What Is Camilla’s Title—and How Will It Change If King Charles Dies?

Royal rules dictate what Camilla’s title is now, what it could be in the future and whether she could ever rule as Britain’s monarch

Marrying into the British royal family comes with many privileges—and also many rules. Those rules regulate not only numerous scenarios in daily life but also what could happen if there’s a death. Ever since Camilla Parker Bowles and then–Prince Charles tied the knot in 2005, people have wondered, What is Camilla’s title? The answer to that question changed when Queen Elizabeth II died and Charles became king … and it could change again if Camilla outlives her husband. That “what if” scenario has been pondered in greater detail recently, in light of both King Charles’s cancer diagnosis and the simple fact that he is in his mid-70s.

“Queen Camilla has gained the respect of a lot of the British public who might have been skeptical at the beginning when she married Charles,” says royal expert Marlene Koenig. “Yet if William becomes king, his stepmother’s position will naturally change.”

But how, exactly? Reader’s Digest interviewed both Koenig and British historian Nicoletta Gullace, an associate history professor at the University of New Hampshire, to find out what could happen to Camilla’s title—and her royal responsibilities—in the event of King Charles’s death.

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About the experts

  • Nicoletta Gullace is a British historian, an expert on the royal family and an associate professor of history at the University of New Hampshire.
  • Marlene Koenig is a royal expert and writer. She is the author of Queen Victoria’s Descendants and has appeared on a wide range of media outlets, from CNN and NBC to the BBC.

What is Camilla’s title now?

King Charles III And Queen Camilla on the balcony wavingChristopher Furlong/getty images

At King Charles’s coronation in May 2023, Camilla officially became Queen Camilla. This was a change from her original title as queen consort, which she had received when Queen Elizabeth died. Interestingly, the palace didn’t make a public announcement that her title was changing again; the word consort was simply dropped on the coronation invitation.

According to the BBC, “queen consort” had initially been used to distinguish Camilla from Elizabeth II, and the coronation seemed like an “appropriate time” to make Camilla queen. It might have helped, too, that Camilla’s popularity scores in the U.K. had significantly increased in the months leading up to the coronation.

Of course, for years, there was a heated debate about whether Camilla should ever become queen at all or instead remain the Duchess of Cornwall. Many Brits had long seen her as the other woman, since Charles had an affair with her while married to Princess Diana, and found it hard to accept her on the throne. In the end, it was the late Queen Elizabeth herself who ensured that Charles’s second wife would receive the title. In a message marking her 70th anniversary on the throne in early 2022, published on the royal family’s website, she made it clear that it was her “sincere wish” that Camilla would become queen consort after her reign ended.

How would Camilla’s title change if King Charles dies?

Camilla’s title is not guaranteed for life, since she is a royal by marriage, not birth. This means it will be up to the new king, Charles’s son William, to decide what she’d then go by. So, what is Camilla’s title if she outlives Charles?

“While the ultimate decision would be in William’s discretion, she would probably become queen dowager, which basically means ‘widow of the king,'” explains Gullace. The title queen mother—as in the case of Queen Elizabeth’s mother—can be pretty much ruled out, given that Camilla is not the birth mother of William.

Gullace believes it’s likely that Camilla will continue to be addressed as Her Royal Highness, though. Koenig agrees, saying that Charles’s wife will probably also continue to go by Queen Camilla and Her Majesty in daily life. “Camilla would always be a queen, just not ‘the’ queen,” she explains. “That would be Catherine, as William’s wife.”

Would Camilla become the ruling British monarch?

King Charles III And Queen Camilla Host Diplomatic ReceptionChris Jackson/Getty Images

No, Camilla will never be the ruling British monarch. The line of succession is regulated both through descent and parliamentary statute. The latter is based on the Bill of Rights (1689) and the Act of Settlement (1701), and it prohibits anyone not born into the British royal family from becoming sovereign. So, while consort might have been dropped from Camilla’s title in 2023, this did not make her a reigning queen. In reality, this title didn’t give Camilla any more (or less) power than she already had before—she is still simply the wife of the reigning sovereign. She supports him and undertakes official engagements, but she does not share his position as the head of state or the Commonwealth and she could never succeed him as ruler if he dies first.

According to the official line of succession, the next sovereign will be Prince William. “The minute his father dies, William is king,” Gullace says. “This is something that happens automatically.”

How would Camilla’s duties change as queen dowager?

Despite the likely title change, Camilla’s duties and official engagements would probably pretty much stay the same. Right now, Camilla is patron or president of more than 90 charities, including for health and well-being, survivors of rape and sexual assault, and the arts. And while she could slightly cut down on official royal engagements, neither of the royal experts we interviewed believes she’d completely retire from them if Charles passed.

“She has really settled in and has become a valuable and well-respected asset to the royal family, which is remarkable, considering she came in only later in life,” Koenig says. “I’m sure she would continue her charity work even as queen dowager, knowing that the charities count on her.” Koenig adds that William and Kate would probably be grateful for the extra help, considering the ever-decreasing number of working senior royals after Harry and Meghan quit the firm and Prince Andrew had to step back.

When did England last have a queen dowager?

black and white sketch of William IV And Queen Adelaide Print Collector/getty images

Nearly two centuries ago! Queen Adelaide, the last British royal to hold this title officially, became queen dowager when her husband, King William IV, died in 1837. Adelaide lived for another 12 years, and since the pair didn’t have any children, William’s niece Queen Victoria inherited the throne. While little is known about the public engagements Adelaide undertook as queen dowager, she made a name for herself by donating generously to charities—a move that was greatly appreciated by the public.

Technically, Queen Elizabeth II’s late mother, Queen Elizabeth, wife of George VI, would have been the most recent queen dowager. However, when her husband died in 1952, she opted for the title queen mother rather than queen dowager, probably for practical reasons. “Imagine the confusion if there had been two Queen Elizabeths,” Koenig says. “I think if she’d had another name, she wouldn’t have done it, but in this case, it was just easier to officially go by queen mother. So, while the titles might be different, Camilla’s position would be the exact same as the queen mother’s.”

Just like King Charles’s wife, the queen mother loved her charity work and was patron or president of many organizations—350, to be precise! She continued her engagements and involvement in public life up until a few months before her death at 101.

Sources:

  • Nicoletta Gullace, British historian and associate professor of history at the University of New Hampshire; Zoom interview, Feb. 8, 2024
  • Marlene Koenig, royal expert; Zoom interview, Feb 9, 2024
  • Royal.uk: “The Queen”
  • Royal.uk: “Succession”
  • BBC: “Queen backs Camilla to be Queen Consort on Jubilee”
  • AP: “Queen or queen consort? What to know about Camilla’s title”
  • Town & Country: “Queen Camilla’s title will be ‘Queen Dowager’ if she outlives King Charles”

Astrid Hofer
Astrid is a London-based journalist covering entertainment, including the British royal family, lifestyle, travel and current events, for international publications. Her work has appeared in National Geographic, Culture Trip, British Travel, tripsavvy and the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation.
Originally from Austria, she lived in Canada and the Netherlands before making the U.K. her second home. While studying journalism and communications, she spent a semester at the Hague University of Applied Sciences.
Astrid speaks English, German, French, Italian and basic Swedish and Dutch. When she's not on a deadline, you can find her checking out the latest bands, movies and vegan restaurants in London and beyond.