outlet stated. The move may have been foreshadowed last week when Camilla’s ongoing charity project called “Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room” was suddenly rebranded the “Queen’s Reading Room,” per the insider.

Camilla, who married Charles in 2005, had been known as the Duchess of Cornwall until the beloved monarch’s death in September, when she became the Queen Consort. The new title for Charles’ second wife was bestowed upon her per a letter written by Queen Elizabeth in February of 2022.

“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 the time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service,” Her Majesty wrote.

At the time, Charles said he was “deeply honored” that his mother wished his “darling wife” to take the title of “Queen Consort” when he becomes King. The letter was also welcomed by the Royal family, as there had been suggestions Camilla might use the title of “Princess Consort” due to remaining public tensions over the tragic 1997 death of Charles’ first wife Princess Diana.

The description change may be welcomed without any drama, if history has anything to say about it. “Her Majesty is the Queen after all,” the Daily Mail’s source said of Camilla. “Prince Philip was Prince Consort officially, but he wasn’t known as Prince Consort. The Queen would of course still be Queen Consort so the Palace of course wouldn’t stop anyone calling Her Majesty that if they so chose.”

The insider also pointed out that during her time as a non-reigning queen, King George VI’s wife was “technically ‘Queen Consort’ but was known in public simply as ‘Queen Elizabeth.'”

In addition, the UK’s Sunday Times explained their decision to drop “consort” in their posts weeks ago. “’Consort’ is a description, not a title,” explained the newspaper’s archivist Rose Wild, per Daily Mail. “While all previous wives of kings have been queens consort, none have been referred to as such.”

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