When Queen Elizabeth II passed away on Sept. 8, 2022, it was the end of an era — in the literal sense. Her death brought to a close the Second Elizabethan Age and ushered in the first English king in living memory for the majority of the world. Already the longest serving heir-apparent at 74, Charles’ ascension to the throne has brought a host of firsts. His coronation on Saturday brought several firsts as well, with one of the most notable being the crowning of his spouse, Camilla, as queen — and not queen consort.
Camilla’s consort addendum always carried with it an unmistakable tinge of deference to Princess Diana.
Camilla’s consort addendum always carried with it an unmistakable tinge of deference to Princess Diana. Her official title change doesn’t give Camila any more authority or power, but it is symbolically significant in the context of a relationship that has felt at turns star-crossed and scandalous.
Elizabeth’s coronation took over a year to prepare; and its historic BBC broadcast was watched by 20 million people. Charles’s coronation was carried live around the world as a matter of course. But unlike with Elizabeth, Saturday was a double-billed affair. The event was officially called “The Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla,” seemingly in an effort to show the two as an equal partnership. (The royal family signaled it was dropping the consort part of the title a month before the coronation on April 6 — though it feels notable that the BBC continued to use it up until after her coronation.)
To be fair, wives were crowned along with their husband before the event was televised — it just was never treated as newsworthy. The late Queen Mother was coronated along with Elizabeth II’s father George VI in 1937, though Queen Mary in 1911 got arguably more pomp — and jewels.
One might mistake this change for modernization, or proof the royal family now truly recognizes spouses as equals. If only. Phillip…
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