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Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall is celebrating her 73rd birthday today and a stunning new picture of the Duchess has been released to mark the milestone. The photo shows Camilla dressed in royal blue standing in the gardens at Clarence House.

Blue is known to be Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite colour and has historic royal links.

Camilla is captured smiling confidently at the camera hinting she is ready for the larger royal role that awaits her.

By wearing royal blue – a shade historically connected to the monarchy -Camilla seems to signal she is prepared to become Prince Charles’s Consort when he ascends the throne.

Blue is a colour often worn by the Queen and its links to royalty goes back centuries.

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Why is blue a royal colour?

The name “royal blue” was first used in 1810 to 1820.

The “royal” in royal blue comes from England, where the hue was said to have been created for a competition to make a dress for Queen Charlotte (1744 to 1818).

The shade of blue associated with the name has actually changed over time and is both a bright shade and a dark shade of azure blue.

Camilla’s birthday outfit features two shades of royal blue.

Camilla may be hinting at the Queen that she is ready to be known as “Queen Consort” rather than the “Princess Consort” title she is expected to receive when Charles takes the throne.

Camilla joined the Royal Family when she married Prince Charles in 2005 and has managed to turn the tide of public opinion in her favour since then.

Camilla and Charles’s relationship was shrouded in controversy for years because it began during his marriage to Princess Diana.

The decision to make Camilla “Princess Consort” and not “Queen” was made by Clarence House mindful that Princess Diana was still a sensitive topic in the British public’s mind.

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However, her increasing popularity in recent years may affect her future title.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Express.co.uk: “Camilla has established a rapport with the press who were once so hostile to her.

“The public like her. Yet one barrier remains.

“The official line is still that she will become Princess Consort when Charles ascends the throne which is in line with the views of the public in opinion polls through the years.

“If so, he would be the only king not have a queen consort.”

He added: “The memory of Diana still affects this pivotal issue. It may well be that the recent official clarification of her future status has been linked to the

difficulties that the monarchy has faced in recent months.

“The final decision will be Charles’s when he ascends the throne. What is certain is that she will bring dedication and commitment to any role which she undertakes.

“She is in rude health and fine form, and the nation will wish this remarkable and resilient woman a very happy 73rd birthday on Friday.”

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