Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II announced on Sunday that Camilla, Duchess of Cornwell, wife of her son Prince Charles, will become Britain’s Queen after her son takes the throne.
This came in a speech delivered by Queen Elizabeth on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne, becoming the first person to reach the platinum jubilee of British monarchs.
Queen Elizabeth said: “When Crown Prince Charles becomes king, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support you have given me, and my sincere wishes are that when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her loyal service.”
For its part, the BBC reported that the Prince of Wales, Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, were moved and proud.
Under royal laws, Camilla would automatically have been granted queen status when Charles became king, but due to apprehension about the public’s reaction, there has been speculation that this may not apply to Charles and Camilla.
In 2005, Charles married Camilla in a civil marriage, after both of them separated from their first marriage. Charles had previously married Princess Diana, but they separated in 1996, a year before her death in a car accident in Paris.
At the time of their marriage, the official intention was for Camilla to be known as the Princess Consort, but in the past few years plans for her future title have been shrouded in mystery.
The announcement is seen as too much interference from the 95-year-old queen, as the only person who can determine royal titles.
According to the BBC, analysts believe that the aim of this step is to remove the barriers that prevent Camilla from becoming queen.
Queen Elizabeth acceded to the throne at the age of 25, when her father, King George VI, died.