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Will Camilla be Queen? Meaning of ‘consort’, why she’s being crowned and what it means for line of succession

Millions will be watching the much-anticipated coronation of King Charles and his wife Camilla at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, which will kick off three days of celebrations in the UK and different parts of the world.

King Charles and the Queen Consort will be crowned during an 11am service which will be attended by an estimated 2,000 people. They will then embark on the coronation procession to Buckingham Palace, from where the couple will be joined by relatives for the balcony salute.

Here, we take a look at what it means to be Queen Consort and whether Camilla will become Queen.

Will Camilla be Queen?

Throughout British history, the wife of a king typically is given the title Queen Consort.

But at the time of her marriage to Charles in 2005, it had been officially decided that her title would be Princess Consort if her husband became King.

During the Platinum Jubilee, however, the Queen expressed a “sincere wish” for the former Duchess of Cornwall to be given the title of Queen Consort when the time came.

A royal source quoted by the BBC suggested that Camilla was called the Queen Consort during the initial part of King Charles’s reign to avoid confusion with Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September aged 96 after an astonishing 70 years on the throne.

But once Camilla is crowned alongside her husband on 6 May, it would be “appropriate” for her to go by “Queen Camilla”, the source said. The first official use of the title was made in the coronation invitations sent out by “their majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla”.

What does it mean for the line of succession?

Even if Camilla goes by the title of Queen after she is crowned on Saturday, the line of succession will not change as the right to reign can only be inherited.

Prince William therefore still remains the first heir to the throne, followed by his son, Prince George, 9, daughter, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.

Prince Harry is fifth in line to the throne, followed by his children, Prince Archie, 3, and one-year-old Princess Lilibet.

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