King Charles III’s Coronation Invite Unveiled, Camilla Referred As ‘Queen’ For First Time

King Charles III’s wife Camilla, so far known as Queen Consort, has transitioned to the title of Queen. The invitation is the first time that she has been referred to as the Queen.

Buckingham Palace on Wednesday unveiled the royal invitations for the Coronation ceremony of King Charles III and “Queen Camilla” at Westminster Abbey, featuring a floral and leafy pattern to be printed on recycled paper.

King Charles III’s wife Camilla, so far known as Queen Consort, has transitioned to the title of Queen Camilla. The invitation is the first time that the 75-year-old royal family member has been referred to the Queen.

The BBC cited a royal source as saying that it made sense to use “Queen Consort” in the initial part of the new reign as a way of distinguishing her from the late Queen Elizabeth. But from the Coronation it would be an “appropriate time” to officially change to “Queen Camilla”, BBC report mentioned.

The announcement is said to be in line with tradition for the partner of a monarch to be referred to as Queen and that Queen Consort had been used in the aftermath of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II to smooth that transition.

According to news agency PTI, Charles and Camilla will be formally crowned King and Queen next month and an invitation to the grand ceremony is likely to also be extended to President Droupadi Murmu, being one of the Commonwealth Heads of State speculated to be on the guest list for the Coronation.

US President Joe Biden will not be attending the ceremony and the White House has already confirmed that First Lady Jill Biden would be representing the country instead.

Unclear If Harry, Megan Will Attend Coronation

According to the BBC, it is still not clear if the invitation for Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is going to be accepted.

The report mentioned a spokesperson for the California-based couple as saying this week that there was no update on whether they were attending.

Motif Of The Green Man Invitation To Celebrate The New Reign: Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace released a statement mentioning, “The original artwork for the invitation was hand-painted in watercolour and gouache, and the design, which recalls the Coronation Emblem, will be reproduced and printed on recycled card, with gold foil detailing”.

“Central to the design is the motif of the Green Man, an ancient figure from British folklore, symbolic of spring and rebirth, to celebrate the new reign. The shape of the Green Man crowned in natural foliage is formed of leaves of oak, ivy and hawthorn, and the emblematic flowers of the United Kingdom,” it added.

The invitation for the ceremony to formally crown the 74-year-old Charles as monarch has been designed by heraldic artist and manuscript illuminator Andrew Jamieson. He is a Brother of the Art Workers’ Guild, of which King Charles is an Honorary Member.

The British wildflower meadow bordering the invitation design features lily of the valley, cornflowers, wild strawberries, dog roses, bluebells, and a sprig of rosemary for remembrance, together with wildlife including a bee, a butterfly, a ladybird, a wren and a robin.

Flowers appear in groupings of three, signifying the King becoming the third British monarch of his name, the statement highlights.

A lion, a unicorn and a boar – taken from the coats of arms of the new King and Queen – can be seen amongst the flowers. Queen Camilla’s coat of arms is now enclosed by the Garter, following her installation as a Royal Lady of the Order of the Garter last summer, the palace stated.

A new photograph of the King and Queen taken by Hugo Burnand in the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace was also released alongside to mark the occasion.

Coronation Weekend

The palace also revealed that nine-year-old Prince George, second in line to the British throne after his father Prince William, will have a starring role in the grand ceremony at the Abbey as one of his grandfather’s four Pages of Honour, PTI reported.

As per the details unveiled for the Coronation Service on May 6, the royals will each be attended by four Pages of Honour – aged between nine and 13 – who will form part of the procession through the Nave of Westminster Abbey.

The King’s Pages of Honour will be his grandson, His Royal Highness Prince George of Wales, as well as other close relatives and family friends – Lord Oliver Cholmondeley, Master Nicholas Barclay and Master Ralph Tollemache.

The Queen’s Pages of Honour will be her grandsons, Master Gus and Master Louis Lopes and Master Freddy Parker Bowles, and her great-nephew, Master Arthur Elliot.

The Coronation will be marked by a series of grand events over a celebratory long weekend in the UK between May 6 and 8, including much pomp and pageantry and street parties.

Buckingham Palace said it expects tens of thousands of people to visit the UK capital to experience the “unique and historic occasion”, with millions more watching from home, across the UK and around the globe.