Camilla ‘WILL be Queen’ when Prince Charles becomes King despite Diana backlash as his vow to name her ‘Princess Consort’ is dismissed as ‘nonsense’
A royal expert backed Camilla becoming Queen Consort when Charles became king, saying the pair would make an excellent king and queen
CAMILLA will become Queen when Prince Charles takes over the throne, a royal expert has claimed.
In the past the official line has been that the Duchess of Cornwall, 71, will take the title of Princess Consort when her husband takes over as head of state but one observer has dismissed this as “nonsense”.
Public opinion though is strongly against the idea of Queen Camilla with one poll in August 2017 revealing 67 percent were against the idea, although this was carried out in the wake of the 20th anniversary of Diana’s death in Paris.
When Charles and Camilla married in 2005, Clarence House said she would be known as Princess Consort when Charles took over the throne.
After the wedding she was entitled to take the title Princess of Wales but has never used it, mainly due to its association with Princess Diana as well as Camilla being a divorcee and is known as the Duchess of Cornwall.
Charlie Proctor, the editor-in-chief of Royal Central, told The Sun Online: “The official line is that when Charles becomes king, Camilla will become Princess Consort. I personally think that is nonsense.
“When Charles takes to the throne, Camilla will become Queen Consort.
“The monarchy is not a popularity contest, and you can’t change titles in fear of certain people still having chips on their shoulders."
At the time it was felt there was a backlash against her with the public feeling very much in favour of Charles’ former wife.
However this is no legal or historical precedent for this move.
In fact, under the Treason Act 1351 as well as the Regency Act 1937 Camilla would actually become Queen Consort.
Mr Proctor also threw his support behind Camilla in the role, when the time arrived.
He said: “Camilla will make an excellent Queen. She is a hardworking, kind and dedicated member of The Royal Family.”
“The backlash against Camilla is unfair and unfounded.
“She has an excellent relationship with The Queen, William and Harry and young Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
“But most importantly she has an amazing relationship with Prince Charles.
“Charles and Camilla will be an excellent King and Queen.
That view was largely supported by historical biographer and royal observer Sarah Gristwood who told The Sun that while no one really knew what was going to happen, she added: “When they married, it was said that Camilla would eventually become Princess Consort; but it’s an open secret Charles wants her to be Queen.”
Princess Consort or Queen Consort?
Princess Consort is the official title that is usually given to the wife of a prince.
It can though also be used for the wife of a king, if queen consort is not used.
Queen Consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband’s social rank and status.
She holds the feminine equivalent of the king’s monarchical titles but usually does not share the king’s political and military powers.
The two differ from a Queen Regnant, who is a queen in her own right with all the powers of a monarch.
In the past the Duchess of Cornwall has said that when Charles becomes king she will not use the title Queen Consort but intends to be Princess Consort.
All other women who have married British kings have taken the title Queen Consort.
MOST READ IN NEWS
Over time though Camilla’s public profile has risen as she has carried out her royal duties, such as being patron of Helen & Douglas House which looks after terminally-ill children.
Camilla also featured heavily in photographs taken to celebrate the Prince of Wales’ 70th birthday with her sitting alongside her husband, surrounded by their families.
Clarence House declined to comment.