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The Queen Consort will be by the King’s side when he is formally crowned next year.

Camilla will also be anointed and crowned during the ceremony for King Charles III at Westminster Abbey on 6 May 2023.

What will happen at the King’s coronation?

While plans for his investiture have been in place since his mother’s coronation in 1953, her part was only confirmed when during her Platinum Jubilee the Queen declared Camilla would be known as Queen Consort on King Charles’s accession.

Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla wave to people after viewing the  tributes at Hillsborough Castle, following the death of Queen Elizabeth, at Royal Hillsborough, Northern Ireland, September 13, 2022. REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff

‘A similar, but simpler ceremony’

Following the King’s six-part coronation ceremony, the Queen Consort will have her own one.

According to the Royal Family’s website: “A Queen Consort is crowned with the King, in a similar, but simpler ceremony.”

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The last Queen Consort to be crowned was the Queen Mother alongside King George VI in 1937.

The Archbishop of Canterbury anointed her head with holy oil – a ritual also carried out with the monarch.

The Queen’s ring was then placed on her hand, her crown on her head, before she was presented with a sceptre and an ivory rod.

It ended with her bowing “reverently” to her husband.

Camilla will also be anointed with holy oil and crowned.

Why is Camilla Queen Consort?

File photo dated 09/04/2005 of Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, and Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall, leave St George's Chapel, Windsor, following the blessing of their wedding. The Queen has used her Platinum Jubilee message to the nation to back the Duchess of Cornwall as Queen Camilla, shaping the future of the monarchy on her historic milestone. Issue date: Sunday February 6, 2022.

When the King and Queen Consort married in 2005 – eight years after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales – she let it be known that she intended to use the title “princess consort”. It would be a first in the history of the British monarchy.

The decision was seen as an acknowledgment that the public was finding it difficult to accept her new role, after years of speculation in the media over their affair, the bitter divorce of Charles and Diana, and Diana’s death in 1997.

For the same reason, upon marrying King Charles, who was Prince of Wales at the time, she decided not to use the Princess of Wales title, which had been used by Diana.

Instead, she chose the Duchess of Cornwall, styling herself on her husband’s other title the Duke of Cornwall, which is always given to the heir presumptive.

Reflecting on the negative press she received during that period, in an interview with British Vogue, Camilla admitted it “wasn’t easy”.

“I was scrutinised for such a long time that you just have to find a way to live with it,” she said.

“Nobody likes to be looked at all the time and, you know, criticised… but I think in the end, I sort of rise above it and get on with it.”

Civil wedding

Britain's Prince Charles, and his bride Camilla  Duchess of Cornwall, at front centre, with the Duke of Edinburgh, front right, with other members of the Royal Family as they  leave St George's Chapel in Windsor, England following the church blessing of their civil wedding ceremony, Saturday, April 9, 2005. The members of the Royal Family  standing behind Prince Charles and the Duchess are from left, Princess Eugenie, Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice, Princess Anne, Peter Phillips. Prince Harry,

At the time, there were also legal questions surrounding the validity of the couple’s civil wedding – which might have added to the decision to opt for princess consort.

They married in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall. But under the Marriage Acts 1753 the only type of marriage valid for a member of the Royal Family is a religious one.

In 2005, the Lord Chancellor sought to defend the validity of their marriage, but Palace aides feared that breaking precedent could have meant more unwanted legal challenges over other titles in the future.

Princess Consort or Queen Consort?

According to common law, wives of kings are known as queen consorts, but the husbands of queens only prince consorts.

As a result, the Duke of Edinburgh was known as Prince Philip – and not given the title of King when he married the Queen.

He did not have his own coronation, but ‘paid homage’ to his wife during her ceremony instead.

Camilla becomes more popular

The Duchess of Cornwall meets members of the public during a visit to Lincoln Farmers Market in Christchurch, on the seventh day of the royal visit to New Zealand.

After the wedding, Camilla’s popularity started to grow – and so did calls by her supporters to make her Queen Consort.

A YouGov poll carried out in late 2021 ranked her as the 10th most popular royal, beating Prince Andrew, whose popularity plummeted due to his association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

Royal author Penny Junor said: “The problem with Camilla was that she was involved with the Prince of Wales and was what Diana famously called the third person in the marriage.”

But she added: “When she then married him, she was out and about and people met her. They realised that actually, she wasn’t this ghastly woman, a rottweiler, she was actually very nice.

“She’s funny, she’s warm, she’s friendly, she’s self-deprecating, she’s interested in other people.”

Royal observers also noted she took on more responsibilities after Andrew, Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties.

The King is long thought to have favoured the title of Queen Consort. According to Sky News royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills, while the issue hadn’t occupied his mind “on a weekly basis”, it was nonetheless “something he wanted addressed”.

The debate over Camilla’s title could have also acted as an unwelcome distraction at the start of his reign, she adds.

Queen’s Jubilee statement ended years of uncertainty

Queen Elizabeth II (left) and Duchess of Cornwall during the royal procession during day two of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse.

In February 2022, as her Platinum Jubilee celebrations got under way, the Queen surprised the nation by announcing that Camilla would be known as Queen Consort when Charles III took the throne.

She said in a statement: “When, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when the time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.”

This effectively put an end to nearly two decades of uncertainty over her position within the Royal Family.

It also served as a way to thank Camilla for years of royal duties – and as recognition the public had warmed to her in that time.

Rhiannon Mills commented: “The Queen clearly wanted to use this opportunity to thank Camilla who over the past 17 years has rolled her sleeves up, embraced the sometimes less glamorous royal engagements and in Her Majesty’s eyes shown herself to be a worthy future consort, in the mould of Prince Philip and the Queen Mother.”

What will her role be?

The Duchess of Cornwall, Patron of BookTrust, reading to schoolchildren during her visit to Griffin Primary School, Nine Elms, London, with Waterstones Children's Laureate, Cressida Cowell (right) to open the new 'Life-changing Library'. Picture date: Tuesday June 21, 2021.

The Queen Consort has taken on a number of causes in recent years, such as raising awareness of domestic violence, sexual abuse or illiteracy.

But royal observers say her main role will be supporting the new King.

“She is to Charles what Prince Philip was to Elizabeth. She is not in competition with him. She is there purely to support him,” said Ms Junor, the royal author.

In her 2022 British Vogue interview Camilla said that balancing her marriage to Charles with their royal work “is not easy sometimes”, but the couple always make sure to “sit down together and have a cup of tea and discuss the day”.

Constitutional expert Craig Prescott described her as the King’s “secret weapon, or not so secret weapon”.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, during a visit to St MaryÕs Quayside, on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly. Picture date: Tuesday July 20, 2021.

He said: “She has become sort of one of the more interesting members of the Royal Family, taking up interest in causes, domestic violence, the importance of childhood reading, the importance of live theatre during the pandemic, and sort of the need to speak up for the creative industries.

“Despite the difficulty she had in the 90s with the media, she seems very open, very relaxed – and that might be sort of actually the model that the monarchy will take in the future.”

Sir Peter Westmacott, former deputy private secretary of King Charles, also noted the strong bond in the royal couple.

“She has made such a difference to his life all this time. He adores her and vice versa,” he said.

“It is an invaluable partnership.”

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Man shot dead by armed police at Milton Keynes railway station

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Man shot dead by armed police at Milton Keynes railway station

A man has been shot dead by police at Milton Keynes railway station.

Officers from Thames Valley Police and British Transport Police were called to reports of a man carrying a firearm at the station at 12.55pm on Tuesday.

Thames Valley Police (TVP) said its armed officers responded and challenged the man before firing shots.

Despite attempts to save the man, he was pronounced dead at 1.44pm.

Police say they do not believe there is any further risk to the public.

The shots were fired in the station square outside the building and police have put a cordon in place around the area.

A few entrances to the building have been closed off, but London Northwestern Railway said there has been no impact on services.

It warned passengers there is reduced access to the front of the station as emergency services remain at the scene.

Pic: PA
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Forensic experts outside the station. Pic: PA

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has said TVP had referred the incident to the watchdog.

A spokesperson said it had begun an independent probe into the shooting, adding it was “notified by TVP shortly after the incident” and that IOPC investigators have been sent to the station.

The spokesperson added: “Our thoughts are with the family of the man who died and all those who have been affected by this incident.

“Our role in these circumstances is to independently investigate all of the circumstances surrounding this incident including the actions and decisions taken by the police.

“We declared an independent investigation at 2.26pm. It is in its very early stages and no further information is available at this time.”

As of 5pm on Tuesday, a large plastic barrier was erected outside the exit to the station, with an officer standing guard.

Emily Darlington, Milton Keynes Central MP, said: “I was shocked to hear of the events outside Milton Keynes Central Station today. My thoughts are with everybody affected, and I am grateful for the swift action taken by the emergency services to keep the public safe.”

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Sir Keir Starmer says US-UK trade talks ‘well advanced’ and rejects ‘knee-jerk’ response to Donald Trump tariffs

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Sir Keir Starmer says US-UK trade talks 'well advanced' and rejects 'knee-jerk' response to Donald Trump tariffs

Sir Keir Starmer has said US-UK trade talks are “well advanced” ahead of tariffs expected to be imposed by Donald Trump on the UK this week – but rejected a “knee-jerk” response.

Speaking to Sky News political editor Beth Rigby, the prime minister said the UK is “working hard on an economic deal” with the US and said “rapid progress” has been made on it ahead of tariffs expected to be imposed on Wednesday.

But, he admitted: “Look, the likelihood is there will be tariffs. Nobody welcomes that, nobody wants a trade war.

“But I have to act in the national interest and that means all options have to remain on the table.”

Politics latest: Ministers hail ‘huge’ minimum wage boost as bills rise

Sir Keir added: “We are discussing economic deals. We’re well advanced.

“These would normally take months or years, and in a matter of weeks, we’ve got well advanced in those discussions, so I think that a calm approach, a collected approach, not a knee-jerk approach, is what’s needed in the best interests of our country.”

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Keir Starmer

Downing Street said on Monday the UK is expecting to be hit by new US tariffs on Wednesday – branded “liberation day” by the US president – as a deal to exempt British goods would not be reached in time.

A 25% levy on car and car parts had already been announced but the new tariffs are expected to cover all exports to the US.

Jonathan Reynolds, the business and trade secretary, earlier told Sky News he is “hopeful” the tariffs can be reversed soon.

But he warned: “The longer we don’t have a potential resolution, the more we will have to consider our own position in relation to [tariffs], precluding retaliatory tariffs.”

He added the government was taking a “calm-headed” approach in the hope a deal can be agreed but said it is only “reasonable” retaliatory tariffs are an option, echoing Sir Keir’s sentiments over the weekend.

Read more:
Why a figure of 48% is important as Trump tariffs near
Starmer and Trump discuss US-UK ‘prosperity’ deal

Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One. Pic: Reuters
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Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday. Pic: Reuters

Tariff announcement on Wednesday

Mr Trump has been threatening tariffs – import taxes – on countries with the biggest trade imbalances with the US.

However, over the weekend, he suggested the tariffs would hit all countries, but did not name them or reveal which industries would be targeted.

Read more: How Trump’s tariffs could affect the UK

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‘Everything on table over US tariffs’

Mr Trump will unveil his tariff plan on Wednesday afternoon at the first Rose Garden news conference of his second term, the White House press secretary said.

“Wednesday, it will be Liberation Day in America, as President Trump has so proudly dubbed it,” Karoline Leavitt said.

“The president will be announcing a tariff plan that will roll back the unfair trade practices that have been ripping off our country for decades. He’s doing this in the best interest of the American worker.”

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Trump’s tariffs: What can we expect?

Tariffs would cut UK economy by 1%

UK government forecaster the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) said a 20 percentage point increase in tariffs on UK goods and services would cut the size of the British economy by 1% and force tax rises this autumn.

Global markets remained flat or down on Monday in anticipation of the tariffs, with the FTSE 100 stock exchange trading about 1.3% lower on Monday, closing with a 0.9% loss.

On Wall Street, the S&P 500 rose 0.6% after a volatile day which saw it down as much as 1.7% in the morning.

However, the FTSE 100 is expected to open about 0.4% higher on Tuesday, while Asian markets also steadied, with Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 broadly unchanged after a 4% slump yesterday.

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What are Donald Trump’s tariffs, what is ‘liberation day’ and how does it all affect the UK?

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What are Donald Trump's tariffs, what is 'liberation day' and how does it all affect the UK?

If there is a word that has dominated Donald Trump’s second term, it’s tariffs. 

Aluminium, steel, cars and champagne have all been in his firing line, while China, Canada and Mexico are the countries targeted with the heaviest costs.

Along the way, there have been threats, pauses and postponements.

So what are tariffs, what is in the pipeline – and what could all this mean for the UK?

What are tariffs and why is Trump threatening to use them?

Tariffs are taxes on goods imported into the US.

It is the importers buying the goods who pay the tariffs – therefore, American companies.

Ultimately, the intent is to protect US manufacturing and bolster jobs by making foreign-made products less attractive.

However, there is a knock-on effect: to compensate for tariffs, companies put up their prices, so customers end up paying more for goods.

Tariffs can also damage foreign countries as they make their products pricier and harder to sell.

In his second term, Mr Trump has frequently used them – or the threat of them – as a trade weapon.

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Trump’s tariffs: What can we expect?

They are a key part of Mr Trump’s efforts to reshape global trade relations, and he plans to impose a swathe of what he calls “reciprocal” taxes that would match tariffs levied by other nations.

Tariffs were also part of his playbook in his first term, when he imposed taxes on most goods coming from China and used them as a bargaining chip to force Canada and Mexico to renegotiate a North American trade pact.

On his first day back in office, the US president promised 25% tariffs on all products coming into the US from its nearest neighbours Mexico and Canada – ostensibly to force the countries to tackle illegal migration and fentanyl crossing the border.

What is liberation day?

Mr Trump has branded 2 April “liberation day”, when he could unveil the reciprocal tariffs on countries deemed to be giving the US a bad deal on trade.

The extent of potential tariffs and countries affected remains unclear, with Mr Trump at times sending mixed messages.

On 30 March, he said “all countries” could expect to be hit by tariffs.

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What is Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’?

Speaking from Air Force One, the US president rubbished a question from a reporter who asked whether it was true he was planning on targeting between 10 and 15 countries.

“Who told you 10-15 countries? You didn’t hear it from me,” he said.

When pressed on how many he was planning to hit, he said: “You’d start with all countries, let’s see what happens.”

Two days prior, he said he was open to carving out deals with countries seeking to avoid US tariffs, but that those agreements would be negotiated after 2 April.

He had previously said he “may give a lot of countries breaks, but it’s reciprocal”, adding: “We might be even nicer than that.”

How could the UK be affected?

The UK hopes an economic deal with the US will spare the country from some of the tariffs.

Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Trump have had “productive negotiations” towards a UK-US “economic prosperity deal”, Downing Street has said.

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‘Everything on table over US tariffs’

The two leaders discussed a possible deal in a phone call on Sunday and agreed negotiations will “continue at pace”, according to a statement released on Sunday 30 March.

The day before the so-called “liberation day”, Sir Keir told Sky News political editor Beth Rigby the UK was “working hard on an economic deal” with the US and said “rapid progress” has been made.

But, he admitted: “Look, the likelihood is there will be tariffs. Nobody welcomes that, nobody wants a trade war.

“But I have to act in the national interest and that means all options have to remain on the table.”

Sir Keir added: “We are discussing economic deals. We’re well advanced.

“These would normally take months or years, and in a matter of weeks, we’ve got well advanced in those discussions, so I think that a calm approach, a collected approach, not a knee-jerk approach, is what’s needed in the best interests of our country.”

Mr Trump has not explicitly said the UK is in his sights for further tariffs.

Data shows no great trade imbalances – the gap between what you import and export from a certain country – and UK figures show no trade deficit with the United States.

UK ministers have previously suggested this could be good news for avoiding new levies.

But the tariffs Mr Trump has already announced would have a big impact on the UK – particularly the car tariff.

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Business secretary hopes Trump tariffs will be ‘reversed in weeks or months’

Jonathan Reynolds, the business and trade secretary, earlier told Sky News he is “hopeful” the tariffs can be reversed soon.

But he warned: “The longer we don’t have a potential resolution, the more we will have to consider our own position in relation to [tariffs], precluding retaliatory tariffs.”

He added the government was taking a “calm-headed” approach in the hope a deal can be agreed, but said it is only “reasonable” that retaliatory tariffs are an option, echoing Sir Keir’s sentiments over the weekend.

What tariffs have already been announced?

Some tariffs have already come into effect, while Mr Trump has confirmed some that will come in on 2 April.

He has said a 25% tariff on all cars imported to the US will come into effect, with a similar tariff on car parts expected to follow in May.

This could prove even more complicated for American car makers, who source components from around the world even if the vehicle is made in the US.

Trump tariffs teaser for SEO liberation day explainer

But Mr Trump has insisted the move will “continue to spur growth”, pointing to plans from Hyundai – the South Korean car maker – to build a $5.8bn (£4.5bn) steel plant in Louisiana.

The tariff could have a huge impact on the UK’s car industry, including on manufacturers such as Jaguar Land Rover, Aston Martin and Rolls-Royce.

Official data shows the US is the UK car sector’s largest single market by country, accounting for £6.4bn worth of car exports in 2023 – 18.4% of the total.

Trump has also said he will place a 25% tariff on all imports from any country that buys oil or gas from Venezuela, which includes the US itself – in addition to imposing new tariffs on the South American country.

On 12 March, a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminium imports to the US came into effect, affecting UK products worth hundreds of millions of pounds.

The move came after he placed a 10% tax on all imports from China, which he later doubled to 20%.

He placed 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, but paused them for a month two days after they came into effect, meaning they are set to resume on 2 April.

The pause did not fully cover a tariff of 10% on Canadian energy products.

What has been the global response to tariffs?

There has widely been condemnation of the tariffs, especially from countries worst affected like Mexico and Canada.

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Canadian PM: ‘Tariffs are an attack’

Some have imposed, or threatened to impose, retaliatory tariffs.

China has already hit back with retaliatory tariffs covering a range of US goods, including a 15% tariff on coal and liquefied natural gas products, a 10% tariff on US crude oil and tariffs of up to 15% on key US farm exports.

Canada imposed tariffs of its own on US products, including a 25% reciprocal tariff on US steel and aluminium products and tariffs worth an estimated C$29.8bn (£16bn) on a wide range of US products including orange juice, peanut butter, alcohol, coffee and clothing.

Read more on tariffs:
It may be harder for the UK to trump metals tariffs
Stock markets tumble as Trump tariffs loom

The European Union has said it will impose retaliatory tariffs on the US, but when they will come into force is unknown.

The European Commission initially threatened to impose “countermeasures” affecting €26bn (£21.9bn) of US goods from 1 April, but later delayed this until the middle of April.

The bloc said the delay was because it wanted “additional time for discussions” with the US after Mr Trump threatened a 200% tariff on EU alcohol – including wine and champagne – if the bloc imposed duties on US whiskey.

Any tariffs imposed by the bloc would not only impact US steel and aluminium products, but also textiles, home appliances, agricultural goods and whiskey.

Why tariffs could cost you – even if Trump spares UK

Even if no tariffs are put on all UK exports to the US, consumers globally will still be impacted by the wider trade war, particularly in the US.

Economists believe that tariffs will raise costs in the US, sparking a wave of inflation that will keep interest rates higher for longer. The US central bank, the Federal Reserve, is mandated to act to bring inflation down.

More expensive borrowing and costlier goods and services could bring about an economic downturn in the US and have knock-on effects in the UK.

Forecasts from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) predict lower UK economic growth due to higher global interest rates.

It estimated that UK GDP (a measure of everything produced in the economy) could be between 2.5% and 3% lower over five years and 0.7% lower this year.

The Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy thinktank said a 20% across-the-board tariff, impacting the UK, could lead to a £22bn reduction in the UK’s US exports, with the hardest-hit sectors including fishing and mining.

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