Camilla was crowned queen consort alongside her husband King Charles in May 2023 – but she never had a desire to become one.
The royal’s friends from her younger years revealed she never saw herself becoming a queen, even when she fell in love with the heir to the throne all those years ago.
We take a look at how the decision was made that Camilla would be known as queen over princess consort, and her feelings about that ahead of her crowning moment at the coronation.
Queen Consort Camilla was crowned at King Charles’ coronation
When Camilla was crowned alongside her husband in May 2023, she officially became known as Queen Camilla.
Ahead of the big day, during a discussion on GB News, royal author Ingrid Seward was asked whether Camilla becoming Queen was a bit “too soon”. This question came months after the country was still mourning Queen Elizabeth II.
“When you marry a King you automatically become Queen,” she said. She then continued, saying that it was the the late Queen’s wish that Camilla “would be accepted”. Ingrid claims this is why she made it clear that she wanted her to be known as “Queen Consort” initially.
“[People were] told she will be Queen Camilla, not the Queen Consort,” she continued. “I think it’s to let people into it gently and I think that’s the right way of doing things.”
Why Camilla became a Queen Consort – at Elizabeth II’s request
In February 2022, before Queen Elizabeth II died, she expressed her ‘sincere wish’ that Camilla would be known as queen consort when her son took her place as head of state.
Elizabeth later passed away in September due to old age.
Before Elizabeth made this wish in a public statement, there were claims the royal family were going to make up a title for her – such as Camilla being a princess consort – the first in British history.
Elizabeth’s husband, the former Duke of Edinburgh, was also officially a prince consort – he was not a king. However, he rarely used this title, and instead was known as Prince Philip – a title the late queen bestowed upon him after she took the throne, or through his Edinburgh title.
Over time, the consort has been dropped, and she is now known as Queen Camilla. However, it’s not incorrect to call her by either title, whether that includes the consort or not.
Camilla was ‘terrified’ to become Queen and ‘hated the idea’
In March 2025, Tom Quinn claimed in his book, Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants, that Camilla hated the idea of being queen.
The royal author spoke to hundreds of former and current members of staff in the palace for the book.
Quinn told Fox News: “Camilla definitely didn’t want to be queen because she’s intelligent enough to know that once you become queen or a senior member of the royal family, you are constantly under the microscope.
“And I think Camilla, right back in the 1970s when she first met Charles, decided, ‘I don’t want to marry.’ Not because she didn’t love him. I think she would’ve liked to marry him.
“But apparently, she said, ‘I’m not going to be able to cope with being queen. I don’t want to be queen because it’s too much focus, too much attention on me.’ She enjoyed being able to have a private life away from the limelight. But Charles refused to give up.”
It comes after Ingrid Seward, the editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, claimed ahead of the coronation that Camilla was ‘terrified’ of the idea of becoming queen consort, as well.
Read more: How Queen Camilla and King Charles are related and why royals married their cousins
King Charles ‘never gave up’
An unnamed aide in the book claims they overheard Camilla telling Charles to ditch the tradition.
“Can’t we get away from all this protocol? It’s all [beep],” she allegedly said.
But the future King Charles replied: “You’re going to do it [become queen] for me, darling.”
Quinn went on to explain after the backlash Camilla received for being Charles’ mistress, and the breakdown of his marriage to Princess Diana, she wanted the quiet life.
He added: “It was only because Charles wouldn’t give up that Camilla is queen. But I also think, as she got older, she realised that she could manage being queen. She could manage the lifestyle that Charles couldn’t escape. And that’s why, in the end, I think they did get together and marry.”
