Explanation: How does Queen Queen differ from “Queen” and what will Camilla’s title be after the coronation?
King Charles III is set to be officially crowned king at the upcoming coronation ceremony on May 6, 2023. With this, his wife Camilla Parker Bowles, who until now has been addressed as Queen Queen, will be given the title of Queen. However, what is the difference between the two terms? Read on to find out.
Queen and queen consort: the difference
Simply put, in a monarchy, the queen is equal to the king. In other cases, the Queen is a reigning monarch whose rank, role, and title are equal to that of the King.
NBC royal commentator Daisy McAndrew explains the difference that (via Today), “A queen is a woman who married a man who is a king” and “A queen is a woman born to be queen who is head of state — not the wife of a king.”
In an email to TODAY, McAndrew explained that the confusion arises from the fact that the Queen colloquially becomes a “queen.”
The official website of the British royal family defines a “consort” as “the king’s companion.”
Throughout the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II, the late Prince Philip was her husband until his death in 2021.
Will Camilla be queen or queen consort?
Since King Charles III acceded to the throne on September 8, 2022, following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, Camilla has been addressed as Queen Consort. However, it seems that she may give up “consort” and take the title of queen herself after the upcoming coronation ceremony. The official invitations sent from Buckingham Palace read: “The Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla.”
“The coronation is the right time to start using ‘Queen Camilla’ in an official capacity. An unnamed source told the Guardian:
Also read: Did pranksters mow a huge penis on the lawn at the site of King Charles’ coronation?