As Queen Elizabeth II breathed her last on September 8, the title and throne immediately passed onto her heir, Charles, the former Prince of Wales. His full name is Charles Philip Arthur George, and he could have picked any of these, but as soon as the reign was handed down to him, this was the first decision he made, that he’d be formally now known as King Charles III.
The ascension of Charles from Prince to King has also influenced the titles of the other members of the Royal Family. Prince William and Kate Middleton have now been granted the title of Prince and Princess of Wales. More importantly, the title of King Charles’s wife, Camilla Parker Bowles, has also changed. Here’s what the title of his wife means, and what all responsibilities the title bears.
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Early Life Of Camilla Parker Bowles And Where Did She Meet Charles III?
King Charles III and Camilla Parker Bowles married in 2005, almost 17 years ago. The two, however, were involved in a romantic relationship before and during their previous marriages. Camilla was born on July 17, 1947, to Major Bruce Shand and his wife, Rosalind. Bruce Shand was previously a British Army officer who switched his profession to a wine merchant. Through her mother’s parentage, she was associated with the British aristocracy. Moreover, one of her maternal great-grandparents, Alice Keppel, was King Edward VII’s mistress from 1898 to 1910.
At 16, Camilla attended the Mon Fertile finishing school in Switzerland, where she learned social etiquette, one of many essentials of upper-class ladies. She then studied French at The University of London Institute in Paris. In 1965, Camilla stepped into London as a debutante. She met Chares in a Polo match at Windsor Great Park in 1970. Although the two kept their relationship a secret, they were spotted multiple times by photographers and the press.
Camilla didn’t qualify in Charles’s hunt for the perfect wife of a future King since she wasn’t from a proper aristocratic British family. Camilla married Andrew Parker Bowles in 1973, meanwhile, Charles married Diana in 1981. Both of their marriages didn’t work, and as is famously known, Charles was cheating on Diana with Camilla. In 1996, the two finalized their divorce.
Camilla Was To Be Granted The Title, Princess Consort
Camilla and Charles made their relationship public in 1999. The late Queen Elizabeth II even invited her to her Golden Jubilee Celebrations. Even though their wedding didn’t come easy, as the public vilified her for ruining Charles-Diana’s marriage and even The Church of England did not consent to marry the couple outright, later it was seen that the two were indeed a happy couple.
After the marriage, Camilla was granted the title, Duchess of Cornwall, and not the Princess of Wales, out of respect for Diana. In 2005, Charles also announced that Camilla would be given the title of Princess of Consort instead of Queen of consort when he sits on the throne. This was in reaction to the controversy of their relationship, and also because people were still distasteful against Camilla, especially after Diana’s unfortunate death.
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It Was Queen Elizabeth’s Wish For Camilla To Be Queen ConsortÂ
Queen Elizabeth II, during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, expressed her wish of wanting Camilla to take the title Queen Consort and not Princess Consort as was planned. “And when, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when that times comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service,” she said.
A Queen consort, in the simplest words, means, the wife of the reigning monarch. As a consort, Camilla doesn’t have written, or any signified rules or duties, but such a title is an honorary one, which asks for much pressure, visibility, and high expectations. As a consort, she has to be King Charles’s support in any way she can.
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