5 Things Queen Camilla Can Do but Princess Kate Isn't Allowed To

Queen Camilla and Princess Kate might both be senior royals, but there is still a clear hierarchy within the Royal Family that everyone has to follow. As Queen, Camilla naturally sits higher in that pecking order, which comes with certain privileges and responsibilities that Kate does not have. Here are some of the things Camilla can do that Kate currently cannot.

Camilla can serve as a Counsellor of State, a role that allows her to carry out some of King Charles' official duties if he is temporarily unable to do so. She became eligible for the position when Charles became King in 2022, as the monarch's spouse. The role is reserved for the monarch's spouse and certain senior members of the line of succession, which leaves Kate out.

As Queen, Camilla gets to choose her outfits before other senior royal women, including Kate, with color choices also being taken into account. A source once revealed to Express UK, "There was a time when Jacqui [Meakin] was a bit apprehensive to allow blue to be worn at the same time as the Queen, but she's relaxed about that now as long as the blues are very different shades." It does not mean Kate is banned from wearing the same color, but the royal pecking order can influence how the outfits of royal women are planned for public events.

When it comes to royal jewelry, Camilla has an advantage over Kate. As Queen, she can have specific permanent loans from the royal collection, while Kate selects from remaining available pieces. Camilla had first choice from Queen Elizabeth II's private jewelry collection after Charles became King, giving her access to some of the late monarch's most significant pieces, the Cosmopolitan reported.

Camilla has a place in one of Britain's most prestigious royal orders that Kate does not currently have. She was appointed a Royal Lady of the Order of the Garter by Queen Elizabeth II in 2021, before being formally installed the following year. Kate, despite being Princess of Wales, is not a member of the Order, although William is. However, King Charles can appoint her in the future.

Camilla was given the power to grant Royal Warrants after Charles became King, allowing her to formally recognize companies that supply goods or services to the Royal Household. She became a Grantor in 2024, giving her a role in a tradition that dates back centuries. This was something Camilla could do that Kate could not, but that changed in 2026 when Charles appointed Kate and William as Royal Warrant grantors too.