Camilla, Duchess of Cornwallis now “Queen Consort” after her husband became King Charles III upon the death of his mother,Queen Elizabeth, on Thursday. But what’s the difference between a Queen and a Queen Consort?In a message released marking the 70th anniversary ofQueen Elizabethbecoming monarch back in February, the Queen said that “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 that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.““Queen Consort” is the traditional title for the wife of a reigning monarch. The title of “Queen” is reserved only for female rulers who became monarch through the line of succession, such asQueen ElizabethII, who became monarch when her father King George VI died.Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.Ian Vogler - WPA Pool/Getty ImagesAlthough the titles are slightly different, it’s likely that Camilla will be commonly styled as Queen Camilla, just likeQueen Elizabeth’s mother was before the death of King George VI and she became known as “The Queen Mother,” largely to avoid confusion with her daughter who shares the same first name.Prince Charles, Camilla, Queen Elizabeth, Prince William and Kate Middleton.Jack Hill - WPA Pool / GettyThe question as to whether Camilla would one day be titled Queen Consort had been highly speculated for years even though apress releasethat was shared on the day of Camilla’s 2005 engagement to Prince Charles 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.“For more on Camilla becoming Queen Consort one day, listen below toour daily podcast on PEOPLE Every Day.The couple’s wedding was controversial due to their affair duringPrince Charles' marriage to Princess Diana and Camilla’s marriage to her first husband, Andrew Parker Bowles. Camilla’s status as a divorced woman also played a role in the announcement that she would likely be known as “Princess Consort” rather than “Queen Consort” in the future.Similarly, Camilla took the title of Duchess of Cornwall rather than Princess of Wales, which is the usual title for the wife of the Prince of Wales. It was Princess Diana’s title and will likely be given toKate MiddletonasPrince Williambecomes the Prince of Wales as his father’s immediate heir.Kate Middleton, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Queen Elizabeth.OLI SCARFF/POOL/AFP via GettyCan’t get enough ofPEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates onKate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!Just last year, Camilla’s son Tom Parker-Bowles toldThe Times, “Ihonestly don’t knowif Mum will be called queen. That hasn’t been decided. There are a lot of interesting Sky documentaries about that I’m sure, but I honestly don’t know if that’s true.“However, there is a very different title rule when it comes to the husbands of female monarchs.Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.Indigo/GettyAfter marrying the future queen,Prince Philipdropped his title as Prince of Greece and Denmark to become the Duke of Edinburgh. And when she ascended to the throne with the death of her father, Prince Philip did not become a “King” or “King Consort” — instead, the proper title for the husband of a ruling monarch is “Prince Consort.“The title of “King” is only given to a male who inherits the throne and reigns as monarch.
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwallis now “Queen Consort” after her husband became King Charles III upon the death of his mother,Queen Elizabeth, on Thursday. But what’s the difference between a Queen and a Queen Consort?
In a message released marking the 70th anniversary ofQueen Elizabethbecoming monarch back in February, the Queen said that “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 that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.”
“Queen Consort” is the traditional title for the wife of a reigning monarch. The title of “Queen” is reserved only for female rulers who became monarch through the line of succession, such asQueen ElizabethII, who became monarch when her father King George VI died.
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.Ian Vogler - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Although the titles are slightly different, it’s likely that Camilla will be commonly styled as Queen Camilla, just likeQueen Elizabeth’s mother was before the death of King George VI and she became known as “The Queen Mother,” largely to avoid confusion with her daughter who shares the same first name.
Prince Charles, Camilla, Queen Elizabeth, Prince William and Kate Middleton.Jack Hill - WPA Pool / Getty
The question as to whether Camilla would one day be titled Queen Consort had been highly speculated for years even though apress releasethat was shared on the day of Camilla’s 2005 engagement to Prince Charles 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.”
For more on Camilla becoming Queen Consort one day, listen below toour daily podcast on PEOPLE Every Day.
The couple’s wedding was controversial due to their affair duringPrince Charles' marriage to Princess Diana and Camilla’s marriage to her first husband, Andrew Parker Bowles. Camilla’s status as a divorced woman also played a role in the announcement that she would likely be known as “Princess Consort” rather than “Queen Consort” in the future.
Similarly, Camilla took the title of Duchess of Cornwall rather than Princess of Wales, which is the usual title for the wife of the Prince of Wales. It was Princess Diana’s title and will likely be given toKate MiddletonasPrince Williambecomes the Prince of Wales as his father’s immediate heir.
Kate Middleton, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Queen Elizabeth.OLI SCARFF/POOL/AFP via Getty
Can’t get enough ofPEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates onKate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
Just last year, Camilla’s son Tom Parker-Bowles toldThe Times, “Ihonestly don’t knowif Mum will be called queen. That hasn’t been decided. There are a lot of interesting Sky documentaries about that I’m sure, but I honestly don’t know if that’s true.”
However, there is a very different title rule when it comes to the husbands of female monarchs.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.Indigo/Getty
After marrying the future queen,Prince Philipdropped his title as Prince of Greece and Denmark to become the Duke of Edinburgh. And when she ascended to the throne with the death of her father, Prince Philip did not become a “King” or “King Consort” — instead, the proper title for the husband of a ruling monarch is “Prince Consort.”
The title of “King” is only given to a male who inherits the throne and reigns as monarch.
source: people.com
