Earlier this year during the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth used her message to the public to make her wishes known: she wanted Camilla to have the title of Queen Consort when Charles became King.
"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; 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," she wrote. (Read the Queen's full message here.)
Today, following the death of Queen Elizabeth, Camilla officially took on the title. The royal family confirmed she would be styled as Queen Consort in the announcement of Queen Elizabeth's death, which read: "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow."
It wasn't always a certainty that Camilla would take on the title, given the complicated history of Charles and Camilla's affair, and the public's affinity for the late Princess Diana. Before Charles and Camilla's wedding in 2005, it was announced that Camilla would be known as Princess Consort, not Queen when Charles ascends to the throne. This title had previously been laid out on the former Prince of Wales's website.
"Will the Duchess become Queen when The Prince becomes King?" read the frequently asked questions section of the site, according to the Telegraph.
"As was explained at the time of their wedding in April 2005, it is intended that The Duchess will be known as HRH The Princess Consort when The Prince of Wales Accedes to The Throne."
But a few years ago, Clarence House quietly removed this question and answer from the FAQs.
Simply put, it's the title of the wife of a reigning King. Prior to Camilla, the most recent Queen Consort was Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, wife to King George VI. While wives of Kings are known as Queens Consort, the husbands of reigning Queens are known as Princes Consort. For example, Prince Philip served as consort to Queen Elizabeth.