Queen Camilla: Hint of sign Duchess would get title

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Queen Elizabeth II, 95, celebrates her Platinum Jubilee this year, marking her historic 70-year reign. Britain’s longest-serving monarch succeeded her father King George VI upon his death on February 6, 1952. Her Majesty’s seven decades of service to the nation will be honoured by an extended bank holiday weekend in June. However, the Queen kicked off this year’s festivities last weekend as she cut a cake during a special reception on the eve of the anniversary of her accession.

The following day, in a landmark statement, the monarch announced it is her wish that Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, be known as Queen Consort when Prince Charles becomes King.

The Queen said it was her “sincere wish” that Camilla uses the title as she continues her “loyal service”.

Her Majesty’s surprise Accession Day announcement is regarded as a major sign of how the Queen’s support for her daughter-in-law has grown since she married Charles in 2005.

The monarch’s gesture was branded a “bombshell” by royal expert Russell Myers, who claimed the move has “completely split opinion”.

The Daily Mirror royal editor was speaking this week on an episode of royal podcast “Pod Save The Queen”, hosted by Zoe Forsey.

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He said: “It was a bombshell. This is absolutely extraordinary. I don’t think anyone saw this coming.

“There had been some rumours flying around recently that something was going to happen.

“But I definitely didn’t think it was imminent and I certainly didn’t think that the announcement would be made on Accession Day.

“The anniversary, of course, of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee was on Sunday and just an absolutely bombshell statement.”

The journalist pointed to the wildly different polling carried out by newspapers on the Queen Camilla issue.

A survey for the Daily Mail of more than 1,000 adults, conducted by JL Partners, found that 55 percent backed the move, with 28 percent opposed.

Meanwhile, a Daily Mirror survey of its readers found that 33 percent of people wanted Camilla to be Queen Consort, while 67 percent were against the Duchess being known by that title.

Mr Myers said: “It is a big, big issue that has really, really split opinion.

“You go right back to when Charles and Camilla got married in 2005.

“The Palace were heavily briefing that she would only ever be known as Princess Consort. She wouldn’t be Queen.”

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When Charles and Camilla tied the knot at their civil ceremony 17 years ago, Clarence House said the Duchess would be known as Princess Consort.

The decision was seen as a bid to assuage public opinion following the tragic death of Charles’ first wife Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997.

Clarence House said Charles and Camilla were both “touched and honoured” by the Queen’s announcement last weekend.

In a statement for his mother’s Accession Day, the Prince of Wales said: “We are deeply conscious of the honour represented by my mother’s wish.

“As we have sought together to serve and support Her Majesty and the people of our communities, my darling wife has been my own steadfast support throughout.”

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