Why is Camilla being crowned and will she be called ‘Queen’?

Queen Camilla? Technically yes. That’s because if a male sovereign is married when they accede the throne, his wife is traditionally anointed and crowned in a short ceremony.

That takes place after Charles III is crowned and the homages are paid.

On Saturday, Camilla became the 29th Queen Consort to be crowned at Westminster Abbey.

The ceremony

Like her husband, she was anointed with holy oil by the Archbishop of Canterbury, this time without a screen, which demonstrates the different nature of anointing a consort compared to a reigning sovereign.

The Keeper of the Jewel House then presented the Consort’s Ring, which symbolizes promise and commitment, “marrying” her to the King and both to God and their people.

Next, she was crowned with Queen Mary’s Crown, marking the first time in recent history that a new crown wasn’t made specifically for this occasion.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 06: Katy Perry takes selfies with guests during the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 06, 2023 in London, England. The Coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the other Commonwealth realms takes place at Westminster Abbey today. Charles acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022, upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II. Gareth Cattermole/Pool via REUTERS

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Back when Queen Mary paid for the silver crown in 1911, her intention was for it to serve as the permanent crown of future consorts.

Camilla opted to wear Queen Mary’s Crown - a decision made “in the interests of sustainability and efficiency,” the palace said.

However, she made some “minor changes and additions,” the palace added. Specifically, she wanted to honor her late mother-in-law by resetting the crown with some diamonds – the Cullinan III, IV and V – from the Queen’s personal collection.

She was then presented with the Sceptre and Rod before committing herself to life-long service supporting her husband.

Finally, Camilla was enthroned.

This was followed by an original composition by Andrew Lloyd Webber that set verses from Psalm 98 to music.

Why is Camilla called ‘Queen’?

You may have seen that she’s now being titled as “Queen Camilla.”

There’s always been a bit of sensitivity around how Camilla would be titled, particularly whether she would be known as Queen because it had been destined for Charles’ first wife, Diana.

When Camilla wed Charles back in 2005, it was announced that she would be known as “Princess Consort,” despite having a right to the title of Queen.

But Queen Elizabeth II intervened to change that last year before her death.

Britain's King Charles III poses for a portrait in Buckingham Palace's Throne Room dressed in full regalia. He is wearing the Robe of Estate and the Imperial State Crown while holding the Sovereign's Orb and the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross.

A storefront window in London is decorated with framed photographs and a painting of the King on Thursday.

Westminster staff and police take cover from the rain on Friday.

The King meets well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace during a walkabout on Friday.

A royal fan sleeps along the procession route on Friday.

People travel into London on Saturday to be a part of the historic day.

Preparations are made on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

A child has paint applied to his face while waiting for the procession.

Members of the Coldstream Guards march on the procession route before the coronation.

People gather to watch the procession. Showers moved through London on Friday and more rain was expected for Saturday.

People wait on the procession route ahead of the coronation.

Troops march in London ahead of the coronation ceremony.

The King's carriage leaves Buckingham Palace before the coronation.

Order-of-service booklets are seen at Westminster Abbey as guests arrive for the coronation.

Members of the public look out onto Parliament Square ahead of the coronation.

Police officers detain a protester ahead of the King's procession. Several arrests were made Saturday as protesters gathered near the procession route.

A boy watches guards march on the streets in front of Big Ben.

The King and Queen travel in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach as they make their short journey from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey.

People line the procession route in London.

Jill Biden, first lady of the United States, arrives at Westminster Abbey. Biden, who led the US delegation, traveled with her granddaughter Finnegan Biden.

The procession takes place in London before the coronation.

Singer Katy Perry takes a selfie with guests at Westminster Abbey. The coronation guests included celebrities and world leaders.

Royal Navy sailors stand at attention on the Mall in London.

Musicians perform at Westminster Abbey before the coronation ceremony.

Singer Lionel Richie poses for a selfie at Westminster Abbey.

Prince George, second from left, stands with other pages of honor at Westminster Abbey.

Prince Harry, right, arrives at Westminster Abbey along with Princess Beatrice, one of the King's nieces, and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. Harry accepted the invitation to his father's coronation but was without his wife, Meghan, who stayed back in California with the couple's two children.

The King and Queen travel to Westminstger Abbey in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach.

The King is seen near his grandson Prince George, one of his pages of honor.

Prince Harry enters Westminster Abbey.

Former British prime ministers Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss sit with their partners.

Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte, two of the King's grandchildren, arrive for the coronation.

Prince William, Harry's brother, and Catherine, the Princess of Wales, arrive for the coronation with Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte.

The King enters Westminster Abbey for his coronation.

The King arrives at Westminster Abbey for his coronation.

People watch the ceremony on a screen in Hyde Park.

The King and Queen entered the Abbey to the strains of "I was glad," the stirring coronation anthem written by Hubert Parry for the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902. It has been sung at all coronations since then.

The King and Queen take part in the coronation ceremony.

Prince Harry looks around Westminster Abbey from his spot in the third row. He is a non-working royal and did not perform any duties during the ceremony.

An anointing screen is erected for King Charles III at the coronation ceremony. The most sacred part of the service — the anointing — took place behind the screen.

The King places his hands on the Coronation Bible as he takes the Coronation Oath.

Guests watch the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

The St. Edward's Crown is carried inside Westminster Abbey.

The King holds a sword during the ceremony.

Prince Louis points out something to his sister, Princess Charlotte, during the ceremony. They are flanked by their parents, Prince William and Catherine, the Princess of Wales.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby places the St. Edward's Crown onto the head of the King.

Royal fan Ben Weller reacts as he watches the coronation on a screen in London's Hyde Park.

This was the only time Charles will ever wear St. Edward's Crown, as it is reserved for the coronation of a new monarch.

The King wears the St. Edward's Crown during his coronation.

The King's son Prince William, the heir apparent to the throne, kisses his father on the cheek during the ceremony.

British lawmaker Penny Mordaunt carries the Sword of State during the coronation. She was involved in the ceremony because as the current Leader of the House of Commons, she is also the Lord President of the Privy Council — a body formed of senior politicians who act as the monarch's official advisers.

People in London's Piccadilly Circus walk past a giant screen showing an image of the King during the coronation ceremony.

The Queen receives her own coronation. She wore the Queen Mary's Crown.

Charles and Camilla walk out of Westminster Abbey.

The King greets multifaith leaders on his way out of Westminster Abbey.

The Queen walks toward the Gold State Coach after leaving Westminster Abbey.

Prince Harry leaves Westminster Abbey after the ceremony. He did not join members of his family to ride in an impressive procession back to the palace. Instead, he got into a car alone and departed the abbey shortly after the service had ended.

Troops march in London for the King's coronation. On their way back to Buckingham Palace, the King and Queen were accompanied by a huge parade of soldiers, musicians and horses.

The King and Queen travel to Buckingham Palace in the Gold State Coach after the ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

The Gold State Coach carries the King and Queen back to Buckingham Palace.

A horse, apparently spooked, rears back into a crowd and crashes into a barrier during the procession. The animal was quickly brought back under control.

Prince William heads back to Buckingham Palace with Catherine and their three children: Louis, George and Charlotte.

Military groups take part in the parade from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace.

The procession passes anti-monarchy protesters.

The Gold State Coach that carried the King and Queen is incredibly heavy, weighing 4 tons. Because of its weight, it can travel only at a walking pace.

The King and Queen arrive at the palace to receive a royal salute from members of the military.

The King and Queen appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony with various members of the royal family following their coronation.

The Red Arrows, the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force, fly over Buckingham Palace as members of the public watch nearby.

Some members of the royal family appear on the palace balcony after the coronation. From left are Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh; Princess Charlotte; Princess Anne; Catherine, Princess of Wales; Prince Louis; Prince William; and Oliver Cholmondeley.

The crowd outside Buckingham Palace watches the Red Arrows fly by as the royals stand on the balcony.

The King's eldest grandson, Prince George, stands on the palace balcony between two other boys who like him served as pages of honor for the coronation: Oliver Cholmondeley, left, and Nicholas Barclay.

The King and Queen wave to people from the palace balcony.

The King and Queen look at each other on the balcony. They gave an encore wave to the crowd after initially going back inside.

The King and Queen pose for a portrait flanked by "working royals" — members of the family who carry out official duties on behalf of the monarch.

Musicians play while people take part in the "Coronation Big Lunch" in London on Sunday. Thousands of community events took place across the country to commemorate the King's coronation.

US first lady Jill Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speak during a "Coronation Big Lunch" event on Downing Street.

Sylvia Daw leaves her cottage to celebrate in Alfriston, England.

Princess Anne, the King's sister, presents a young girl with a commemorative tin of old coins during celebrations in Swindon, England.

The crowd inside the Windsor Castle grounds waves flags as Sunday's "Coronation Concert" gets underway.

A child sleeps on a makeshift throne at a street party in London's Brixton district.

Lionel Richie performs on the castle grounds. He performed his hit songs "Easy" and "All Night Long (All Night)."

Katy Perry dedicated her song "Firework" to King Charles.

From left, Prince William, Queen Camilla, King Charles and Baroness Patricia Scotland attend the concert.

Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen of '90s British pop group Take That perform backed by military drummers.

Prince William speaks on stage. "I want to say a few words about my father, and why I believe this weekend is so important," he said. "But don't worry, unlike Lionel, I won't go on all night long."

The Blackpool Tower in England is illuminated to mark the King's coronation.

In pictures: The coronation of King Charles III

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Many wives of a sitting monarch have often been titled as Queen, with the most recent example being Elizabeth II’s mother, Queen Elizabeth.

Charles became King following the death of his mother in September.

But the first time we saw his wife titled as “Queen Camilla” was in the elaborate coronation invitations sent out to esteemed VIPs.

So why hasn’t the changeover happened until now?

A royal source told CNN last month that the coronation was an appropriate time to start the transition of titles.

“It made sense to refer to Her Majesty as the Queen Consort in the early months of His Majesty’s reign, to distinguish from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” the source added.

“The coronation is an appropriate time to start using ‘Queen Camilla’ in an official capacity,” the royal source said. “All former Queen Consorts have been known as ‘Queen’ plus their first name.”