Will Catherine be Queen?

**cessna152towser** · 20th November 12, 10:42 AM

As RogerWS76 said above, the reigning Queen takes the title of Queen and her husband is known as Prince... or referred to as the Queen's Consort.
Traditionally a reigning King's wife would take the title of Queen. It has been suggested that Camilla, Duchess of Rothesay might not take the title Queen when her husband becomes King because both of them have previously been married and divorced, and that she would be regarded as the King's Consort.
Whether this would set a precedent for the next generation remains to be seen. Personally I would have thought not and that Kate would take the title of Queen.

**McClef** · 20th November 12, 11:09 AM

As morganatic marriage is not recognised in our constitution, Camilla will be de facto Queen Consort just as she is de facto Princess of Wales although she does not use it out of deference to Diana and her memory. There is no precedent for the wife of a reigning King to have a lesser title so it is highly unlikely that this deference would then continue.

Kate would then become Princess of Wales when William become Prince of Wales.

**Drac** · 20th November 12, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by McClef

Kate would then become Princess of Wales when William become Prince of Wales.

Assuming that Elizabeth doesn't outlive Charles

Jim

**McClef** · 20th November 12, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by Drac

Assuming that Elizabeth doesn't outlive Charles

Jim

I was of course dealing with what would be the expected normal course of events that parents do not outlive their offspring.

Bren - it does not work like a US company. Until recently our monarchical system worked upon "male preference primogeniture" and although this has now changed it does not apply to any of the royal family living at the time of the change, only to new borns following the change.

The eldest male child of the Sovereign was therefore the Heir Apparent even should they have an older sister who could only even be Heir Presumptive and who could be displaced should a younger brother appear.

If you read the constitutional arguments made at the time of the Abdication, it was clear that a Morganatic marriage was not acceptable and that whoever married the King would become by right and title, Queen Consort. Wallis Simpson was rejected by the country on that basis, they would not accept her married to the King with a lesser title and because she was divorced she was not considered acceptable as Queen. Times may have changed but if Camilla has been accepted as Charles' wife by the country then as such she has the right to be Queen in name.

I would take bets on it.

**Drac** · 20th November 12, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by McClef

I was of course dealing with what would be the expected normal course of events that parents do not outlive their offspring.

I just wonder if Charles will abdicate to allow William to take the throne since he is far from a spring chicken.

Just speculation of an American who knows very little of the intricacies of British monarchy. What I know if from Amy, who does know it very well, but finds teaching to be not something she is overly fond of even if the student is her slow witted husband

Jim

**McClef** · 20th November 12, 12:05 PM

I pointed out in another thread that this is no such thing as automatic abdication which required both an instrument of abdication and an act of Parliament.

It is unknown, outside of the special circumstances of Edward VIII, when there was no heir of his in any case and he had not been anointed and crowned, for this to occur. It is considered to be a sacred trust bestowed by God, upon the person who becomes, by right and inheritance, the Monarch. So sacred, that even in the case of permanent incapacity, such as that of George III, they remain the Monarch in name and position, although the duties are then discharged by a Regent.

The only nation that I know of where Monarchs do step down as a matter of course is the Netherlands.

**Pleater** · 20th November 12, 02:36 PM

I've corrected Catherine in the title.

It has been usual for the wife of a king to be titled Queen, but it would be usual for the wife of a Prince to be a princess, which in the case of Charles and Camilla has not been the case.

The mother of our present Queen was 'Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother' - not counted as a queen, but if Charles becomes King it will have to be decided then what title Camilla will use. Possibly Dowager Duchess but Charles' marriage is setting a new precedent, so the title will have to be sorted out as and when necessary.

In the course of time Catherine should take the title Queen, but she would not become monarch as she is not in the line of succession.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**sailortats** · 20th November 12, 06:06 PM

I think that Camilla should become queen when Charles ascends the throne. It is obvious from all the pics you see of them together that he is radiantly happy having her as his wife. If being divorced does not stop Charles from becoming king, and it certainly won't, then being divorced should not stop Camilla from becoming queen.
Just my 2 American cents

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 20th November 12, 08:42 PM