What does Camilla’s Queen Consort title mean?
- MailOnline reveals everything you need to know about the Queen Consort title
- Camilla has used the title since Charles’ accession to the throne in September 2022
- The Queen Consort’s crown will be on display at the coronation ceremony on May 6
The title of queen consort has a long, but not necessarily simple, history of use in the British monarchy.
The title has been used by Camilla since her husband, King Charles III, ascended the throne in September 2022.
What does Camilla’s Queen Consort title mean? Who was the last queen consort before Camilla? Will Camilla be crowned queen?
Read on below for everything you need to know about the title of Queen Consort and its history.
Camilla (pictured) became queen consort after Charles ascended the throne as reigning monarch in September 2022
What does queen consort mean?
The Queen Consort attends official appointments with the King and is addressed as ‘HRH – Her Royal Highness’ – a privilege that Diana so famously lost after her divorce.
The word ‘consort’ is defined as ‘a wife or husband, especially of a ruler’.
She is also an advisor of state, as are Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Andrew and Princess Beatrice – the first four in the British royal line of succession.
After years of speculation, it was the Queen’s strong endorsement last year that meant Camilla’s title when Charles was king became clearer.
In an official statement issued by Buckingham Palace on the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne, the late Queen Elizabeth II said: “It is my sincere wish that Camilla, when the time comes, will be known as Queen consort as she maintains her own faithful employ.’
Queen Elizabeth II’s official decree ended years of speculation whether Camilla would ever become queen.
It also ended previous directives from the palace that Camilla be known only as “Princess Consort.”
Who was the last queen consort?
The last queen consort before Camilla was Elizabeth, the wife of King George VI.
She was commonly referred to as ‘The Queen Mother’ – as she is the mother of Queen Elizabeth II – and the term Queen Consort is rarely used to refer to her.
When Queen Victoria died and was succeeded by her son Edward VII, his wife went from being known as the Princess of Wales to Queen Alexandra, without the use of the ‘consort’.
She was succeeded in 1910 by Queen Mary – formerly Mary of Teck – who had married Edward’s successor, King George V.
The Queen Mother (center) was the last person to hold the title of Queen Consort. She is seen here holding her daughter, who later became Queen Elizabeth II. The then Duke of York, who became King George VI, is pictured at right.
Will Camilla be crowned queen?
Although Camilla currently bears the title of Queen consort, that will change during the coronation ceremony on Saturday, May 6, 2023.
While Charles is crowned King, Camilla is also crowned Queen, meaning that after the coronation she will no longer be queen consort and will use the title of Queen Camilla instead.
She will be crowned with the Queen Consort’s Crown.
The crown was made in 1911 by Garrard & Co for the coronation of Queen Mary of Teck, the wife of King George V.
It cost £50.00 to make in 1911, the equivalent of £7.5 million in 2023.
Known for its signature bows, the Queen Consort’s Crown took over 8,000 hours to make.
