A few nights ago, I was watching a documentary on Prince Philip and his steadfast and loyal role, two steps behind Queen Elizabeth II. The documentary painted Philip as a young newlywed who struggled in his role of consort given he was so dominating, strong-willed and alpha driven. While the aforementioned qualities wouldn’t exactly be my top qualities to describe Prince Albert, as a 19th century man, he also struggled in the role of consort. The consort is an ancient, normal position that essentially means the powerless companion of the ruling monarch, but in the last year it’s taken on a bit of new life. One it shouldn’t have.

Social media comment sections, never a platform for the rocket scientists of the world, seemed obsessed with a debate surrounding the coronation of King Charles III: what would Camilla (the “other woman” in the eyes of Diana’s sycophants globally) be called? It was publicly announced before the death of her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II that she wanted Camilla to take the title of Queen Consort, and with her full blessing. Unfortunately, this announcement sent the anti-Camilla camp afire with the notion that “Queen Consort” was somehow a lesser royal title, and in some ways perhaps a judgment from Her Majesty, on the controversial affair between Camilla and Charles.

To be clear for the sake of educating all. Queen Consort applies to ALL Queens who do not reign in their own right. Day after day on the Royal socials, I constantly see those who dislike Camilla, reminding others that she’s not a Queen, BUT merely a Queen Consort. It is always said in a snarky, inferior way, which only serves to make the poster look more insufferable than they already are. Attacking strangers on the internet because they are still upset over an affair that occurred some 30 years ago between people they never met, that didn’t affect them is a tad crazy. Let’s be serious there’s nothing worse than an aggressive and annoying know it all, who actually is incorrect! Snarkiness on my end aside, let’s historically look at the title of Queen Consort. 

Queen Consort at its most base definition is the spouse of the reigning monarch, who is also crowned and holds no power of any kind. Queens in England who have been crowned at the side of the reigning monarch would receive this title. So basically if you’re NOT the monarch of the reigning dynasty, but simply the person marrying in, you’ll pick up the consort title. Doesn’t matter if you’re male, female, first spouse, or second.

To continue to drive the point home, some famous examples of Queen Consorts would be Elizabeth of York, married to Henry VII, or the infamous Katherine of Aragon, unfortunately tied to Henry VIII. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother was the consort of George VI, just as Camilla is now the Queen Consort of Charles. Katherine, Princess of Wales will also be a consort upon ascending the throne. Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh was a consort, as was Prince Albert.

In short, the title is not new. It was not created by QE2 to throw shade on Camilla or pass judgment. It is a legitimate and historic title that most Queens have held before Camilla, and until another first-born girl comes along in the Windsor dynasty, will be used long into the future! It seems a trivial thing to rant about but given the way it is being used incorrectly on social media (mainly to bully someone almost 80 years old) I figured why not start here and correct the semantics. Dislike Camilla all you want, but be educated.

Till next time-B.