From royal mistress to Queen consort, Camilla Parker-Bowles has long left behind her controversial reputation and will now sit beside the new King on the throne.
There was a time when honouring Camilla in such a way would have been unthinkable for some.
In some quarters the blame for the breakdown of King Charles's marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales, lay at the now Queen Consort’s feet.
When news of their affair first came to light Camilla faced sustained criticism.
For a while after Diana’s death in 1997 it took time for the public to accept her, and even when she married Charles eight years later the topic of her future title caused controversy too.
You can leave your tributes to Queen Elizabeth II here
At the time, it was said that royal aides didn’t want Camilla to be known as the Queen Consort - even if she was entitled to the title.
Instead, it was reported that she “intended” to use the title Princess Consort - one that had never been used before in royal history, and remains unused.
But today she is officially the Queen Consort and one of the most senior members of ‘The Firm’.
Earlier this year in February, Queen Elizabeth II stated publicly that she wanted her daughter-in-law to take on the title she now carries when the time came.
In her Platinum Jubilee message to the nation, the monarch said it was her wish Camilla should take the title.
Speaking at the time, she said: “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.”
Camilla later said she felt “very honoured and very touched” by such a public backing but when she was once asked about becoming Queen by an eight-year-old schoolgirl she said "you never know".
Over the last few decades she has seen a steady ascent within the Royal Family.
Her reputation was badly damaged by her long-running affair with Charles which rocked the royal family at the time, with a post-separation Diana famously saying: "There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded."
But in the years following Diana’s death Camilla began to emerge into the public eye by Charles’ side.
In January 1999 they made their first public appearance together on the steps of the Ritz Hotel where Charles walked Camilla to their waiting car and pointedly put his arm around her.
It was reported the mission to rehabilitate her name in public was called Operation Parker Bowles.
By 2004 Charles had reportedly made it clear to the Queen that he intended to announce their engagement whether they had her blessing or not - which they reportedly belatedly got.
From there she continued to make more and more public appearances until in 2012, Camilla was seated at a “place of pride” right across from the Queen.
In 2016, she was made a Privy Counsellor so she will be besides Charles when he is formally proclaimed king at the Accession Council.
Camilla completed her ascent to the top of the royal family and will be at Charles’s side at his coronation - not as Princess Consort but Queen Consort, as the Queen Mother was.
She is expected to wear the Queen Mother's 1937 coronation crown.
