Duchess of Cornwall
From Freepedia
Image:Charles and Camilla.jpg The Duchess of Cornwall is the title held by the wife of the Duke of Cornwall. Duke of Cornwall is a non-hereditary peerage held by the British Sovereign's eldest son and heir. Until recently, the title was not often used outside Cornwall as the Sovereign's eldest son and heir is usually created Prince of Wales, and usually his wife is styled the Princess of Wales. In Scotland the couple use the title Duke and Duchess of Rothesay. Since the title of Duke of Cornwall can only be held by the eldest son of a monarch who is also heir-apparent, no woman can ever be Duchess of Cornwall in her own right.
The first Duchess of Cornwall was Joan "The Fair Maid of Kent", who, in October 1361, married Edward, the Black Prince.
The current Duchess of Cornwall is Camilla, wife of Charles, Prince of Wales since April 9, 2005.
Before Camilla the most recent Duchess of Cornwall had been Diana, Princess of Wales, from her marriage in 1981 to Charles, Prince of Wales until her divorce from him in 1996. During this period, she was more usually styled The Princess of Wales, as have been most Duchesses of Cornwall. Before Camilla the only Duchesses of Cornwall actually to be styled as such were Caroline, wife of the future King George II, and Mary, wife of the future King George V. In both cases they were known by the title for only a few months between their father-in-laws' accession to the throne and their husbands' creation as Prince of Wales.
Prior to the marriage of the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles, it was stated that she would be styled Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall. Exceptionally, she does not use the style Princess of Wales, as she is entitled to do; this is presumably because the former is more associated with the Prince of Wales' first wife, Diana, Princess of Wales. Also, upon Charles' accession to the throne, it is intended that the Duchess of Cornwall will be styled HRH The Princess Consort, rather than the more usual Queen Camilla.
Literary references
- Shakespeare's King Lear includes the character "Regan, Duchess of Cornwall", Lear's second daughter.
- Marion Zimmer Bradley's "The Mists of Avalon" included the fictional character Morgaine as the Duchess of Cornwall through inheritance.
