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Throughout Queen Elizabeth II's 70-year reign, her husband, Prince Philip, never advanced from being a prince to a king. This was due to the monarchy’s age-old patriarchal traditions, where the title of 'king' is considered to hold more power than that of a 'queen.' If Prince Philip had assumed the title of King Philip, it would have implied he was superior to his wife. This is the same reason Queen Victoria's husband was always referred to as Prince Albert, not King Albert.
In contrast, when a king ascends the throne, his wife can be called a queen. However, this title is typically accompanied by the word 'consort,' which is an old-fashioned term meaning 'partner' or 'companion.'
Is Camilla officially a Queen Consort?
When Prince Charles ascended to the throne as King Charles III, his wife, Camilla—formerly the Duchess of Cornwall—became known as Camilla, Queen Consort. According to NBC News, this development was not unexpected. During Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022, she expressed her 'sincere wish' for Camilla to be named queen consort upon Charles’s succession to the throne. However, reports have recently suggested that Camilla may choose to drop the 'consort' from her title and simply go by Queen Camilla following her husband’s coronation in early May.
A source close to the palace shared with the Daily Mail, 'There’s a view that the title queen consort is cumbersome and that it might be easier for Camilla to simply be known as the queen when the time is right.' The source added, 'Prince Philip held the title of prince consort officially, but he was never referred to as prince consort.'
Similarly, when Queen Elizabeth II’s father, King George VI, reigned, his wife was referred to as 'Queen Elizabeth,' despite technically holding the title of queen consort. Thus, even if Camilla were to drop 'consort' from her title, her duties would still align with those of a queen consort, rather than those of a reigning queen.
What are the responsibilities of a Queen Consort?
As the role implies, a queen consort's primary function is to support her husband in his capacity as king. Additionally, she serves as a counselor of state, a position traditionally held by the monarch’s spouse and the next four individuals in the line of succession who are over the age of 21, according to the official royal family website. Counselors of state act as proxies for the monarch, enabling them to sign documents, attend meetings, and carry out most of the monarch’s official duties.
What is beyond the reach of a Queen Consort?
So, what are the powers of a queen that a queen consort cannot wield? For instance, she cannot appoint a prime minister or choose to dissolve Parliament. However, in certain cases, a queen consort—or another member of the council of state—can dissolve Parliament if the reigning monarch directs them to. A monarch who reigns—also referred to as a queen regnant—has the authority to create new titles within the peerage. No matter her intentions, Camilla, Queen Consort, does not have the power to elevate someone to the rank of baroness.
