Explainer | Camilla’s new title: what’s the difference between queen and Queen Consort?
- After seven decades, the United Kingdom will have a new woman to call queen
- Charles’ wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, will be known as Queen Consort
King Charles now presides over the British monarchy. And by his side: Queen Camilla.
Camilla’s new title was set in motion last February, when Queen Elizabeth decreed during festivities marking her seven decades on the throne that the Duchess of Cornwall should be known as “Queen Consort”, as opposed to “Princess Consort”, when Charles ascended to the throne.
“Queen Consort” is the fancy name for the wife of a reigning king, which the United Kingdom has not had since 1952, when King George VI died and his widow, Queen Elizabeth, became the Queen Mother.
What is a queen consort?
All previous wives of British or English kings were queen consorts (that includes all six of Henry VIII’s wives, at least while they were married to him). In the 20th century, there were two: Queen Mary, wife of King George V, and Queen Alexandra, wife of King Edward VII (Queen Elizabeth’s grandmother and great-grandmother, respectively).