Britain's Queen Elizabeth II records her address to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the coronavirus outbreak at Windsor Castle, west of London on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday became the first British monarch to reign for seven decades, announcing her "sincere wish" that Camilla, the wife of her heir Prince Charles, should ultimately be known as Queen Consort.

Britain's longest-serving monarch acceded to the throne aged 25 on February 6, 1952, following the death of her father King George VI.

She marked the historic date quietly at Sandringham, her estate in eastern England where her father died.

But in a major statement on the future of the royal family, the 95-year-old released a message to the nation, saying "it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort."

This means Camilla, now 74, would be crowned alongside Charles, now 73, and known to the public as Queen Camilla, royal experts said.

Charles said the couple were "deeply conscious of the honor represented by my mother's wish," which would accord Camilla the full title of a monarch's wife.

He praised Camilla, saying "my darling wife has been my own steadfast support throughout."

The heir to the throne also paid tribute to the Queen's "devotion to the welfare of all her people," which "inspires still greater admiration with each passing year."

The Queen said she hoped that when Charles becomes king, the British people would give him and Camilla "the same support that you have given me."

Camilla was long vilified for her role in the breakup of Charles' marriage to Princess Diana.

Recognizing the sensitivities, when the couple married in 2005, the royal family announced she would be known as Princess Consort after Charles became king. But she has gradually won plaudits as the future king's loyal wife.

Londoners who spoke to AFP were divided over the announcement.

"I'm delighted. I think it's high time," said Angela Roberts, a retiree.

"It's before my time but a lot of the people who grew up with Diana being the next Queen effectively, they feel like she was wronged by the royal institution," said Tobias Fox, a software engineer.

AFP