The title Queen Camilla has been used for the first time in an official capacity, appearing on invitations for the King’s coronation.
Camilla had been referred to as Queen Consort since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, but is named as Queen Camilla alongside King Charles III on the invites due to be sent to more than 2,000 guests.
The move marks the incredible journey of Camilla over more than five decades, from romantic involvement, to mistress and finally wife of the King – and will end with her formally being crowned Queen alongside the new King.
Future king Prince George will play an important role in the coronation of his grandfather alongside seven schoolboys and girls, with all been named as Pages of Honour who will ‘attend their majesties during the coronation service’.
The group are either family friends or close relatives of Charles and Camilla, including three of the Queen’s grandchildren, and will be expected to carry the robes of prominent figures during the day.
A new portrait of King Charles and the Queen Consort has been released as the invitation to the Coronation was unveiled
With the coronation almost a month away, a new double portrait of the King and Queen has been released showing them smiling in Buckingham Palace’s blue drawing room.
A royal source said: ‘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.
‘Queen Camilla’ is the appropriate title to set against ‘King Charles’ on the invitation. The coronation is an appropriate time to start using ‘Queen Camilla’ in an official capacity. All former Queen Consorts have been known as ‘Queen’ plus their first name.’
The invitation was printed on recycled card and elaborately decorated with foliage in a design by heraldic artist and manuscript illuminator Andrew Jamieson, a Brother of the Art Workers’ Guild which the King is an Honorary Member.
It reads: ‘The Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III & Queen Camilla – By Command of the King the Earl Marshall is directed to invite…to be present at the Abbey Church of Westminster on 6th day of May 2023.’
It comes after the first official portrait of King Charles III has been unveiled in London.
In a touching nod to the monarch’s late mother, it was painted in oils by artist Alastair Barford, a former QEST – Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust – scholar, who attended the official unveiling of his work.
The stunning invitation for the event has been unveiled, alongside a new portrait of the King and the Queen Consort at Buckingham Palace
The portrait was commissioned by the Illustrated London News and will feature on the front cover of its special Coronation Edition.
Mr Barford – who also painted Queen Elizabeth II in 2015 – had just two weeks to complete the likeness.
While His Majesty did not sit for the portrait, Mr Barford was able to study him at work at a Buckingham Palace reception in February held in support of global biodiversity, working from his photographs and sketches of the occasion.
The bracelet on His Majesty’s wrist was presented to The King by the Amazonian leader Domingo Peas and was included to give the portrait context and authenticity, a symbol of The King’s advocacy on climate change and sustainability.
Mr Barford previously said: ‘It was a terrifying honour. It’s a great responsibility to create a portrait of someone who means so much to so many people.
The artist told The Times that it was important for him to capture the ‘warmth and sensitivity’ of the monarch and the ’empathy which came across in his interactions’.
Mr Barford, who is from Bridgeport in Dorset and studied painting in Florence, birthplace of painters including Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, said he wanted to picture the King with a ‘sympathetic expression’.
Lisa Barnard, Chief Executive of Illustrated London News, said: ‘Illustrated London News has had a long tradition, dating back to 1842, of commissioning royal portraits for Coronation and Jubilee editions.
‘It is the first painting of The King where the artist has been able to observe the Monarch first hand. We are grateful for the Palace’s support in making this happen.’
It comes as British stamps will feature the King’s profile from today, but the late Queen’s image is set to remain on our post for some time.
Reports have suggested the King has gone to extreme lengths to get a good sleep the night before the coronation by setting himself a 6pm curfew.
The monarch who will be officially crowned King on May 6 with the ceremony broadcast around the world, will be spending the evening of May 5 getting some much-needed rest.
Reports suggest the King has informed his royal aides he will not carry out any official duties past 6pm on May 5 so he can be as rested as possible for the celebrations the following day.
With ‘partying’ off the table, sources have claimed the King’s attitude to the coronation plans is ‘quite sensible’, with the King typically being a ‘workaholic’. However, there will be some goings-on at Buckingham Palace that evening.
And with a huge day of celebrations lined up including the ceremony at Westminster Abbey and a concert, the monarch will surely need to be well rested ahead of the day.
A source told the Telegraph: ‘[The King] doesn’t want to do anything in the evening in case it tires him out. There will be no partying.’
Although he is planning on having something of an early night, the King will host a reception for Commonwealth leaders on May 5 during the day, and Buckingham Palace will host a dinner for leaders in the evening.
As the King prepares for a scaled-back coronation compared to Queen Elizabeth’s ceremony hosting 8,000 guests at Westminster Abbey in 1953, it has been decided that there will not be a Commonwealth banquet held the night before the big day.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association said that ‘what was appropriate then will not necessarily be appropriate now’.
It has also been reported that, for the ceremony itself, His Majesty will shun royal garb for military dress in a bid to update the occasion. It is also thought that, as he presents himself as the ‘people’s king’, Charles will champion refugees, diversity and volunteering.
Following the ceremony at Westminster Abbey, a procession will then lead the newly-crowned King past thousands of people who will line the streets to Buckingham Palace, where he will then join members of his family on the balcony to wave at the masses.
The next day Windsor Castle is set to host a concert which will be televised around the world, with thousands of street parties earlier in the afternoon as people gather to celebrate the occasion. This will be followed by a Bank Holiday on Monday, with millions of people set to get a day off work.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to line the streets for the once in a generation coronation procession, with the Firm hoping the crowds will rival those seen for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September.
The ceremony at Westminster Abbey will be preceded by a procession from Buckingham Palace to the abbey.
The path will be lined by members of the armed forces including sailors, soldiers and airmen and women.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to take part in the procession, possibly with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, along with their children Archie and Lilibet, may also feature.
The Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Royal are expected to take part as Prince Charles’ siblings. It is thought Prince Andrew may also play a role – although it is unknown whether he will be able to wear military uniform, as he and Harry are no longer working royals.
In a break with tradition, Queen Consort Camilla will be crowned alongside her husband by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
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