Here is the unusual title Queen Camilla will hold when Prince William becomes King

As the Monarchy continues to evolve under King Charles III, attention has inevitably turned toward the future reign of his son, Prince William, the Prince of Wales. Among the constitutional and ceremonial considerations that will arise with this transition is the question of Queen Camilla’s future status. When the reign of King Charles III concludes, what title will Camilla bear?

From Queen Consort to Queen Dowager

Under longstanding royal and constitutional precedent, the wife of a reigning monarch is styled as Queen Consort, a title that denotes her status as spouse to the sovereign but confers no ruling power. Camilla, who was named Queen Consort following Charles’s accession in 2022, holds this designation in both formal usage and public life.

Upon the death of a monarch, their consort does not retain the title of Queen in the sense of wife of a King, but typically transitions to a title that reflects their changed role. The traditional and most likely title for Camilla, upon the accession of King William V, is Queen Dowager.

The term “Queen Dowager” applies to the widow of a king and is a well-established form of address in royal protocol. It acknowledges the former Queen Consort’s enduring status within the royal hierarchy, while distinguishing her from the new monarch’s consort who, in William’s case, would be Catherine, the Princess of Wales.

Precedent and Comparison

Historical precedent offers a useful guide. Following the death of King George VI in 1952, his consort, Queen Elizabeth, adopted the style Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II. While she was technically a Queen Dowager, the title “Queen Mother” was more commonly used to reflect her dual role as both the widow of a king and the mother of the sovereign.

Camilla, however, is not the mother of the future king, and as such, the title Queen Mother would not apply in her case. The designation Queen Dowager would be both appropriate and historically consistent.

There is also the possibility that Camilla could choose to use a lesser title, such as Princess Dowager, or revert to her previous title, Duchess of Cornwall, though this would be unusual. The decision would likely be influenced by a mixture of personal preference, public sentiment, and constitutional advice from the Palace and the Government.

Role and Residence

Whether Camilla remains a “working royal” in widowhood remains to be seen. As Queen Dowager, she would have no constitutional role, though she may continue to undertake public engagements, particularly with the charities and organisations she currently supports.

Her place of residence may also shift depending on arrangements made by the new King. While she and King Charles currently reside at Clarence House, it is unclear whether that arrangement would continue under a new reign. Historically, widowed consorts have maintained their own households, separate from the reigning monarch.

In the absence of a reigning role or constitutional authority, Camilla’s future title will reflect a blend of tradition and discretion. The most historically and constitutionally appropriate title is Queen Dowager, a style that would honour her tenure as Queen Consort while clearly distinguishing her from Queen Catherine, should the Princess of Wales ascend to that role.

As with many matters of royal protocol, the final determination will rest on a combination of precedent, pragmatism, and the evolving public role of the monarchy in the 21st century.