What happens to Camilla if King Charles dies first?

The letter read: “And when, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes king, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when the time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.”

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Coronation -

The coronation of Charles III and Camilla took place on May 6, 2023, at Westminster Abbey in London.

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Coronation -

Though Camilla is technically a queen consort (because she is married to the sovereign), she became Queen Camilla when she was crowned with Queen Mary's crown on May 6, 2023.

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What are Camilla’s duties currently? -

According to Buckingham Palace, "Her Majesty The Queen (formerly HRH The Duchess of Cornwall) supports her husband, formerly The Prince of Wales, now His Majesty The King, in carrying out his work and duties. She also undertakes public engagements on behalf of the charities that she supports."

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Will Camilla be Queen if King Charles dies before her? -

In short, no. Queen Camilla is not of royal blood (Windsor bloodline) and she’s not included in the line of succession. Charles III’s oldest son, Prince William, would be crowned King.

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Will Camilla be Queen if King Charles dies before her? -

If Camilla was born into the royal family and in the direct line of succession, she would become Queen Regnant and have sovereign power. But this is not the case.

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Who’d be Queen Regnant, then? -

Princess Charlotte, who is third in the line of succession, is the next possible Queen Regnant.

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Who’d be Queen Regnant, then? -

Though if Prince George has children, this possibility becomes more remote.

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Will Camilla's title remain the same? -

In the event of the King dying, Camilla’s title will change. She will become Queen Dowager, the title given to the widow of a king.

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What are the powers of a Queen Dowager? -

As Queen Dowager, Camilla will not share any of Charles’ sovereignty, including any political and military influence or authority.

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The last Queen Dowager -

If this was to happen, Camilla would have the same title as the late Queen Mother, wife of George VI and the mother of Queen Elizabeth II.

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The first Queen Dowager -

The title was first used by Queen Adelaide in 1830 when her husband King William IV passed away. William IV’s niece, Queen Victoria, then became the sovereign.

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So, what will happen when the King dies? -

When King Charles dies, Operation Menai Bridge will go ahead. This is a contingency plan, similar to Operation London Bridge, which was put in place when Queen Elizabeth II died.

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Who will rule, then? -

The first in the line of succession is Prince William, so he will become king. His wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, will sit beside him on the throne as Queen Consort Catherine.

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Line of succession -

In the event of Prince William not being alive at the time of his father’s death, then the line of succession to the British throne continues through his children, starting with Prince George, and then Princess Charlotte, and finally Prince Louis.

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Line of succession -

If Prince George was to become an orphan and was too young to become the sovereign, then his uncle, Prince Harry, would have to step in as Regent until Prince George was of age to assume his royal duties.

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Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex -

The second son of King Charles III is next in the line of succession after his two nephews and niece, but his position might change if his brother decides to have more children. Now, let's take a look at the members of the royal family who are next in the line of succession to the British throne.

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Archie Mountbatten-Windsor -

Prince Harry's firstborn son doesn't have a royal title, and indeed his parents have walked away from their royal duties. But Archie still has a place in the line of succession.

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Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor -

The daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who was named after her late great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and Prince Harry's mother, Diana, is next in the line of succession.

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Prince Andrew, Duke of York -

When Prince Andrew, son of Queen Elizabeth II, was born, the succession rules were different than they are today. This allowed him to jump ahead of his sister Princess Anne in the line of succession, despite the fact that she is older.

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Princess Beatrice, Mrs. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi -

Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York had two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. Princess Beatrice is the eldest and next in line for the throne. The princesses have no male siblings to push them further down the succession line.

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Sienna Mapelli Mozzi -

In 2021, Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi welcomed their daughter Sienna, who comes right after her mother in the line of succession.

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Princess Eugenie, Mrs. Jack Brooksbank -

Next in the line of succession to the British throne is Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York's younger daughter, Princess Eugenie.

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Master August Brooksbank -

Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank welcomed their first child on February 9, 2021. August comes after his mother in the line of succession. In January 2023, Eugenie announced that she is once again pregnant.

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Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex -

King Charles III's brother, and the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II, also comes before Princess Anne in the line of succession.

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James, Viscount Severn -

James is the son of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie, Countess of Wessex. He was born in 2007 and is next in line to the throne.

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Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor -

Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor is the sister of James. Despite being the eldest child of Prince Edward, she was born before the Succession to the Crown Act 2013 took effect, so her brother is ahead of her in the line of succession.

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Anne, The Princess Royal -

King Charles III's sister, the second-born child and only daughter of the late Queen Elizabeth II, is next in the line of succession to the British crown.

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Peter Phillips -

Next comes Princess Anne's son and King Charles' nephew, Peter Phillips.

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Peter Phillips -

Interestingly, Peter Phillips' wife, Autumn Kelly, had to convert from Roman Catholicism to the Church of England so that he wouldn't lose his place in the line of succession.

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Savannah Phillips -

Born in 2010, Savannah Anne Kathleen Phillips is the firstborn child of Peter Philips and was Queen Elizabeth II's first great-grandchild.

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Isla Phillips -

Isla was born two years after her sister, Savannah. She is next in the line of succession.

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Zara Tindall -

The royal family's famous equestrian is Princess Anne's second child and only daughter. Zara Tindall is next in the line, after Peter Philips's children.

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Mia Tindall -

Next in the line of succession to the British throne we have Zara Tindall's eldest daughter, Mia.

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Lena Tindall -

Lena Elizabeth Tindall was born in 2018 and stands right after her sister, Mia, in the line of succession. Fun fact: Lena Tindall's godfather is Prince Harry.

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Master Lucas Tindall -

On March 21, 2021, Mike and Zara Tindall welcomed their third child. Lucas is their only son (so far).

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David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon -

When he's not waiting in the (long) line of succession to the throne, the eldest child of the late Princess Margaret is making high-end bespoke furniture, under the name David Linley.

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Charles Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley -

David Armstrong-Jones's son, Charles, is the next in line.

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Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones -

Margarita is the daughter of David Armstrong-Jones. Following her brother Charles, she's next in the line of succession to the British throne.

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Lady Sarah Chatto -

Next comes Lady Sarah Chatto, who is the daughter of the late Princess Margaret and niece of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

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Samuel Chatto -

Samuel Chatto is Lady Sarah's son, which puts him next in the succession line.

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Arthur Chatto -

The other grand-nephew of Queen Elizabeth II comes next in the line of succession.

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Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester -

The cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II might never rule, but he is still in the line of succession to the British throne.

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Camilla’s path to coronation -

Camilla and Charles tied the knot in 2005. While she did become Princess of Wales, Camilla did not use the title.

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Camilla’s path to coronation -

When Queen Elizabeth II passed away in September 2022, Charles became King and Camilla his Queen Consort.

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Queen Elizabeth II’s gave Camilla her blessing -

Before she passed, Queen Elizabeth II made sure her stamp of approval was recorded in a letter, written February 2022. The late Queen gave Camilla her blessing to become Queen Consort.

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Queen Elizabeth II’s gave Camilla her blessing -

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Coronation -

The coronation of Charles III and Camilla took place on May 6, 2023, at Westminster Abbey in London.

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Coronation -

Though Camilla is technically a queen consort (because she is married to the sovereign), she became Queen Camilla when she was crowned with Queen Mary's crown on May 6, 2023.

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What are Camilla’s duties currently? -

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Will Camilla be Queen if King Charles dies before her? -

In short, no. Queen Camilla is not of royal blood (Windsor bloodline) and she’s not included in the line of succession. Charles III’s oldest son, Prince William, would be crowned King.

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Will Camilla be Queen if King Charles dies before her? -

If Camilla was born into the royal family and in the direct line of succession, she would become Queen Regnant and have sovereign power. But this is not the case.

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Who’d be Queen Regnant, then? -

Princess Charlotte, who is third in the line of succession, is the next possible Queen Regnant.

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Who’d be Queen Regnant, then? -

Though if Prince George has children, this possibility becomes more remote.

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Will Camilla's title remain the same? -

In the event of the King dying, Camilla’s title will change. She will become Queen Dowager, the title given to the widow of a king.

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What are the powers of a Queen Dowager? -

As Queen Dowager, Camilla will not share any of Charles’ sovereignty, including any political and military influence or authority.

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The last Queen Dowager -

If this was to happen, Camilla would have the same title as the late Queen Mother, wife of George VI and the mother of Queen Elizabeth II.

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The first Queen Dowager -

The title was first used by Queen Adelaide in 1830 when her husband King William IV passed away. William IV’s niece, Queen Victoria, then became the sovereign.

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So, what will happen when the King dies? -

When King Charles dies, Operation Menai Bridge will go ahead. This is a contingency plan, similar to Operation London Bridge, which was put in place when Queen Elizabeth II died.

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Who will rule, then? -

The first in the line of succession is Prince William, so he will become king. His wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, will sit beside him on the throne as Queen Consort Catherine.

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Line of succession -

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Line of succession -

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Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex -

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Archie Mountbatten-Windsor -

Prince Harry's firstborn son doesn't have a royal title, and indeed his parents have walked away from their royal duties. But Archie still has a place in the line of succession.

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Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor -

The daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who was named after her late great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and Prince Harry's mother, Diana, is next in the line of succession.

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Prince Andrew, Duke of York -

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Princess Beatrice, Mrs. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi -

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Sienna Mapelli Mozzi -

In 2021, Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi welcomed their daughter Sienna, who comes right after her mother in the line of succession.

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Princess Eugenie, Mrs. Jack Brooksbank -

Next in the line of succession to the British throne is Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York's younger daughter, Princess Eugenie.

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Master August Brooksbank -

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Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex -

King Charles III's brother, and the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II, also comes before Princess Anne in the line of succession.

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James, Viscount Severn -

James is the son of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie, Countess of Wessex. He was born in 2007 and is next in line to the throne.

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Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor -

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Anne, The Princess Royal -

King Charles III's sister, the second-born child and only daughter of the late Queen Elizabeth II, is next in the line of succession to the British crown.

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Peter Phillips -

Next comes Princess Anne's son and King Charles' nephew, Peter Phillips.

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Peter Phillips -

Interestingly, Peter Phillips' wife, Autumn Kelly, had to convert from Roman Catholicism to the Church of England so that he wouldn't lose his place in the line of succession.

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Savannah Phillips -

Born in 2010, Savannah Anne Kathleen Phillips is the firstborn child of Peter Philips and was Queen Elizabeth II's first great-grandchild.

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Isla Phillips -

Isla was born two years after her sister, Savannah. She is next in the line of succession.

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Zara Tindall -

The royal family's famous equestrian is Princess Anne's second child and only daughter. Zara Tindall is next in the line, after Peter Philips's children.

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Mia Tindall -

Next in the line of succession to the British throne we have Zara Tindall's eldest daughter, Mia.

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Lena Tindall -

Lena Elizabeth Tindall was born in 2018 and stands right after her sister, Mia, in the line of succession. Fun fact: Lena Tindall's godfather is Prince Harry.

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Master Lucas Tindall -

On March 21, 2021, Mike and Zara Tindall welcomed their third child. Lucas is their only son (so far).

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David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon -

When he's not waiting in the (long) line of succession to the throne, the eldest child of the late Princess Margaret is making high-end bespoke furniture, under the name David Linley.

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Charles Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley -

David Armstrong-Jones's son, Charles, is the next in line.

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Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones -

Margarita is the daughter of David Armstrong-Jones. Following her brother Charles, she's next in the line of succession to the British throne.

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Lady Sarah Chatto -

Next comes Lady Sarah Chatto, who is the daughter of the late Princess Margaret and niece of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

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Samuel Chatto -

Samuel Chatto is Lady Sarah's son, which puts him next in the succession line.

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Arthur Chatto -

The other grand-nephew of Queen Elizabeth II comes next in the line of succession.

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Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester -

The cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II might never rule, but he is still in the line of succession to the British throne.

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What happens to Camilla if King Charles dies first?

Discover the fate of the new queen

03/12/24 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY British royal family

Camilla became Queen Consort after Queen Elizabeth II passed away in 2022. But on May 6, 2023, she was coronated Queen Camilla, alongside her husband, King Charles III. But what would happen to Queen Camilla if the king dies before her? Would Camilla have a new title, and would there be any changes to her duties? Or could Queen Camilla possibly have actual regency powers?

In this gallery, we answer these and many other questions about the future of Queen Camilla. Click on to find out.