Queen Camilla: How ‘prickly path’ for Duchess of Cornwall could spark panic for William

The Duchess of Cornwall will legally become Queen Consort when Charles is King, but Clarence House has insisted she will be known as Princess Consort. If Camilla is Queen Consort she will use the style of Her Majesty, but if she is Princess Consort she will remain Her Royal Highness.

Royal commentator Marlene Koenig warned Camilla being Princess Consort would be a “prickly path” and could “set a terrible precedent” for William.

Ms Koenig told Royal Central: “If she remains Princess Consort she will be Royal Highness, but her status as the wife of a King is a Queen.

“However, it must be noted that there has never been legislation defining the wife as Queen it has been based on tradition.

“It will be a prickly path because the tradition has been that the wife of a King is Queen, and it could set a terrible precedent for when William succeeds.

“I think it was an important moment when it was announced that both William and the Duchess of Cornwall were made privy councillors so that they both can be present at the Accession Council.”

Clarence House said Camilla would be known as Princess Consort when Charles becomes King when their engagement was announced in 2005.

In the 1990s, Camilla was blamed for the breakdown of Charles’s marriage to Princess Diana.

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They said: “The intention is for the Duchess to be known as Princess Consort when the Prince accedes to the throne.

“This was announced at the time of the marriage, and there has been absolutely no change at all.”

Charles and Camilla celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary last month. 

They released a new picture to mark the special occasion.

Charles, who has recovered from coronavirus, and Camilla are staying at their Scottish residence Birkhall during the lockdown.

In the photo, which was taken by a member of staff the day before their anniversary, the couple are posing in the front porch with their dogs Bluebell and Beth.

Charles and Camilla, whose romance has spanned decades, tied the knot on April 9 2005.

Camilla wed Andrew Parker Bowles in 1973 while Charles wed Diana in 1981 but both marriages broke down.