Camilla Will Be a Queen When Prince Charles Becomes King
It's official: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall will be queen when Prince Charles becomes king of Britain.
After it had long been speculated that Camilla would hold the title of Princess of Consort, and not Queen, once Charles ascended the throne, Queen Elizabeth said in a statement that it was her "sincere wish that, when the time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort." The monarch revealed her decision on the eve of the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne, known as her Platinum Jubilee, in a lengthy message to the public.
"As we mark this anniversary, it gives me pleasure to renew to you the pledge I gave in 1947 that my life will always be devoted to your service," her statement began, before later adding: "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 that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service."
On Sunday, Charles responded to the news, and said that he and Camilla were "deeply conscious of the honor" of the queen's wish. "We are deeply conscious of the honor represented by mother's wish," he wrote. "As we have sought together to serve and support Her Majesty and the people of our communities, my darling wife has been my own steadfast support throughout."
Camilla and Charles married in 2005 and were romantically involved during the royal's marriage to Princess Diana. Camilla was previously condemned for being Charles's mistress, as well as a divorcee, in the British tabloids, but she's since become more popular with not only the media, but also the royal family over the years. Last year, she was made a member of the Order of the Garter, and before that, the Queen bestowed her as a member of her Privy Council in 2016.