Digging into the ins and outs of royal rules and regulations is not for the faint of heart. Like—what does Royal Lady of the Most Noble Order of the Garter even mean? But this is why we have royal experts to decode the various titles, honors, and ceremonies the British royal family always seems to be taking part in. According to these scholars of monarchy-behavior, Queen Elizabeth bestowing Camilla Parker Bowles with the Order of the Garter—the highest honor for services to the monarchy—is actually quite significant. It very possibly means that Camilla will become Queen when her husband, Prince Charles, becomes King.
If, like us, most of your knowledge about the rules of monarchy and inheritance comes from Disney or the CW’s Reign, you may have thought that this was obvious. Not so! It turns out that the wife of the King does not automatically become the Queen, just as Prince Philip didn’t get to be King just because he was married to the Queen.
Due to negative public opinion at the time, it had previously been decided that Camilla would take the title of Princess Consort to Charles when he took the throne. But now royal historians think this whole Garter business changes the game.
According to royal historian Hugo Vickers, Queen Elizabeth giving Camilla the title of Royal Lady of the Most Noble Order of the Garter is a signal of how much she respects her daughter-in-law, and is basically a green light for Camilla to become Queen Consort rather than Princess Consort. “It paves the way for the Duchess to become not only Queen by right when Prince Charles succeeds to the throne, but Queen by name,” Vickers told The Daily Mail. And Vickers isn’t the only royal historian who thinks the Duchess will get the title upgrade. Royal biographer Penny Junor has previously said, “My guess is she will be queen. I don’t think Charles would want her to be called anything else.”
If this is indeed the case, that would mean that Prince Charles has finally won his years-long campaign to get his wife the official title, even if neither Prince William, Prince Harry, nor the British public are thrilled about it. As royal biographer Robert Lacey told Newsweek, “Privately I discovered both brothers are absolutely sick to the back teeth of Charles trying to negotiate full Queen status for Camilla.”
As for our thoughts? In the style of Lucille Bluth: Good for her.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
Kathleen Walsh is a freelance writer and editor whose work focuses on culture, dating, and feminism and especially where all three intersect. Her writing can be found in the New York Times, InStyle, Teen Vogue, and more.
-
Katie Holmes Is on a Minimalist Streak
The actress wore a slip dress with a '90s styling cue–plus her favorite Mary Janes.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
Halle Berry Describes the Moment She Says a Doctor Refused to Say the Word "Menopause"
"I thought: 'OK, I have to do what no man can do. I have to say it.'"
By Danielle Campoamor Published
-
More Than 30 Years' Later, 'Mrs. Doubtfire' Child Stars Enjoy a "Little Reunion"
"Mara Wilson and Matthew Lawrence still feel like my siblings."
By Danielle Campoamor Published
-
Princess Diana Revealed to a Royal Author the Real Reason Why Her Marriage to Prince Charles Ended Not Long Before She Died in 1997
And no, it apparently wasn’t Camilla Parker-Bowles.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Princess Diana Told Queen Elizabeth Through Tears That Her Then-Husband Prince Charles Was “A Nightmare” and That She “Hated” Him, Royal Author Claims
Ingrid Seward’s new book examines the relationship between mother and son, Her late Majesty and her heir, Charles.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
British Royal Lady Gabriella Windsor's Husband Has Died at 45
Lady Gabriella is King Charles' second cousin.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Kate Middleton Gave an Honest, Eight-Word Assessment About the First Time She Met King Charles
The King and the Princess of Wales—famously close to one another—are both currently hospitalized at The London Clinic.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Queen Elizabeth II's Childhood Drawing, Which Her Mom Called "Very Poor," Is Up for Auction
Savage.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Princess Diana Made a Sandringham Christmas Gaffe Because She and Prince Charles Didn't "Communicate Very Well," Commentator Says
Not great.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
How Did Queen Elizabeth Really Feel About Then-Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles’ Polarizing 2005 Wedding?
This week’s final installment of ‘The Crown’ will cover the wedding as the series wraps up for good.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Camilla Parker-Bowles Gave Kate Middleton Advice on “How to Hang Onto a Prince”—But Kate Struggled to Follow It
Camilla was “on standby” to give Kate advice in her early days of dating Prince William.
By Rachel Burchfield Published