Newsman: The British throne, Queen Elizabeth II on the eve of her Platinum Jubilee requested a message of gratitude to her people and to her family, and said for the first time that her “sincere wish” is that Duchess Camilla of Cornwall will be known as “Queen Consort” when Prince Charles succeeds her. This is the first time the queen has publicly addressed her daughter-in-law’s role in the future monarchy.
The news immediately rocketed around the United Kingdom, almost overshadowing the moving message she issued, reiterating the vow she made in 1947 at age 21 to devote herself to her people.
“And 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,” she wrote in the statement to mark her 70 years on the throne, “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” according to the statement issued by Buckingham Palace Saturday evening.
When Charles and Camilla married in 2005 there was some debate as to what title Camilla, a divorcee, would take when Charles became King. At the time of their wedding a spokesperson for the couple suggested she would take the title Princess Consort.
Queen Consort is the title given to the spouse of a king, and under U.K. law, whoever is married to a king would immediately become that, and be known as Queen. There was some concern when the couple married the public might resent Camilla being known as Queen Camilla, which is why this Princess Consort title was suggested.
In her Accession Day statement, the queen reiterated she looked forward to “continuing to serve you with all my heart,” and that she looks ahead with “a sense of hope and optimism” for this year. “I am reminded of how much we can be thankful for.”
“It is a day that, even after 70 years, I still remember as much for the death of my father, King George VI, as for the start of my reign,” the message said. She signed her message, “Your Servant,” and ELIZABETH R.
The queen normally marks her ascension anniversary privately because it’s also the anniversary of her father’s death. But this year, as it was such a major milestone, the queen hosted a reception at Sandringham on Saturday. Television pictures showed her cutting a cake to mark the occasion. This was her first public appearance since she was hospitalized last October.
In Saturday’s statement she also took the opportunity to thank her people for their support: “I remain eternally grateful for, and humbled by, the loyalty and affection that you continue to give me.”
“As we mark this anniversary, it gives me pleasure to renew to you the pledge I gave in 1947 that my life will always be devoted to your service,” she wrote.
She also paid tribute to her late husband, Prince Philip, who died last April.
“I was blessed that in Prince Philip I had a partner willing to carry out the role of consort and unselfishly make the sacrifices that go with it,” she wrote.
By backing Queen Camilla, the monarch ensured she had a significant role in shaping the future of the monarchy and a smooth transition once she’s gone.
“This is the most extraordinary message. The queen is ensuring the transition, when it comes, to her son as king is as seamless and trouble-free as possible,’’ former BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt told the Press Association. “She’s future-proofing an institution she’s served for 70 years. And for Camilla, the journey from being the third person in a marriage to queen-in-waiting is complete.”
On Sunday, the palace released a new picture of the queen, smiling broadly and wearing a pale green dress, sitting in the Saloon at Sandringham in front of one of her red despatch boxes containing government papers, with a picture of her father, King George VI, by her side.
The queen’s announcement about Camilla provided some finality to the longstanding question of what to call the former Camilla Parker Bowles, once so despised as the woman who allegedly broke up Charles’ marriage to the late Princess Diana that she used the Duchess of Cornwall title instead of Princess of Wales.
On Feb. 6, Queen Elizabeth became the first British monarch to reach the milestone of a Platinum Jubilee. Traditionally, the queen spends the day quietly at Sandringham, her Norfolk estate, as she remembers her father George VI who died there 70 years ago.
The queen was on tour in Kenya when she found out her father had died and she was queen, making her the first monarch in 200 years to accede to the throne when overseas. She left the country a princess and returned a queen, leading the nation in mourning her father. The solemn anniversary makes Feb. 6 a day of mixed emotion for Queen Elizabeth.
Charles and Camilla issued a statement Sunday saying the prince congratulated the queen on “this historic day,” adding he was touched and honored by his mother’s gesture toward his “steadfast” and “darling wife.” Charles and Camilla issued the statement from Clarence House, where they are based.
“The Queen’s devotion to the welfare of all her people inspires still greater admiration with each passing year,” Charles’ statement said. “We are deeply conscious of the honor 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.”
At 95, Queen Elizabeth II has achieved a singular standing as the longest serving English or British monarch in history, exceeded by only two other European monarchs in history (including Louis XIV of France, who was king for 72 years). Now the U.K. and the Commonwealth are getting ready for a four-day Platinum Jubilee to begin June 2, when the weather is (usually) better.
“As we mark this anniversary, it gives me pleasure to renew to you the pledge I gave in 1947 that my life will always be devoted to your service,” she said, referring to the radio broadcast she gave on her 21st birthday from South Africa in which she promised her devotion for life, “whether it be long or short.”
The queen will turn 96 on April 21.
“As Head of State for seven decades, The Queen has received thousands of red boxes, which contain documents updating Her Majesty on matters of Parliament, the Commonwealth and events around the world, as well as State papers requiring The Queen’s signature and Royal assent,” the palace noted in a statement.
She said she was fortunate to have the “steadfast and loving support of my family,” and specifically called out her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, who died in April 2021, at age 99.
“I was blessed that in Prince Philip I had a partner willing to carry out the role of consort and unselfishly make the sacrifices that go with it. It is a role I saw my own mother perform during my father’s reign,” she said, referring to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who died in 2002.
“This anniversary also affords me a time to reflect on the goodwill shown to me by people of all nationalities, faiths and ages in this country and around the world over these years. I would like to express my thanks to you all for your support. I remain eternally grateful for, and humbled by, the loyalty and affection that you continue to give me,” she said.
After the difficulties of the pandemic, she said she hoped the jubilee celebrations would bring people together to “reflect on the positive developments in our day-to-day lives that have so happily coincided with my reign.”
