What does Camilla’s Queen Consort title mean?
- MailOnline reveals everything you need to know about the Queen Consort title
- Camilla has used title since Charles’ ascension to the throne in September 2022
- The Queen Consort’s Crown will feature at the coronation ceremony on 6 May
The title of Queen Consort has a long, but not necessarily straightforward, history of use in the British monarchy.
The title has been used by Camilla since her husband, King Charles III, ascended to 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 to the throne as the reigning monarch in September 2022
What does Queen Consort mean?
The Queen Consort attends official engagements alongside the King, and is addressed as ‘HRH – Her Royal Highness’ – a privilege Diana famously lost upon her divorce.
The word ‘consort’ is defined as ‘a wife or husband, especially of a ruler’.
She is also a counsellor 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 show of support last year which meant Camilla’s title when Charles was King became clearer.
In an official statement released 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, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.’
The official decree set down by Queen Elizabeth II ended years of speculation as to whether Camilla would ever be known as Queen.
It also overturned previous guidance issued by the Palace that Camilla would only ever be known as ‘Princess Consort’.
Who was the last Queen Consort?
The last Queen Consort before Camilla was Elizabeth, the wife of King George VI.
She became widely referred to as ‘The Queen Mother’ – as she is the mother of Queen Elizabeth II – with the term of Queen Consort seldom being used to mention 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 was married to Edward’s successor King George V.
The Queen Mother (centre) was the last person to hold the title of Queen Consort. She can be seen here holding her daughter, who went on to become Queen Elizabeth II. The then-Duke of York, who became King George VI is pictured right.
Will Camilla be crowned Queen?
Despite the fact that Camilla currently holds the title of Queen Consort, this will change at the coronation ceremony on Saturday, 6 May, 2023.
Whilst Charles will be crowned as King, Camilla will also be crowned as Queen, meaning that she will no longer be Queen Consort after the coronation, and will instead use the title of Queen Camilla.
She will be crowned with the Queen Consort’s Crown.
The crown was crafted 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 £7.5million in 2023.
Known for its distinctive arches, the Queen Consort’s Crown took over 8,000 hours to create.
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