Queen Elizabeth II snubbed on new cruiser

LONDON, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, is set to preside over the inauguration of Cunard's latest series of ocean cruisers, surprising the Queen of England.

This is the first time the company's flagship "Queen" liners will not be named by a queen, leaving many to view Camilla as a queen consort-in-waiting, said the Mail on Sunday.

"It is fair to say that the queen was slightly surprised, given the history of the Cunard naming process, and particularly since she is such an admirer of her great-great-grandmother," the Royal source said.

Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth presided over the inauguration of their liners – the Queen Mary and the QEI – in 1934 and 1938 respectively.

The decision came from the president of Cunard, Carol Marlow.

"We are honored that Her Royal Highness will name our newest Cunarder," Marlow said in the Times.

Camilla presides at the Dec. 10 ceremony for the second-largest ship ever built for the Cunard Line.