The Queen is VERY elderly. I think people almost forget this.

[ChicChicChicChiclana]

Yes, she is 5 years younger than her husband who is still alive.

And she is 7 years or so younger than her mother was when she died.

But she's 93, nearly 94!!

In my middle class well cared for and generally healthy extended family, the longest lived have been 93 and 95. Most elderly relatives die in their 80s (no complaints here, that's still a very fair innings).

But HRH still gets out of the house, without walking aids, and puts in a public appearance more often than not.

She's extraordinary. Does anyone else here have a 93 year old in their family who is equally sprightly?

My uncle is 89, and apart from a few mild grumbles, still drives into town, walks around and then goes home. He's amazing.

My grandad died when he was 100, and until the last few weeks, was walking around using a zimmer frame.

My partner's Grandad will (hopefully!) celebrate his 104th birthday this year! He still lives at home with my partner's Dad & although he has difficulty with a lot of things - he's got no real ailments if that makes sense? His hearing & eyesight aren't the best and he can't get about too well but his mind is still sharp & he loves to be involved in anything the family do!

She's lived the life of Reilly! No wonder she's still kicking.

she’s never worked a day in her life

Bollocks! She’s still working now!!

My partners nan was in her mid 90s and still gardening etc. That was until she had a fall, that hospitalised her. It wasn’t a brutal fall, she tripped and nothing was broken but an elderly body, no matter how active is still that. She passed away a few weeks later in the hospital. Obviously queenie will have the best medical care but sometimes the body just isn’t strong enough despite being active and fit.

My grandfather. Lives alone and has often 'just been up in the loft' (climbing up a ladder) to get things down when my mum goes to visit him.

My maternal grandmother lived to 98. She was still going fell walking in the Lake District, where she lived all her life, until she was 95. She reckoned it was time to give it up when she could no longer scramble over stiles without help. She was mentally sharp right until the end.

My great granny was 107 when she died and was her countries oldest resident for a while. Sadly most of her 16 children died in their 80s.
Our lovely (but quite eccentric) next door neighbour died last autumn aged 95. She wore leather jackets and heels every day. Was still driving. Followed the cricket team all over the world, was better than me at yoga. Made amazing food and was a brilliant gardener.
A totally inspiring woman.
I miss her so much.

My great aunt is 107 and still runs marathons.

DH's great aunt is 109 and walks to the shops and back (7 mile round trip,) 3 times a week, with 25 to 35 kilos of shopping.

My friend's great uncle is 117 and still works as a builder, frequently doing 65-70 hour weeks.

Wtf?? what do they all eat?

I have friends who live next door to a 105 year old man, whose daughter lives with him( she's in her 80s)! He still digs thegarden and can still hold a decent conversation. Very well off area though. I do think there is a correlation although not to a cause and effect status.

Our neighbours are both in their 90’s and never cease to amaze me. They’re rather posh and if they’re not playing golf they’re going to their bridge club or zipping off to the shops in their mini! I really hope to be like them when I get older - they’re amazing!

My DMum is a very similar age to HMQ.

It's only in the last 18months or so that DMum has started tomseem a little old (encroaching deafness didn't help). But she's still living independently, and overall is just fine.

I doubt very much whether she could take in the Queen's workload. Even with Staff

@LittleYorkshireLass really?????🤔

What’s the secret of these long living humans ?

My longest living relative was 97 when they died but he was not independent as had Alzheimer’s sadly at around 90

But my dads side of the family die at 50 something and so to me my 58 year old dad is already elderly..

I don't think it's a stress free life by any means. Different stresses, but stress nonetheless. And weren't the same doctors available to Margaret?

Some people just stay active into their old age. Even people with really unhealthy lifestyles. Just like some people die of natural causes miles too young. Not everybody is average.

Laughing at Littleyorkshirelass

Elizabeth R has good genes, great health care and good luck to be as sprightly as she is at her age. I wonder, also, if the fact that she has kept working at what she does through her entire life has made her stay younger than her years.

Lovely to hear of all these sprightly oldies. Mum is nearly 85 but has deteriorated recently after falls. She needs a stick or a wheely thing, is pretty deaf and rather incontinent but still a game old bird who soldiers on determinedly. I hope she keeps going for a while yet

My mother went to her 60 year school reunion and met one of her teachers (who also taught me) and the teacher is now over 100 and still active and living independently. She told Mum that she was planning to move into sheltered housing fairly soon because she was 'getting on a bit'.

My maternal grandmother lived to nearly 95 and was active for all but the last few years.

Juansheet
Baths with doors are nota good idea. Getting cold waiting for them to drain before you can open the door
Wetroom is better
A quick fix is a bath lift that lowers you into the water if she can sit down and lift her legs into the bath...often can be picked up second hand

great aunt who got to age ninety and decided she would go on a plane for the first time (and go abroad for the first time) as it wouldn't matter if she died

I love this!

"What’s the secret of these long living humans ?"

Good (restrictive, no junk, not enough around to over-eat) diet in childhood/teen/young adult life. Walking/bicycling everywhere (low car ownership). Fewer labour saving devices, so more stuff done by hand; so more movement.

Women generally didn't smoke (that came later) and alcohol consumption per capita was much lower.

If you made it through the childhood diseases, you were probably in quite good nick.

General attitude of just getting on with it, but looking out for your mates. I don't think it's a coincidence that this is the generation that reached adulthood just as all the major welfare reforms were being voted in

My nan was the same age as the queen, she died 21 years ago now from heart failure, unfortunately she wasn’t born into one of the wealthiest families in the world with live-in doctors on call every time she sneezed. I highly doubt the queen longevity is down to genes and more down to the fact she has the best medical care and she’s never really had to do anything, she doesn’t even shut her own car door!

My husbands gran is 89, it’s only this last year she’s started to struggle, but she worked until she was 80 (in a real job), she also shuts her own car door. Far more remarkable in my eyes.

we'll still have to work if we ever reach that age, and it will be a lot more demanding than waving and cutting a couple of ribbons.

A couple of my neighbours are 95, they still drive around bringing meals to "the elderly"

Great grandma died aged 112. Was still living alone, doing all her own housework, walking to local shops, etc aged 96.

I believe Margaret was a heavy smoker and drinker and had had part of a lung removed - there's only so much doctors can do. Margaret was 71 when she'd died - someone with the same habits living in poverty would be lucky to make 60.