King Charles III has ascended to the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, aged 96. You can read an obituary to the Queen, who reigned for 70 years, here. You can also follow all the latest updates on this breaking news story here.
Her death means a number of significant changes in Royal titles. Aside from the most obvious transition of Prince Charles becoming King Charles there is also a new title for his wife who until now has been known as the Duchess of Cornwall.
Camilla is, as the wife of the King, the Queen. Her style is now Her Majesty rather than Her Royal Highness. She is a Queen Consort, as was the Queen Mother, rather than a Queen Regnant who rules in her own right, such as Elizabeth II. Ahead of Charles and Camilla’s wedding in 2005 royal aides said Camilla did not want to be Queen and “intended”, when the time came, to be known as Princess Consort instead – a title which has never been used before in British history.
But just a few weeks before their nuptials the government confirmed that legislation would be needed for Camilla not to become Queen automatically on Charles’s accession, no matter what she wished to style herself. Elizabeth II ended years of controversy in February 2022 when she publicly endorsed her daughter-in-law to be known as Queen Consort in her Platinum Jubilee message to the nation.
Charles, who was the Prince of Wales, is now King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He is also King of other Commonwealth realms. His style is His Majesty rather than His Royal Highness. Read his tribute to his mother here.
Charles is also Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England. The monarch has been known by the title Defender of the Faith ever since it was bestowed on Henry VIII as “Fidei Defensor” by the Pope in 1521 for his early support for Roman Catholicism.
When Henry VIII broke from the Catholic Church in 1534 he was named Supreme Head of the Church of England. This was repealed by Mary I but reinstated during the reign of Elizabeth I who was proclaimed Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
In 1994 Charles, a passionate advocate of religious tolerance, caused controversy when he told of his desire to become “Defender of Faith” rather than “Defender of the Faith” when king. But he later indicated in 2015 that he would still be sworn in as Defender of the (Anglican) Faith when he became king. “It always seems to me that while at the same time being Defender of the Faith you can also be protector of faiths,” Charles said.
According to the Privy Council website the new monarch will proclaim an oath at the Accession Council which will begin: “I, (his name as King) by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of my other Realms and Territories King, Defender of the Faith....”
King Charles III is also now the Duke of Lancaster. Revenue from the Duchy of Lancaster – the hereditary landed estate – forms a vital component of the sovereign’s income. Elizabeth II was also the Duke of Lancaster. This is only a custom for sovereigns, rather than a legal title. When Henry V, who held the title before he acceded to the throne in 1413, became king, the dukedom merged with the crown and has not been officially recreated.
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Queen's coffin will lie in state for public to pay their respects
