Duchess of Cornwall
Encyclopedia
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.
The current Duchess of Cornwall is Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, since her 9 April 2005 marriage to Charles, Prince of Wales
.
Prior to their marriage, the title was normally used only in Cornwall
since customarily the Sovereign's eldest son and heir is created Prince of Wales
and his wife is styled the Princess of Wales
, and it is those names that are typically used to refer to them. In Scotland the couple use the title Duke and Duchess of Rothesay
. Since under current succession law
the title of Duke of Cornwall can only be held by an heir-apparent who is also the eldest son of the monarch, no woman can be Duchess of Cornwall in her own right.
, who, in October 1361, married Edward, the Black Prince
.
Catherine of Aragon
was also Duchess of Cornwall through her marriage to Arthur, Prince of Wales
who was the Duke of Cornwall.
Before the present Duchess, the most recent Duchess of Cornwall was Diana, Princess of Wales
. During this period, she was usually styled Princess of Wales, as have been most Duchesses of Cornwall.
Before Camilla the only Duchesses of Cornwall to be styled as such were Caroline
, wife of the future King George II
, who was styled “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge” from 1 August to 27 September 1714; and Mary
, wife of the future King George V
, who was styled “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall and York” from 22 January to 9 November 1901. In both cases they were known by the title for only a few months between their respective father-in-law's accession to the throne and their husband's creation as Prince of Wales.
even though she holds this title, because it is popularly associated with the former wife of HRH The Prince of Wales the late Diana, Princess of Wales
Duke of Cornwall
The Duchy of Cornwall was the first duchy created in the peerage of England.The present Duke of Cornwall is The Prince of Wales, the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II, the reigning British monarch .-History:...
. Duke of Cornwall is a non-hereditary peerage
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
held by the British Sovereign's
British monarchy
The monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
eldest son and heir.
The current Duchess of Cornwall is Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, since her 9 April 2005 marriage to Charles, Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
.
Prior to their marriage, the title was normally used only in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
since customarily the Sovereign's eldest son and heir is created Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
and his wife is styled the Princess of Wales
Princess of Wales
Princess of Wales is a British courtesy title held by the wife of The Prince of Wales since the first "English" Prince of Wales in 1283.Although there have been considerably more than ten male heirs to the throne, there have been only ten Princesses of Wales. The majority of Princes of Wales...
, and it is those names that are typically used to refer to them. In Scotland the couple use the title Duke and Duchess of Rothesay
Duke of Rothesay
Duke of Rothesay was a title of the heir apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of Scotland before 1707, of the Kingdom of Great Britain from 1707 to 1801, and now of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland....
. Since under current succession law
Succession to the British Throne
Succession to the British throne is governed both by common law and statute. Under common law the crown is currently passed on by male-preference primogeniture. In other words, succession passes first to an individual's sons, in order of birth, and subsequently to daughters, again in order of birth....
the title of Duke of Cornwall can only be held by an heir-apparent who is also the eldest son of the monarch, no woman can be Duchess of Cornwall in her own right.
History
The first Duchess of Cornwall was Joan "The Fair Maid of Kent"Joan of Kent
Joan, Countess of Kent , known to history as The Fair Maid of Kent, was the first English Princess of Wales...
, who, in October 1361, married Edward, the Black Prince
Edward, the Black Prince
Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Prince of Aquitaine, KG was the eldest son of King Edward III of England and his wife Philippa of Hainault as well as father to King Richard II of England....
.
Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon , also known as Katherine or Katharine, was Queen consort of England as the first wife of King Henry VIII of England and Princess of Wales as the wife to Arthur, Prince of Wales...
was also Duchess of Cornwall through her marriage to Arthur, Prince of Wales
Arthur, Prince of Wales
Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales was the first son of King Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York, and therefore, heir to the throne of England. As he predeceased his father, Arthur never became king...
who was the Duke of Cornwall.
Before the present Duchess, the most recent Duchess of Cornwall was Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
. During this period, she was usually styled Princess of Wales, as have been most Duchesses of Cornwall.
Before Camilla the only Duchesses of Cornwall to be styled as such were Caroline
Caroline of Ansbach
Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach was the queen consort of King George II of Great Britain.Her father, John Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, was the ruler of a small German state...
, wife of the future King George II
George II of Great Britain
George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
, who was styled “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge” from 1 August to 27 September 1714; and Mary
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
, wife of the future King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
, who was styled “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall and York” from 22 January to 9 November 1901. In both cases they were known by the title for only a few months between their respective father-in-law's accession to the throne and their husband's creation as Prince of Wales.
HRH The Duchess of Cornwall
Prior to the marriage of HRH The Prince of Wales, and Camilla Parker Bowles, it was stated that she would be styled Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall. She does not use the title Princess of WalesPrincess of Wales
Princess of Wales is a British courtesy title held by the wife of The Prince of Wales since the first "English" Prince of Wales in 1283.Although there have been considerably more than ten male heirs to the throne, there have been only ten Princesses of Wales. The majority of Princes of Wales...
even though she holds this title, because it is popularly associated with the former wife of HRH The Prince of Wales the late Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
Literary references
- ShakespeareWilliam ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's King LearKing LearKing Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The title character descends into madness after foolishly disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all. The play is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological...
includes the character "Regan, Duchess of Cornwall", Lear's second daughter.
- Marion Zimmer BradleyMarion Zimmer BradleyMarion Eleanor Zimmer Bradley was an American author of fantasy novels such as The Mists of Avalon and the Darkover series. Many critics have noted a feminist perspective in her writing. Her first child, David R...
's The Mists of AvalonThe Mists of AvalonThe Mists of Avalon is a 1983 novel by Marion Zimmer Bradley, in which she relates the Arthurian legends from the perspective of the female characters.-Plot introduction:...
included the fictional character MorgaineMorgan le FayMorgan le Fay , alternatively known as Morgane, Morgaine, Morgana and other variants, is a powerful sorceress in the Arthurian legend. Early works featuring Morgan do not elaborate her character beyond her role as a fay or magician...
as the Duchess of Cornwall through inheritance.
- IgraineIgraineIgraine , in Arthurian legend, is the mother of King Arthur. She is also known in Latin as Igerna, in Welsh as Eigyr, in French as Igerne, in Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur as Ygrayne— often modernized as Igraine—and in Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival as Arnive...
, mother of King ArthurKing ArthurKing Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
, was Duchess of Cornwall when she caught the eye of King Uther PendragonUther PendragonUther Pendragon is a legendary king of sub-Roman Britain and the father of King Arthur.A few minor references to Uther appear in Old Welsh poems, but his biography was first written down by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his Historia Regum Britanniae , and Geoffrey's account of the character was used in...
in many retellings of Arthurian legend.