The Duchess of Cornwall is the title held by the wife of the Duke of Cornwall. The Dukedom of Cornwall was the first Dukedom created in the Peerage of England. Duke of Cornwall is a non-hereditary peerage held by the British Sovereign's eldest son and heir. The Peerage is a system of Titles of Nobility in the United Kingdom, part of the British honours system. TalkCommonewalth realm.--> The monarchy
The current Duchess of Cornwall is the former Camilla Parker-Bowles, since her April 9, 2005 marriage to Charles, Prince of Wales. Events 193 - Septimius Severus is proclaimed Roman Emperor by the army in Illyricum (in the Balkans) Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Until then, 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. Cornwall ( Kernow ˈkɛɹnɔʊ is the most southwesterly county of England, on the Peninsula that lies to the west of the River Tamar Prince of Wales (Tywysog Cymru is a title traditionally granted to the Heir Apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom (and formerly the Kingdom Princess of Wales is a Courtesy title held by the wife of the Prince of Wales since the first "English" Prince of Wales in 1283 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 the eldest son of a monarch who is also heir-apparent, no woman can ever be Duchess of Cornwall in her own right. Succession to the British throne is governed both by Common law and statute
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History
The first Duchess of Cornwall was Joan "The Fair Maid of Kent", who, in October 1361, married Edward, the Black Prince. Joan Countess of Kent ( September 29, 1328 &ndash August 7, 1385) known to history as The Fair Maid of Kent, was the first Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales, KG (15 June 1330 – 8 June 1376 popularly known as The Black Prince, was the eldest son of King Edward
Before the present Duchess, the most recent Duchess of Cornwall had been the late Diana, Princess of Wales, from her marriage in 1981 to Charles, Prince of Wales until their divorce in 1996. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) 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. George II (George Augustus 10 November 1683 &ndash 25 October 1760 was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg ( Mary of Teck (Victoria Mary Augusta Louise Olga Pauline Claudine Agnes 26 May 1867 – 24 March 1953 was the queen-empress consort of George V of the United Kingdom 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.
Camilla
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. She does not use the title Princess of Wales even though she holds this title. Princess of Wales is a Courtesy title held by the wife of the Prince of Wales since the first "English" Prince of Wales in 1283 Perhaps this is due to sensitivity about the former wife of the Prince of Wales, Diana, Princess of Wales. Also, upon Charles' eventual 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. A princess consort is the female equivalent to a Prince consort. This has been deliberately decided well in advance to avoid ruffling public opinion. She may technically become Queen Consort if and when Prince Charles becomes King, but she is unlikely to openly take up the title in any realm. A queen consort is the title given to the wife of a reigning king.
Literary references
- Shakespeare's King Lear includes the character "Regan, Duchess of Cornwall", Lear's second daughter. William Shakespeare ( baptised King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1603 and 1606 and is considered one of his greatest works
- Marion Zimmer Bradley's "The Mists of Avalon" included the fictional character Morgaine as the Duchess of Cornwall through inheritance. Marion Eleanor Zimmer Bradley ( June 3, 1930 – September 25, 1999) was an American author of Fantasy novels such The Mists of Avalon is a 1982 novel by Marion Zimmer Bradley, in which she relates the Arthurian legends from the perspective of the female characters Morgan le Fay, alternatively known as Morgane, Morgain, Morgana and other variants is a powerful sorceress and Antagonist of
See also
External links
A princess consort is the female equivalent to a Prince consort. The Dukedom of Cornwall was the first Dukedom created in the Peerage of England. The Duchy of Cornwall is with the Duchy of Lancaster, one of the two Royal duchies in England.Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic