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Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles tied the knot 15 years ago, in an unremarkable civil ceremony which deviated from the royal norm. Although it didn’t have the same attention as the Prince of Wales’ marriage to Princess Diana, Camilla reaped the same benefits from the union. As such, while she may not publicly go by the Princess of Wales, she is the current bearer of the title.

When people think of the Princess of Wales, many think exclusively of Diana, whom Prince Charles married in 1981.

However, in reality, the title belongs to any wife of the Prince of Wales.

The reason the Duchess of Cornwall doesn’t use it in public is due to the feeling behind Princess Diana and her association with the title.

Royal experts believe she didn’t take up the title so as not to stoke public opinion against her.

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Speaking to Town and Country Magazine in 2018, royal expert and author Marlene Koenig said the royals hoped to avoid “anger and tension” from the general populace.

She said: “Camilla was not popular or well-liked, [though] this has changed a lot since the marriage as Camilla has taken on a lot of patronages and Charles is a lot happier.

“Still, [there was] a lot of tension and anger among a certain element of the population—so it was decided that Camilla would be styled as the Duchess of Cornwall, even though, of course, she is the Princess of Wales.”

The same issue of popularity may also impact the title she takes when she becomes Queen.

Pundits expect the Duchess of Cornwall will take a different title when Prince Charles succeeds Queen Elizabeth II.

They believe the decision will ultimately fall to him, however, and he will take the general public into account.

University College London’s Constitution Unit said: “In deference to public opinion, Camilla has not assumed the title Princess of Wales.

“Prince Charles will no doubt have regard to public opinion at the time of his accession, in deciding whether Camilla should become Queen; and he may also want to seek the advice of the government of the day.”

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“The fallback position is that Camilla would become Princess Consort as announced at the time of their marriage.”

However, public opinion may not be the only factor which determines Camilla’s future title.

Keen observers have noted hers and Prince Charles’ wedding was a civil ceremony, which some argue is not as valid as others.

The Constitution Unit explained the argument, saying: “Because the Marriage Acts from 1753 have explicitly excepted royal marriages from their provisions, the only valid marriage which a member of the royal family could contract in England was a religious marriage in the Church of England.

“The Lord Chancellor in 2005 defended the validity of the Prince’s civil marriage, as did the Registrar General.

“But if Camilla became Queen, it might provoke further legal challenges.”

The Duchess of Cornwall may ultimately decide to go by a different title, but she would automatically become Queen when Prince Charles becomes King.

He would do so the second the Queen either abdicates or dies, and a coronation is not necessary.

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