On the anniversary of her accession to the throne, the Queen made a statement that it was her wish that Prince Charles' second wife, Duchess Camilla, be called "the Queen" upon Prince Charles' accession. This gesture was considered a gesture of modernization of the monarchy, showing the Queen's respect for Camilla, despite the acrimonious nature of her marriage to Prince Charles.

So why is this so significant that the queen feels the need to announce it? Historically, the King's wife was known as the "Queen's Queen," and the Duchess of Cornwall, who married Prince Charles in 2005, was fully permitted to use that title. However, according to CNN, Prince Charles and Camilla were aware of the public's admiration for Princess Diana, so Camilla adopted the title "Princess Consort" to avoid accidentally stepping on her legacy. This was the title she would use until yesterday, even after Charles became king.

The Queen's statement, dubbed a "bombshell," was issued at 10 p.m. the day before her coronation. She said, "I know that when the fullness of time comes and my son Charles becomes King, you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given to me. And when that time comes, it is my sincere hope that Camilla will be known as the Queen Consort while continuing her own faithful service."

Dr. Andrew Rowney, author of The Traitor King, was quoted in the Mirror as saying, "Camilla got her own spur. The queen, who at one time would not let Camilla in the room, is now very fond of her."

In a sense, it was the pinnacle of Camilla's transition from what Diana called the third person in her marriage in an interview to a respected member of the royal family and future queen.

In a heartfelt reply, Prince Charles joined the nation in thanking the Queen for her accomplishments, noting that the couple were "deeply conscious of the honor represented by my mother's wishes."

For the Queen to issue such a message may seem like a bolt from the blue when everyone is focused on her. After all, Camilla's title seems like a household title when Prince Charles is queen. But the statement from the Queen, the only person who can bestow a royal title, indicates that this anniversary is making the Queen think about the future of the royal family. When Prince Charles becomes king, the family wants the transition to the new monarch to be as smooth as possible.