In Light of Queen Elizabeth's Death, Camilla Is Queen Consort – But What Does That Mean?
Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday, giving Charles and Camilla new titles. While Charles is now King Charles III, Camilla (74) is the Queen Consort. What does that title mean?
What is Queen Elizabet Consort vs Queen Regent?
According to the BBC, "'Queen's consort' refers to the spouse of a reigning monarch..." Therefore, Camilla would be Queen Camilla. The Queen Consort would have no political or sovereign power.
Queen regent, on the other hand, has a completely different meaning - and they are quite rare. Queen regents can exercise royal sovereignty on behalf of the king. This would happen when a king was absent or if a king was too young to rule.
Was Queen Elizabeth Queen Consort or Queen Regent?
She was not one. Queen Elizabeth was the Queen Regent. It is a title given to a woman who has inherited the British crown by birthright. According to Britain's Monarchy Wiki, a Queen Regent has absolute sovereign powers.
What does the Queen consort mean to Camilla?
According to the royal family's official website, as Queen Consort, Camilla "supports her husband, formerly the Prince of Wales, now His Majesty the King, in the performance of his work and duties." She will also "make public engagements on behalf of the charities she supports".
It is highly unlikely that Camilla will become Queen Regent. At the time, "members who marry into the royal family cannot inherit the throne." This means that when Prince William becomes king, Kate Middleton will be the queen consort.
Other famous Queen Consorts
Queen Elizabeth's mother was the last queen consort, according to Time. Here are some other famous British Queen Consorts:
- Catherine of Aragon, married to King Henry VIII (from 1509 to 1533).
- Anne Boleyn, married to King Henry VIII (from 1533 to 1536).
- Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, married to King George III (from 1761 to 1818).
- Alexandra of Denmark, married to King Edward VII (from 1863 to 1910).
Why was Prince Philip not called king consort?
Prince Philip was the longest-serving British consort in history, holding the title of Prince Consort for 69 years. Dr McCreery said it was tradition for the male spouse of a reigning queen to be referred to as the prince consort to "reinforce the authority of the woman".
Britain had a dual monarchy in the late 17th century when King William and Queen Mary ruled together after the abdication of their father, King James II. "The British Parliament asked William of Orange, who was distantly related to the British dynasty, and his wife Mary, the eldest Protestant daughter of James, to be the new monarchs," said Dr. McCreery.
"It was important that Mary be known and recognized as queen because she was the heir."
This is quite an important but really unusual event where it is very important for the stability of the crown that you have a king and queen ruling together. "But moreover, when a queen reigns, it is really important that her husband is not confused in the minds of the people as king, so he takes the title of prince consort."
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