Camilla Parker Bowles leveled up to Queen Consort Camilla in 2023, but she won’t get to keep the title forever. Assuming Her Majesty outlives King Charles, things are expected to change significantly for Camilla—and not just when it comes to her title.
So…what, exactly, will happen to Queen Camilla once her stepson Prince William steps onto the throne? It might not happen anytime soon, but we actually know a lot about what to expect!
What Will Queen Camilla’s New Title Be?
Again, Camilla is currently “Queen Consort Camilla” (a Queen consort does not share the king’s sovereignty or political and military powers), and styled herself that way at the beginning of Charles’ reign before pivoting to “just” Queen Camilla. However, she doesn’t get to retain the title.
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Once Prince William becomes King, Camilla will transition from a Queen Consort to a Queen Dowager—aka the royal family’s formal term for a widow of the King. As a Queen Dowager, Camilla will still have alllllll the pomp and circumstance of her former role, while paving the way for Kate Middleton to take on the Queen Consort role.
Where Will Queen Camilla Live?
King Charles and Queen Camilla currently reside at Clarence House due to liking the vibes better than Buckingham Palace (also the palace has been undergoing renovations). It’s unclear if Her Majesty will be allowed to retain quarters at Clarence House once Prince William is king, but if not, it won’t be a problem.
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Turns out Camilla actually has her own private home called Ray Mill House where she spends much of her private time away from the spotlight. A friend of Camilla’s told The Telegraph, “The Queen Consort has spent most of her life as a private citizen—so she understands the meaning of shutting your front door and having a place to yourself. Ray Mill is the only place where she can literally and metaphorically kick off her shoes and spend time with family and friends in a really informal setting. It’s an escape from royal life and it will be treasured even more greatly now.”
The outlet also noted that royal staffers “privately accept” that the possibility of Camilla eventually living at Ray Mill House full-time is one of the “practical reasons” for her to keep the home.
Will Queen Camilla Still Be a Working Royal?
Right now, Queen Camilla spends much of her life doing royal engagements (with and without Charles) as part of her position as a working royal. According to the royal website, she “supports over 90 charities as Patron or President.”
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It’s unclear whether Camilla will be allowed continue in this capacity as Queen Dowager (or whether she’ll even want to), but it’s conceivable that she could take a major step back from public life. Then again, back in November, Us Weekly reported that Queen Camilla wanted King Charles to “hold onto the reins for as long as possible,” since she “loves her responsibilities,” has wanted to be Queen “her whole life,” and “doesn’t want to let it go so fast.”
Ultimately, Prince William will be the one who decides what kind of role his step-mother will have in the family, and Us Weekly’s source noted that they’d “always had a tense relationship.” Royal author Christopher Andersen also told the outlet that Prince William “tolerates” his stepmom, who has always been “a little afraid” of him.
Guess we’ll see what happens!
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