Despite Camilla's official title being Queen Consort, Buckingham Palace and the public may soon refer to her simply as Queen Camilla instead.
The United Kingdom is preparing for the coronation of King Charles, who ascended to the throne after the passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022. The King will be crowned alongside the Queen Consort at Westminster Abbey in London in a service that will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Details of King Charles' coronation
According to the Times, the Coronation is set to take place on May 6th, 2023, at Westminster Abbey in London, where over 8,000 guests from around the world attended the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. However, due to health and safety restrictions, the King's coronation will be limited to 2,000 guests.
The coronation will be followed by a weekend of events, including a concert at Windsor Castle, as part of Operation Golden Orb. The ceremony will reflect the monarch’s role today and look toward the future while remaining rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry. It is likely to be televised, as the Accession Council was televised for the first time ever in September 2022, reports the Independent.
Camilla's title will undergo a major change
Following King Charles' ascension to the throne, there have been several title changes within the Royal Family. One of the most significant title changes was that of Camilla, who is now the Queen Consort. It had previously been thought that she would be known as the Princess Consort upon her husband's accession. Still, a statement from Queen Elizabeth II before her passing saw her give her blessing for Camilla to be known as the Queen Consort. The late Queen said at the time:
'And when, in 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.'
Reports from NDTV and the Guardian have suggested that Camilla's title may be tweaked slightly by Buckingham Palace after the coronation, and she may simply be known as The Queen. The Reading Room, a project initiated by Camilla, which started on Instagram, is becoming a charity called The Queen's Reading Room, with the word 'Consort' dropped. This change is seen as a sign of the impending change in Camilla's title.
A source told the Daily Mail:
'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.'
The move is expected to mark Camilla's transformation from being seen as an unpopular figure within the Royal Family to being accepted and respected as the Queen. When Camilla married Prince Charles in 2005, it was generally thought that she would never be called Queen when Charles eventually came to the throne. This was due to her longstanding relationship with the now-King while he was married to Princess Diana, who famously claimed that there were 'three of them' in her marriage. Charles and Diana had been married for 15 years, from 1981 to 1996, and they share Princes William and Harry together.
When Charles became engaged to Camilla, then Mrs. Parker Bowles, in February 2005, a Buckingham Palace statement said:
'It is intended that Mrs. Parker Bowles should use the title HRH The Princess Consort when The Prince of Wales accedes to The Throne.'
The Queen's intervention in 2022, calling for her daughter-in-law to be known as Queen Consort, was a huge sign of support, and it is expected that Camilla will eventually be recognized as simply 'The Queen.'
King Charles' coronation is set to be a momentous occasion in British history, with the coronation service rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry while looking towards the future. Alongside this, Camilla's title change from Queen Consort to 'The Queen' marks a significant shift in the public's acceptance and respect for her as a member of the Royal Family.
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