Camilla Parker Bowles To Be Queen? Her Son Denies What Buckingham Palace Already Confirmed
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall will get a new title when her husband, Prince Charles, becomes king. However, there’s been some confusion about which future title she will use.
According to her son, a decision has yet to be made. Despite what Buckingham Palace has already confirmed.
Camilla Parker Bowles did not take the Princess of Wales title
When Charles and Camilla tied the knot on April 9, 2005, she became the Duchess of Cornwall. Technically, the wife of the Prince of Wales — the heir to the throne — uses the title Princess of Wales. But because the late Princess Diana used that title, Camilla opted for the Duchess of Cornwall.
Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales has been waiting to accede to the throne for decades. His mother, Queen Elizabeth, is the longest-serving sovereign in British history.
She’s been on the throne since 1952. And at the age of 95, she has no plans to abdicate. But when Charles does eventually become king, Camilla’s title will change.
A new title was created just for her
Before Charles and Camilla’s civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall, Clarence House made an announcement about her expected title when Charles does eventually become king.
“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 announcement read.
Slate reported at the time that Camilla would be the first to use the princess consort title. This is because the wife of a reigning king usually uses the title of queen consort. The outlet noted that “a new title was created just for Camilla because crowning her as queen would create PR problems for the royals.”
The British public has changed their opinion of Camilla Parker Bowles
At the time of Charles and Camilla’s wedding, she was still not very popular with the British public. It was less than 10 years after Diana’s death, and everyone knew that Camilla was the “other woman” in Charles and Diana’s marriage.
But over the years, the public’s opinion of Camilla has slowly changed. She is more popular now than she’s ever been.
“Her image has been transformed, a carefully managed makeover, and they have done a fantastic job rehabilitating her [reputation],” Roddi Vaughan-Thomas, PR executive at OBS Communications, told NBC News.
Clarence House issued another statement 15 years later
Despite Camilla now being a well-liked member of the royal family, it hasn’t changed the palace’s intention to give her the title of princess consort instead of queen consort. In March 2020, Clarence House once again issued a statement about Camilla’s future title.
“The intention is for the duchess to be known as princess consort when the prince accedes to the throne,” a royal spokesperson told The Times. “This was announced at the time of the marriage and there has been absolutely no change at all.”
Her son denies that a decision has been made
Clarence House has now made two statements about Camilla’s future title. But according to her son Tom Parker-Bowles, a decision hasn’t been made. According to Hello! Magazine, the food writer and critic says he’s not sure what title his mother will use.
“I honestly don’t know if Mum will be called queen,” he shared. “That hasn’t been decided. There are lots of interesting Sky documentaries about that I’m sure, but I honestly don’t know if that’s true.”
If Camilla does use the title Princess Consort, it will follow the precedent set by the late Prince Philip. As the spouse of the queen, the Duke of Edinburgh was not known as King. Instead, he was the Prince Consort.
