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The meaning of ‘Queen Camilla’
If you thought the queen’s Platinum Jubilee would be just a celebration and victory lap, think again. As The Daily Beast reported last night, the world’s canniest PR operator has used the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee today, Sunday, to officially bestow her blessing on Camilla Parker Bowles to be known as “Queen Consort” when Prince Charles becomes king.
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The announcement was a surprise, and can be seen as formally enshrining Camilla’s future title and role which for a long time has seemed uncertain—especially in light of the antipathy some still feel towards her because of the trauma and unhappiness suffered by Princess Diana.
The queen, who is celebrating 70 years on the British throne and is the longest serving monarch in British history, issued a statement late Saturday night British time which said that “when, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.”
A spokesperson for Charles and Camilla told the Mail on Sunday: “The Prince of Wales will be issuing a statement of congratulation to the Queen on Accession Day. He and the Duchess of Cornwall are touched and honored by Her Majesty’s words.”
Royal expert Hugo Vickers, writing in the Mail on Sunday, said the “Queen Camilla” announcement was a “masterstroke” by the queen. Camilla, already appointed to the Order of the Garter in January, had not “put a foot wrong” as Duchess of Cornwall, and had been a source of vital support for Charles, he said. “Making it clear that Camilla should be Queen is not just a wise and generous decision, it is a masterstroke, and typical of a thoughtful Sovereign,” Vickers wrote. “The timing has great symbolism. This is an important moment for the Monarchy, one that says as much about the character of Her Majesty as it does about her daughter-in-law.”
A long time coming
While the timing and manner of the announcement is undoubtedly a huge surprise, the news that Camilla will be queen is not really a surprise.
We first reported in 2017, on the basis of intel from trusted sources, that Prince Charles intended to declare her queen upon the death of his mother and his own ascension to the throne.
The palace denied it, saying our story was “without foundation.” They said that the torturous agreement negotiated by the queen with Charles when he married Camilla in 2005, which specified she would become a mere princess consort (as Prince Philip had become a prince) when her husband became king, still applied.
This compromise was intended to assuage public anger over Charles’ adultery. Camila remains one of the least popular British royals largely owing to the fact that she and Charles conducted an affair while he was married to Princess Diana. Charles, as king, will be head of the church, which, some old duffers insist on recalling, officially disapproves of coveting other men’s wives.
Queen Elizabeth II and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attend the Ceremonial Welcome in the Buckingham Palace Garden for President Trump during day 1 of his State Visit to the UK on June 3, 2019 in London, England.
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty ImagesTactical timing
The queen made this announcement unusually late (10pm) on Saturday night, on the eve of the 70th anniversary of her accession, most likely to minimize the chances of the Sunday newspapers having enough time to stir up trouble with contrary voices, on a day when criticizing the hard working monarch would be akin to treachery.
Indeed, all have fallen into line and are awash with positive takes on the big news. Even the usually republican-minded Daily Mirror approvingly carries commentary saying Camilla had “earned her spurs.”
But this is not necessarily going to be an easy sell for the palace in the long term. The “princess consort” device was invented for a reason, after all.
One of the most prescient royal commentators of recent years, Christopher Andersen, author of the new book Brothers and Wives told The Daily Beast: “Charles always intended that Camilla be his queen. Any promises to the contrary were just to pave the way for his marriage. What does surprise me is that the queen obviously succumbed to pressure and agreed to make this announcement now. I’d be amazed if it sits well with the British people.
“There still is tremendous affection for Diana and lingering resentment toward Camilla. Obviously the queen is just trying to prepare her subjects for the inevitable once Charles becomes king. But for the queen to spend her political capital at this time and in this manner—when the family is mired in even more scandal than usual—seems patently unwise. As far as I’m concerned, this is just another in a long string of tone-deaf moves made by the royal family.”
… and I’m not going anywhere!
In another very queen-like move, the Saturday night statement also made it clear that the queen was still in charge—thank you very much—renewing the pledge “that my life will always be devoted to your service.”
Despite the roll-call of scandal and discord within the royal family—Harry and Meghan’s revelations and accusations; Prince Andrew accused of rape—the queen thanked her family for their “steadfast love and support,” adding she had been “blessed” to have Prince Philip’s support as her consort, “and unselfishly make the sacrifices that go with it.”
The queen ascended to the throne 70 years ago following the death of her father George VI. The queen said she remembered the day of February 6, 1952, as much for his death as for it being the day of her accession.
In a world riven with division and deeply scarred after two years of the COVID pandemic, the queen said she was looking ahead with “a sense of hope and optimism,” hailing the last seven decades of “extraordinary progress, socially, technologically and culturally.” Only in one passing aside did the queen mention the “difficult times for so many of us.” Otherwise she said she hoped the Platinum Jubilee would be a time for “celebration” and a chance to “reflect on the positive developments” over the last 70 years.
The queen also thanked her fans of all ages and nationalities around the world. “I remain eternally grateful for, and humbled by, the loyalty and affection you continue to give me.”
Deep breaths
Prince Harry triggered some hilarity this week when he called in an online symposium for all employees to be given time off during their working day to do “inner work” such as meditation.
Harry, who said he had suffered exhaustion after “burning the candle at both ends,” was speaking in his role as Chief Impact Officer of BetterUp, the mental wellness app.
Harry, boss of charity vehicle Archewell, said, “From an employer’s perspective, you can’t expect, in today’s world, people to put in the work on themselves if you’re not giving them the time to be able to do that…It’s so important as employers to say, ‘If you have the chance to do it in your own spare time that’s fantastic, but we are going to factor that into your routine at work.’ If everybody was doing that, the shift in global consciousness and awareness would be enormous.”
That sound of disbelieving laughter? It may be coming from former employees of Harry and Meghan’s at Kensington Palace, where a bullying investigation is still ongoing, and they well recall Meghan’s habit of sending them emails at 5am.
This week in royal history
Well, there’s only one event in town. On January 6, 1952, Queen Elizabeth ascended to the British throne. She was 25 at the time, and is 95 now—and seemingly determined to enjoy the celebrations to the fullest.
Unanswered questions
Will the British public, and royal fans more generally, warm up to the idea of “Queen Camilla” as much as the queen and Charles want them to?
