The title doesn’t come with
any powers and is ceremonial, with the consort of a monarch expected to
“provide companionship and moral and practical support”. Prince
Philip carried the title of consort to the Queen from the moment
of her accession in 1952 up until his death in 2021, making him the longest-serving royal consort in history.
During the Queen’s Platinum
Jubilee celebrations in June 2022, Her Majesty penned a letter to the public,
where she publicly supported Camilla as future Queen Consort. The letter read:
“I was blessed that in Prince Philip I had a partner willing to carry out
the role of consort and unselfishly make the sacrifices that go with it.
It is a role I saw my own mother perform during my father’s reign.
“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 time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she
continues her own loyal service.”
As Queen Consort, Camilla
will be crowned and anointed during Charles’ coronation, although hers will be
a much simpler ceremony.
Buckingham Palace’s website
reads: “Unless decided otherwise, a Queen consort is crowned with the
King, in a similar but simpler ceremony. If the new Sovereign is a Queen, her
consort is not crowned or anointed at the coronation ceremony.”
Despite being the Queen’s
consort, Philip was not crowned at the ceremony, as the husband of a reigning
queen does not receive this honour.
The Queen’s death was
confirmed at 18:30pm on 8 September, with an official statement reading:
“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The
Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London
tomorrow.”
The announcement was also
officially posted to the railings outside Buckingham Palace by aides dressed in
black, while the Union flag was lowered to half-mast.
