If King Charles dies first, what will happen to Camilla?

The letter stated: “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 -

On May 6, 2023, at Westminster Abbey in London, Charles III and Camilla were crowned.

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Coronation -

Camilla, the wife of the sovereign, is known as a queen consort. However, she attained the title of Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023, when she received Queen Mary's crown.

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What are Camilla’s duties currently? -

Buckingham Palace revealed that "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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If King Charles dies before Camilla, will she be Queen? -

No, Queen Camilla is not a member of the royal family (Windsor bloodline) and she is not included in the succession line. Prince William, Charles III's eldest son, would become the King.

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If King Charles dies before Camilla, will she be Queen? -

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 would become the ruling Queen? -

Princess Charlotte, third in line to the throne, may become the future Queen Regnant.

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Who might become Queen Regnant? -

However, if Prince George has children, this chance becomes less likely.

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Will Camilla keep her current title? -

If the King passes away, Camilla's title will be altered to Queen Dowager, a title bestowed upon the widowed wife of a king.<

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What powers does a Queen Dowager have? -

Camilla, as the Queen Dowager, will not possess any of Charles' sovereignty, including political and military influence or authority.

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The last Queen Dowager -

If this were to occur, Camilla would hold the same title as the deceased Queen Mother, who was married to George VI and the mother of Queen Elizabeth II.

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The first Queen Dowager -

The term was coined by Queen Adelaide in 1830 after the death of her husband, King William IV. Queen Victoria, William IV's niece, subsequently ascended to the throne.

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So, what happens when the King passes away? -

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 govern, then? -

Prince William is the next in line to the throne, thus he will assume the role of king. Princess Catherine, known as Princess of Wales, will join him as Queen Consort Catherine.

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Order of succession -

If Prince William is not alive when his father dies, the British throne will be succeeded by his children. The line of succession begins with Prince George, followed by Princess Charlotte, and ultimately Prince Louis.

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Order of succession -

In the event that Prince George became an orphan at a young age and couldn't become the sovereign, his uncle, Prince Harry, would fulfill the role of Regent until Prince George came of age to take on his royal responsibilities.

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Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex -

The younger son of King Charles III follows his two nephews and niece in the order of succession, although this may alter should his sibling decide to expand his family. Now, we shall examine the individuals within the royal family who are next in line for the British throne.

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Archie Mountbatten-Windsor -

Although Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have relinquished their royal duties, their firstborn son, Archie, remains in the line of succession despite not being bestowed with a royal title.

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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 -

Prince Andrew, the son of Queen Elizabeth II, held a higher position in the line of succession compared to his older sister Princess Anne due to previous succession rules. Nevertheless, these regulations have now been altered.

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Princess Beatrice, Mrs. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi -

Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York are the parents of Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. Princess Beatrice, being the eldest, is next in line for the throne. However, the absence of male siblings ensures that the princesses remain unchallenged in their position in the succession line.

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Sienna Mapelli Mozzi -

Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi happily welcomed their daughter Sienna in 2021. Sienna follows her mother in the line of succession.

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Princess Eugenie, Mrs. Jack Brooksbank -

Princess Eugenie, the younger daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York, is next in line for the British throne.

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Master August Brooksbank -

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank became parents on February 9, 2021. Their first child, August, follows his mother in the line of succession. In June 2023, Eugenie welcomed her second child, Ernest, who is next in the line after his older brother.

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Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh -

Prince Edward, the younger brother of King Charles III and Queen Elizabeth II's youngest son, precedes Princess Anne in the line of succession.

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James, Earl of Wessex -

James, born in 2007, is the son of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. He occupies a significant position in the line of succession and is next in line to the throne.

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Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor -

Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor is the older sibling of James. As Prince Edward's firstborn, she was born prior to the implementation of the Succession to the Crown Act 2013. Consequently, her brother assumes precedence over her in the line of succession.

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Anne, The Princess Royal -

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

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Peter Phillips -

Following is Princess Anne's son, Peter Phillips, who is King Charles' nephew.

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Peter Phillips -

Interestingly, Peter Phillips' wife, Autumn Kelly, had to switch from Roman Catholicism to the Church of England to ensure he didn't lose his position in the line of succession.

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Savannah Phillips -

Savannah Anne Kathleen Phillips, born in 2010, is the eldest daughter of Peter Philips and the first great-grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II.

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Isla Phillips -

Isla was born two years later than her sister, Savannah, and comes after her in the line for succession.

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Zara Tindall -

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

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Mia Tindall -

Next in line to succeed the British throne is Mia, Zara Tindall's eldest daughter.

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Lena Tindall -

Lena Elizabeth Tindall, born in 2018, follows her sister Mia in the line of succession. Notably, Prince Harry serves as Lena Tindall's godfather.

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Master Lucas Tindall -

Mike and Zara Tindall joyfully greeted their third child, Lucas, who was born in 2021.

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David Armstrong-Jones, Snowdon's 2nd Earl -

In addition to his place in the line of succession to the throne, the oldest child of the late Princess Margaret engages in crafting luxury custom furniture, operating 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, Lady Sarah's son, stands next in line for succession according to birth order.

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Arthur Chatto -

The next in the line of succession is his brother, another grand-nephew of Queen Elizabeth II.

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Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester -

Although he may never become the ruler, the cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II remains part of the British throne's succession.

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Camilla's journey to becoming Queen -

Camilla and Charles got married in 2005. Although she became Princess of Wales, Camilla chose not to use the title.

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Camilla's journey to becoming Queen -

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, Charles ascended to the throne, and Camilla became his Queen Consort.

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Queen Elizabeth II gave Camilla her approval -

Queen Elizabeth II, before her death, left a recorded letter in February 2022 to give her approval for Camilla to become the Queen Consort.

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Queen Elizabeth II gave Camilla her approval -

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Coronation -

On May 6, 2023, at Westminster Abbey in London, Charles III and Camilla were crowned.

Getty Images

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Coronation -

Camilla, the wife of the sovereign, is known as a queen consort. However, she attained the title of Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023, when she received Queen Mary's crown.

Getty Images

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What are Camilla’s duties currently? -

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If King Charles dies before Camilla, will she be Queen? -

No, Queen Camilla is not a member of the royal family (Windsor bloodline) and she is not included in the succession line. Prince William, Charles III's eldest son, would become the King.

Getty Images

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If King Charles dies before Camilla, will she be Queen? -

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.

Getty Images

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Who would become the ruling Queen? -

Princess Charlotte, third in line to the throne, may become the future Queen Regnant.

Getty Images

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Who might become Queen Regnant? -

However, if Prince George has children, this chance becomes less likely.

Getty Images

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Will Camilla keep her current title? -

If the King passes away, Camilla's title will be altered to Queen Dowager, a title bestowed upon the widowed wife of a king.<

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What powers does a Queen Dowager have? -

Camilla, as the Queen Dowager, will not possess any of Charles' sovereignty, including political and military influence or authority.

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The last Queen Dowager -

If this were to occur, Camilla would hold the same title as the deceased Queen Mother, who was married to George VI and the mother of Queen Elizabeth II.

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The first Queen Dowager -

The term was coined by Queen Adelaide in 1830 after the death of her husband, King William IV. Queen Victoria, William IV's niece, subsequently ascended to the throne.

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So, what happens when the King passes away? -

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.

Getty Images

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Who will govern, then? -

Prince William is the next in line to the throne, thus he will assume the role of king. Princess Catherine, known as Princess of Wales, will join him as Queen Consort Catherine.

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Order of succession -

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Order of succession -

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Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex -

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Archie Mountbatten-Windsor -

Although Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have relinquished their royal duties, their firstborn son, Archie, remains in the line of succession despite not being bestowed with a royal title.

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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 -

Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi happily welcomed their daughter Sienna in 2021. Sienna follows her mother in the line of succession.

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Princess Eugenie, Mrs. Jack Brooksbank -

Princess Eugenie, the younger daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York, is next in line for the British throne.

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Master August Brooksbank -

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Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh -

Prince Edward, the younger brother of King Charles III and Queen Elizabeth II's youngest son, precedes Princess Anne in the line of succession.

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James, Earl of Wessex -

James, born in 2007, is the son of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. He occupies a significant position in the line of succession and is next in line to the throne.

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Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor -

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Anne, The Princess Royal -

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

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Peter Phillips -

Following is Princess Anne's son, Peter Phillips, who is King Charles' nephew.

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Peter Phillips -

Interestingly, Peter Phillips' wife, Autumn Kelly, had to switch from Roman Catholicism to the Church of England to ensure he didn't lose his position in the line of succession.

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Savannah Phillips -

Savannah Anne Kathleen Phillips, born in 2010, is the eldest daughter of Peter Philips and the first great-grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II.

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Isla Phillips -

Isla was born two years later than her sister, Savannah, and comes after her in the line for succession.

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Zara Tindall -

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

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Mia Tindall -

Next in line to succeed the British throne is Mia, Zara Tindall's eldest daughter.

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Lena Tindall -

Lena Elizabeth Tindall, born in 2018, follows her sister Mia in the line of succession. Notably, Prince Harry serves as Lena Tindall's godfather.

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Master Lucas Tindall -

Mike and Zara Tindall joyfully greeted their third child, Lucas, who was born in 2021.

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David Armstrong-Jones, Snowdon's 2nd Earl -

In addition to his place in the line of succession to the throne, the oldest child of the late Princess Margaret engages in crafting luxury custom furniture, operating under the name David Linley.

Getty Images

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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, Lady Sarah's son, stands next in line for succession according to birth order.

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Arthur Chatto -

The next in the line of succession is his brother, another grand-nephew of Queen Elizabeth II.

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Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester -

Although he may never become the ruler, the cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II remains part of the British throne's succession.

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If King Charles dies first, what will happen to Camilla?

Discover the Queen's destiny

13/12/24 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Royal

Camilla became Queen Consort after Queen Elizabeth II passed away in 2022. On May 6, 2023, she was officially crowned Queen Camilla alongside her husband, King Charles III. But what happens if the king passes away before her? Would Camilla get a new title, and would her duties change? Could she have regency powers?

This gallery answers these questions and more about Queen Camilla's future. Click on to learn more.