Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 70th anniversary on Sunday February 6. For this historic milestone, she has reserved a surprise for her subjects, expressing the wish that Prince Charles’ wife, Camilla, will become queen consort when he becomes king. In a message written on the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee, a milestone that no British monarch had ever reached before her, the 95-year-old Queen expressed her “sincere wish” that Camilla “be known as queen consort” when Prince Charles, 73, takes the throne. Until now, she had never spoken on the subject, the subject of endless controversy for years.
✍️ On the eve of the 70th anniversary of her Accession to the throne, The Queen has written a message thanking the public and her family for their support, and looking forward to #PlatinumJubilee celebrations over the coming year. #HM70 pic.twitter.com/U6JfzeZMLn
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) February 5, 2022
Charles and Camilla said to each other according to a spokesperson “touched and honored by the words” of the Queen, who also underlined the “fair work” of the Duchess of Cornwall. Camilla, 74, with the simplicity appreciated by the British, has become an essential cog in the monarchy, with many commitments.
The term “consort” applies to the husband or wife of a reigning monarch. Theoretically, therefore, Camilla was to become queen, but her title was the subject of endless controversy after her 2005 marriage to Prince Charles, with some arguing that she should rather be known as a “princess” consort, due to the sensitivity of the subject after the death of Princess Diana. Camilla, divorced, has long been perceived as the one who had broken the fairy tale marriage of Prince Charles, of which she was the mistress, with Diana. Even last year, less than half of Britons wanted her to be crowned queen. The queen therefore closed the debate in her message.