Camilla, the wife of King Charles III, was crowned Saturday in Westminster Abbey, capping her public transformation from royal mistress to “queen consort” to queen in her own right.
Camilla, 75, was crowned by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby just seconds after Charles was anointed King of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth states.
Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, has been crowned as Queen Consort alongside her husband King Charles III at a historic ceremony at Westminster Abbey on Saturday. The couple, who have been married since 2005, received their crowns and scepters from the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby in front of a congregation of dignitaries, royals and guests.
Camilla, 75, wore a robe made for the late Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953, and a crown that belonged to Queen Mary, the grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II. She also wore a floor-length ivory gown designed by Bruce Oldfield, with embroidery and paneling. She smiled as she was crowned and enthroned next to her husband, who had just become the first new monarch in nearly 70 years.
The coronation marked the culmination of a long and controversial journey for Camilla, who was once vilified by the public for her role in the breakdown of Charles and Diana’s marriage. She and Charles, 74, first met when they were young and remained close throughout their respective marriages to other people. After their divorces and Diana’s death in 1997, they gradually made their relationship public and eventually married in a civil ceremony in 2005.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London
Camilla initially took on the title of Queen Consort as per the late Queen Elizabeth II’s wish, but Charles decided to make her Queen shortly before his coronation. The palace said the change had taken effect as of the beginning of coronation day, even before Camilla was formally crowned. Camilla is not a royal by blood and does not have any authority as Queen, but she is expected to support her husband in his role as sovereign.
The coronation was attended by members of the royal family, including Prince William and Kate, Prince Harry and Meghan, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. It was also watched by millions of people around the world on television and online. The ceremony was followed by a flypast by the Royal Air Force and a carriage procession through London.
