The Duchess of Cornwall will wear a priceless crown that belonged to the Queen Mother when Prince Charles is made king, it has been revealed.
Camilla will be presented with a platinum and diamond crown created for the coronation of King George VI, the Queen’s father, in 1937.
The stunning piece of headwear is encrusted with 2,800 diamonds including the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond – one of the largest cut stones in the world weighing 105 carats.
The dazzling stone was given to Queen Victoria in 1856 by the Sultan of Turkey to express his thanks for British support during the Crimean war.
The crown, which weighs more than 500g, is currently on display at the Tower of London but will be placed on the Duchess of Cornwall’s head for the coronation.
The Queen, who has become the first British monarch in history to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee, declared it was her ‘sincere wish’ for Camilla to become Queen Consort when her son ascends to the throne.
But Her Majesty is said to have granted her eldest son permission to include ‘Queen Camilla’ in his coronation vows up to five years ago, the Daily Mail reports.
The inclusion of his wife’s title is part of a ‘general re-working’ of plans ahead of a ceremony at Westminster Abbey, according to senior Buckingham Palace sources, who suggested it had been a ‘done deal for some time’.
The honour is a U-turn after Camilla took the lesser title of Princess Consort when she married Charles 17 years ago in 2005.
The decision was made amid concerns The Duchess of Cornwall had been portrayed as a villain over her role in the break-up of Prince Charles’ marriage to Princess Diana.
Follow Metro.co.uk’s live blog for the latest updates, and sign Metro.co.uk’s book of condolence to Her Majesty here.
Diana’s former butler, Paul Burrell, told ITV’s Lorraine how Camilla had a ‘remarkable transition’ from ‘public enemy number one’ to being ‘queen in waiting’.
But he remains devoted to the late Princess of Wales, as he vowed: ‘I can’t forget’.
Prince Charles, 73, yesterday described how ‘darling wife’ Camilla, 74, had been his ‘steadfast support throughout’ and said the couple are ‘deeply conscious of the honour represented’ by his mother’s wish.
A royal source said of the decision to include Camilla in Charles’ coronation vows: ‘The question has been how best to execute it. You are not going to please everyone.
‘This is something that has been on the Prince of Wales’ mind for some time, but the timing had to be right. There was a nervousness, they wanted to get it right.
‘They understand that some people still won’t be happy, but the family believe it is the right thing to do.’
Camilla has proved to be ‘incredibly good support’ not only for Charles but also the Queen, ‘who she has become very close to’, according to Queen’s former press secretary, Dickie Arbiter.
Now Her Majesty is ‘tying up loose ends’ by promoting Camilla to Queen Consort, Mr Arbiter said.
The monarch used her milestone anniversary to declare her daughter-in-law should be fully acknowledged when Charles succeeds her.
The Queen wrote: ‘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.’
Paying tribute to the monarch, 95, her eldest son said: ‘On this historic day, my wife and I join you all in congratulating Her Majesty The Queen on the remarkable achievement of serving this nation, the realms and Commonwealth for seventy years.’
The Queen is the nation’s longest reigning monarch as well as the longest still-serving sovereign in the world.
King George VI died aged 56 at royal residence Sandringham in Norfolk on February 6, 1952 – which saw his eldest daughter Elizabeth become Queen at just 25.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
Not convinced? Find out more »
Get us in your feed