The most recent example of a spouse outliving the monarch was Queen Elizabeth’s late mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who was married to King George Vl and was known as the Queen Mother.
However, Camilla has no bloodline to the throne and her situation is unusual because of the way in which she was originally Charles’s lover, with the then Prince of Wales divorcing Diana in 1992.
The Mirror says that although Camilla technically became the Princess of Wales when she married Charles in 2005, that title was associated so much with Diana that she instead was known as the Duchess of Cornwall.
At one time, it was thought that she would be known as the Princess Consort when Charles became king because the public might not have welcomed her as queen.
But during the Platinum Jubilee, the late Queen Elizabeth II stated: “It is my sincere wish that, when the time comes Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.”
An indication that Camilla would go on to just be known as the Queen came ahead of the Coronation and the word ‘consort’ was dropped.
The new edition of the Bible used for the service stated: “To commemorate the Coronation of their majesties King Charles lll and Queen Camilla. In the Abbey Church of St Peter. Westminster. The sixth day of May 2023.”
It was also reportedly revealed earlier this year by a royal insider: “There’s a view in the Palace that Queen Consort is cumbersome and it might be simpler for Camilla to be known just as the Queen when the time is right.”
