Prince Charles 'Deeply Conscious' Of Honor For 'Darling' Wife Camilla To Be Queen Consort

Prince Charles paid tribute to his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and his mother Queen Elizabeth II on the monarch's Platinum Jubilee over the weekend.

On Sunday, Prince Charles released a statement for what is known as Accession Day in the U.K. and across the Commonwealth of nations where the Queen is head of state.

In his message, the Prince of Wales praised his mother for the "remarkable achievement" of reaching 70 years on the throne and recognized the "steadfast support" he's received from his wife through the years.

"The Queen's devotion to the welfare of all her people inspires still greater admiration with each passing year," he wrote in a statement shared on Instagram.

The heir apparent also welcomed the Queen's wish that Camilla be known as queen consort when he becomes king, saying in his statement that he and his wife were "deeply conscious of the honor."

"As we have sought together to serve and support Her Majesty and the people of our communities, my darling wife has been my own steadfast support throughout," Prince Charles continued.

The prince added that the "unprecedented" Platinum Jubilee gives them the opportunity to come together to celebrate the service of the Queen, whose "example we will continue to be led in the years to come."

In her own message on the eve of Accession Day, the 95-year-old monarch said that "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 that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service."

A spokesperson for Prince Charles said in a statement to People that the royal couple was "touched and honored" by the Queen's statement.

On Sunday, Buckingham Palace released a new photo of Queen Elizabeth showing the monarch in the saloon of Sandringham House with one of her official red despatch boxes that contain her official papers. She works on the papers most days of the year apart from Christmas and Easter.

The Queen normally stays in Sandringham over the holidays, but she changed her plans in December 2021 and opted to stay in Windsor Castle amid a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases in the U.K. The monarch flew to her Norfolk estate late last month, ahead of her father King George VI's death anniversary.

A weekend of festivities to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee is planned for June.