Britain's Queen Elizabeth II announced - yesterday, Saturday - that she hopes that Camilla, the wife of Crown Prince Charles, will bear the title of "Queen" as the king's wife upon his accession to the throne, ending a long-sensitive debate between the British, especially since the Queen was considered Camilla an outsider to the royal family.
In a message she wrote on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne today, Sunday, the 95-year-old queen expressed her "sincere hope" that Camilla would assume the status of Queen consort of the king when her son inherits the throne after her death.
"When my son Charles becomes king (...) I know you will give him and his wife the same support you gave me," the Queen said in her message.
heated debate
The future of Camilla's title was the subject of long and fierce debate when she married Prince Charles in 2005. Advisers said at the time that she did not want the title of Queen, but preferred the title "princess", in a precedent in the history of the British royal family.
Throughout British history, the wife of any king held the title of Queen Consort, but when Prince Charles married Camilla, the Queen decided that her daughter-in-law would bear the title of Princess Consort, when Charles became king.
Princess Camilla for a long time remained unpopular with many Britons who considered her responsible for the collapse of Prince Charles's marriage to the late Princess Diana, as Camilla was Charles' mistress during his association with the late princess.
The Crown Prince and Camilla had a civil marriage seven years after the death of Princess Diana, the first wife of Prince Charles.
The Queen did not attend the wedding, to which she coolly agreed, but organized a reception for the couple.
Camilla, 74, has held the title of Duchess of Cornwall since her marriage to Charles, and for a long time remained unpopular with many Britons who considered her responsible for the collapse of Prince Charles's marriage to the late Princess Diana, as Camilla was Charles's mistress during his association with the late princess.
Camilla was never given the title Princess of Wales that Diana held, but Queen Elizabeth II has become over the past years in respect for this woman, who was the great love in Charles' life.
loyalty to the throne
By her loyalty to the throne, Camilla became a pillar of the royal family with the consequent obligations, regularly representing the family alongside Prince Charles during official duties, and gradually winning the hearts of the British with her simplicity and calm.
And at the beginning of this year, the Queen awarded her the highest honor of British knighthood, in recognition of her growing position within the monarchy.
Queen Elizabeth II has largely withdrawn from public life since she faced health problems last October, and in her Sunday appearance marking the anniversary of her accession to the throne, she appeared weak and slowly walking.
The Queen - whose husband died last April - will spend today, Sunday, the anniversary of her accession to the throne at Sandringham Palace, as has been the case every year since the death of her father, King George VI.