Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, becomes queen, but without the sovereign’s powers

After seven deces, United Kingdom has a new woman to call queen.

Charles’ wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, will be kwn as Queen Consort — a title that came with Queen Elizabeth II’s blessing after years of contention, dating back to days before she even married Prince Charles.

It wasn’t always a given that 75-year-old Camilla would take title, even though it gives her ne of sovereign’s powers.

While wife of a king is tritionally crowned queen, question of what title Camilla would hold when Charles became king h been a tricky one for many years. That was due to sensitivity about her status as his second wife — and wave of grief that washed over Britain following death of his former wife, Princess Diana, in a car crash in 1997.

Charles and royal household have moved carefully on matter, mindful of lingering public perceptions of Camilla as “third person” that ruined marri between Charles and beloved princess.

But over deces, Camilla has won over large parts of British public with her discretion, down-to-earth personality and loyalty to her husband.

When Camilla and Charles married in a low-key civil ceremony in 2005, she was in fact new Princess of Wales — Diana’s title — but she styled herself Duchess of Cornwall inste.

Palace officials said for years that Camilla “intended” to be kwn as “Princess Consort” — inste of tritional “Queen Consort” — when Charles acceded to throne.

re is precedent for title Princess Consort, which was reportedly suggested by royal officials. similar title of Prince Consort has only been used once — for Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, who reigned from 1837 to 1901.

In a 2010 interview with NBC, Charles was asked if Camilla would become “Queen of England, if and when you become monarch.” He hesitated as he replied, “That’s, well ... We’ll see, won’t we? That could be.”

question was resolved when Elizabeth declared she wanted Camilla to be kwn as Queen Consort after her son became king. It was an endorsement that formally signified royal family’s acceptance of Camilla as a respected senior member and was widely seen as a move by Elizabeth to pave a smooth transition to Charles’ reign.

“When, in fullness of time, my son Charles becomes king, I kw you will give him and his wife, Camilla, same support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be kwn as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service,” Elizabeth said in February 2022, when she marked 70th anniversary of her rule.

Charles said he and Camilla were “deeply conscious of hor.”

“As we have sought toger to serve and support Her Majesty and people of our communities, my darling wife has been my own stefast support throughout,” he said.

most recent Queen Consort in British history was George VI’s wife Queen Elizabeth, kwn in later years as Queen Mor after her daughter became monarch in 1952.

By custom, Camilla will be ainted at Charles’ coronation, although that could be omitted.

Born Camilla Rosemary Shand on July 17, 1947, she came from aristocrats with long and close links with Britain’s royal family. Her great-grandmor, Alice Keppel, was a romantic partner of King Edward VII.

She met Charles at a polo match in 1970 when she was 23 and he was considered to be most eligible bachelor in Britain. two immediately became close, and by end of 1972, Charles was smitten. But romance was interrupted by his eight months of naval duty.

In his absence, Camilla married her longtime boyfriend, army officer Andrew Parker Bowles, in 1973. couple divorced in 1995, shortly after Charles gave an explosive television interview mitting an affair with Camilla. Charles and Diana divorced next year.

Charles and Camilla waited ar nine years, marrying in 2005 in a private ceremony at Guildhall in Windsor.

Since n, Camilla has taken up dozens of royal duties. She is patron or president of more than 90 charities, and has shown particular interest in work on animals, promoting literacy and empowering women. She also has found her voice as a public speaker, earning respect by campaigning about difficult issues such as sexual violence against women and domestic abuse.

In 2021, she delivered what many called her landmark speech, urging “ men in our lives” to get involved in women’s rights and expressing sympathy for families of women who are murdered.

same year, Buckingham Palace underlined Camilla’s role as a senior royal by making her a Royal Ly of Most ble Order of Garter, most senior order of chivalry in Britain.