Coronation of King Charles III

Welsh by Sir Bryn Terfel CBE. In addition to world leaders – including Justin Trudeau and his wife, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and her daughter Ashley – there was a Papal representative from Rome, which would have been unthinkable in another era since King Henry VIII broke away from Rome, and British Monarchs since then must swear to uphold the Protestant faith. The traditional part of the ceremony is almost part wedding and part baptism, as the monarch is anointed with oil and pledges to uphold the country’s laws and faith.

As someone who grew up in England, I am frequently asked by Americans to explain some of the protocols regarding the British Royal Family.

Camilla is now the queen, as she is married to the king, just like Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, Queen Mary, and Queen Alexandra before her. They were all wives of kings. However, the husband of the late queen was not a king. He was her consort, her partner, as with the kings’ wives, but not the monarch.

Queen Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, became king when his older brother abdicated to marry a twice-divorced American woman. Elizabeth became queen on her father’s death, as she was the oldest child; they had no sons. If she had had a brother, even if he were younger, he would have become king. As we all know from history, King Henry VIII tried desperately and cruelly to have a son and heir, but his daughter Elizabeth I succeeded him. It is said that Queen Elizabeth I didn’t marry because she didn’t want a man to take away her power. That was in the days when the monarch had power. Now there is a constitutional monarchy, a democracy.

The succession laws were changed when William and Katherine married, so that their firstborn child, whether boy or girl, would become the heir; so George is next in line after his father. The male heir to the throne is always called the Prince of Wales and his wife is the Princess of Wales. So those titles have passed from Charles and Camilla to William and Katherine.