newsoholic Time to become News Oholic!
The Royal Family’s Twitter account unveiled the coronation invitations on April 5—and many were quick to notice it refers to Camilla as “Queen Camilla,” not queen consort, as she has been known. The “consort” title designates a spouse of a monarch who does not have the same political or military powers. A royal source told CNN “queen consort” was initially used in the months following Elizabeth II’s death to distinguish the late queen from Camilla. Royal historian Marlene Koenig told NPR she wasn’t surprised the invitation simply used “queen,” noting that past queen consorts were often simply referred to as “queen” in royal affairs and news reports. Nicoletta Gullace, associate professor of British history at the University of New Hampshire, told NPR she was surprised “consort” was dropped because that was how Elizabeth II indicated she wanted Camilla to be addressed, though she said removing “consort” may be an effort to make Camilla more legitimate in the eyes of the British public following her affair with Charles while he was married to Diana, which still lingers in the public memory.
Camilla and Charles preparing for the coronation ceremony on 6 May 2023
The Royal Family’s Twitter account unveiled the coronation invitations on April 5—and many were quick to notice it refers to Camilla as “Queen Camilla,” not queen consort, as she has been known. The “consort” title designates a spouse of a monarch who does not have the same political or military powers. A royal source told CNN “queen consort” was initially used in the months following Elizabeth II’s death to distinguish the late queen from Camilla. Royal historian Marlene Koenig told NPR she wasn’t surprised the invitation simply used “queen,” noting that past queen consorts were often simply referred to as “queen” in royal affairs and news reports. Nicoletta Gullace, associate professor of British history at the University of New Hampshire, told NPR she was surprised “consort” was dropped because that was how Elizabeth II indicated she wanted Camilla to be addressed, though she said removing “consort” may be an effort to make Camilla more legitimate in the eyes of the British public following her affair with Charles while he was married to Diana, which still lingers in the public memory.