Why Carole Middleton will never be called Queen Mother
As the eldest son of King Charles, Prince William is currently first in line to the British throne meaning that one day, his adoring wife, Princess Kate, will become his Queen Consort.
Kate's mother, Carole Middleton, has been incredibly involved in royal life in support of her daughter. She and her husband, Michael Middleton, are often spotted at royal events as well as being exceptionally hands-on grandparents to Prince George,Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
There has previously been a call for Carole and Michael to receive their own royal titles and while that would be an unprecedented move, it does beg the question of whether Carole will be referred to as Queen Mother.
Our online royal correspondent, Danielle Stacey, has weighed in. "Typically, the title Queen Mother is reserved for the mother of the current monarch. It's used to distinguish a queen dowager from all other queens when she is also the mother of the reigning monarch, such as in the case of the late Queen Elizabeth II's mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, when her husband King George VI died in 1952. But there is no male equivalent to a Queen Mother."
As Kate will be Queen Consort, rather than reigning Queen, she has no constitutional power and her role is to support her husband, Prince William who will be King. Therefore Carole will not be known as Queen Mother.
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What is the definition of queen dowager?
According to the official Royal Collection Trust, a dowager queen is a former queen consort whose husband has died. Dowager queens may also take the title of queen mother, referring
As previously mentioned, it would be unprecedented for Carole and Michael to receive official royal titles, however, Carole and Kate's sister, Pippa Middleton, could become 'the Queen's companions' which is the equivalent to her 'ladies in waiting'.
When Camilla became Queen, she appointed her sister, Annabel Elliot, as one of her 'companions', whilst her children, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes were not awarded titles. Sadly, Camilla's parents had passed away long before she became queen.
