Camilla's 'queen' title breaks with tradition. Here's why Prince Philip was never 'king.'

• On Saturday, May 6, Camilla was crowned queen in Westminster Abbey.
• Queen Elizabeth II once said she wanted Camilla to be "queen consort" when Charles became king.

King Charles' coronation was held Saturday, almost nine months after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Camilla, the former queen consort, was crowned alongside Charles, officially becoming queen.

The moment marked centuries of tradition and signaled Charles' foray into a new frontier for the royal family.

Prior to her death, Queen Elizabeth announced in February 2022 that she wanted Camilla to be named "queen consort" when Charles ascended the throne.

After hosting a reception at Sandringham Estate ahead of her Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth released a statement reflecting on her 70-year reign.

"When, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support 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," she said at the time — putting an end to years of confusion over what Camilla's title would be.

Following Queen Elizabeth's announcement, Charles praised Camilla in his own statement.

"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," he wrote at the time.

It was once expected that Camilla would become 'princess consort'

Confusion surrounding Camilla's future title began in 2005 when she and Charles announced their engagement.

Several outlets reported that her title would be "princess consort" when Charles ascended to the throne. According to People, a press release from the day of Charles and Camilla's engagement addressed the issue, saying: "It is intended that Mrs Parker Bowles should use the title HRH The Princess Consort when The Prince of Wales accedes to The Throne."

Nearly two decades later, Camilla's son, Tom Parker-Bowles, told The Sunday Times in May 2021 that he "honestly didn't know" whether his mother would take the title of queen consort.

And in a February 2022 poll taken after Queen Elizabeth's announcement that she intended for Camilla to be queen consort, the Daily Mail asked more than 1,000 UK adults if they thought Camilla should be queen. Fifty-five percent said that Camilla should be named queen consort, compared to 28% of people who disagreed, while 17% said they didn't know.

Insider's Mikhaila Friel previously reported that even though public support for Camilla had increased, Queen Elizabeth made her endorsement to encourage and support her daughter-in-law and reduce backlash from Princess Diana's supporters.

While Camilla may be queen, the late Prince Philip was never king

Prior to Queen Elizabeth's death, the royal family's official website said when Camilla would officially receive the title of queen consort, she would be "crowned with the King, in a similar but simpler ceremony."

That happened at the coronation on Saturday, where Camilla officially became the queen.

However, Queen Elizabeth II's late husband, Prince Philip, was never king.

The most likely reason Philip was never crowned king is that the title may have outranked Elizabeth, as Insider's Samantha Grindell and Mikhaila Friel previously reported.

Philip was only the fifth consort to a reigning queen in British royal history, according to the royal website. The last instance was in 1857 when Prince Albert was named prince consort by Queen Victoria 17 years after they wed in 1840.

Insider's Annie Stallings previously reported that Philip's death didn't affect the line of succession for the throne "because marriage to a queen does not determine a ranking in the line of succession."

"If the new Sovereign is a Queen, her consort is not crowned or anointed at the coronation ceremony," the royal website says.