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?

I don't think we'll all agree on the definition of a "working life".

Not sure about the King but I think it was said he wasn’t strong?

He smoked and died of lung cancer.

The Queen still goes riding, doesn’t she?

My Dad was 97 when he died. He redecorated his house from top to bottom a couple of years before his death and was planning on ripping out the kitchen himself and putting in something more modern just a couple of weeks before he passed.

Actually yes. My Nan lived to 94, lived completely independently at home on her own after grandad died. No home help, did all her own shopping etc
She was far more remarkable than the queen, she had to do all the housework and cooking herself. I highly doubt the queen does that- she lives a life of luxury with the best medical care. It’s hardly surprising she’s got to 93 with that amount of privilege. I’ll save my admiration for my nana who did everything herself ❤️

My Grandad was amazing. He used to walk around 8 miles a day (they lived in the country) well into his 90s. Unfortunately he then got dementia but continued to want to walk. He kept on getting out and going on his long walks, but then having to be brought back by whoever. Eventually he had to be put in a home at the age of around 96. I'm convinced that if his mind hadn't gone he'd still have been walking 8 miles a day at he age of 110.

OP YANBU for calling the Queen HRH. She is HM. Off to the Tower with you!

wow I hadn't given her age much thought,shes always been just 'there'!!

My grandpa was born to (very recent) immigrant parents in the Jewish East End (as were all of my grandparents). They lived in absolute poverty. His mum had 13 children of whom only three survived beyond infancy.

My grandpa left school at 13 and worked with his dad as a butcher from the age of 13 until he retired around 70.

He remarried after my grandma died and outlived his second wife, who was 14 years younger than him.

He lived alone, independently, driving around (including to different cities around the UK), volunteering and looking after himself until the age of 98 1/2. At that age he had a small stroke, (very reluctantly) moved in with my parents, and died about six months later.

Apart from that last six months, and having knee replacements in his 80s, he was in more or less perfect health his whole life. Never had cancer, stroke, dementia, heart problems, anything else.

Socio-economically he could not have been further removed from the Queen. But he was her equal in terms of health and ageing (if not even more so). It's not all about wealth. A lot of it is just genetics.

It probably also helped that he didn't smoke, barely drank alcohol, and did a very physical job for many, many years. Also he had a very chilled-out, but morally firm, attitude to life

Many years ago,my late Dmum had a neighbour who was still living alone,and looking after herself,even doing gardening,at the age of 101! When she was 102,she had a fall,broke her hip and her son moved her into a home. She died a year later aged nearly 104.

That sounds so familiar - her initials weren't MM, were they?

She has no stress like normal people.
Never had to worry how to pay the elec bill ever.
Or worry about catching a train, commuting.
Noise nusience form neighbours

Clearly a life of privilege makes for a longer life and better health.

I have always felt deeply sorry for The Queen. Apart from about eighteen months after her marriage when she lived as a navy wife on Malta she has been utterly in the public eye. Can you even imagine being a permanent focus of tabloid press etc attention since February 1952??? She has constantly done her duty without fail.

A lot of it is just genetics.

Absolutly!

I agree OP- I don't think she gets anywhere near the credit she deserves for how amazing she is at her age!

@goldfinchfan
She has no stress like normal people. Never had to worry how to pay the elec bill ever. Or worry about catching a train, commuting. Noise nusience form neighbours. Clearly a life of privilege makes for a longer life and better health.

Did you see my post about my grandfather, above? He had all of that (and a lot worse - he fought overseas in the war for six years and didn't see his own son until he was 2 years old - he also faced a lot of antisemitism and lived in terrible poverty for much of his life). He still lived in great health to the age of 98.

I suspect the current Royal Family have long-lived genes.

I suspect a whole lot more people would be living to great ages if they'd have the privileges she has, genes or no genes.

I think the Queen is amazing. I don’t hold with the idea that she’s never done ‘a days work’ that some people believe. A lot of us don’t work in factories or physically challenging jobs every day, but I don’t know of any other 94 year old who has worked all their life in service to the country like the Queen has. Yes, it’s a very different kind of job, no-one can understand what life is like for her, but being the Queen is so much more than waving and smiling and listening to speeches. She has lots of money and certain things are easier for her, but she’s never had the freedoms that most people have either. The fact that she’s still working at 94 is awesome really.

Love all these stories of sprightly old relatives 😊

Yes she's lead a privileged life but at the same time not many 90 some things are still working. With other people putting demands on their time.

Huge difference between pottering around in the house or garden going at your own pace, resting and coffeeing as required. And weekly business meetings you have to be there at X time and be ready with your questions and answers.

Don't forget she meets the PM every week as well as the ceremonial roles and hosting that she does.

I think we are getting to a point when she will hand over to Charles or at least having him do more of her role.

He himself is already beyond retirement age.

Just reminded myself of an elderly man, who came over for a peek at my newborn, "time goes quick, my eldest is 70"

My gran is 102 and still lives on her own, although her flat in in a sheltered complex and my mum pops in most days and I pop in once a week. She can still walk, she's a bit deaf but still totally with it. My other NAn is 90 and still lives on her own with family popping in regularly. Both grandads have already passed away.

You do know the Queen was in the land army during the war, don't you? She has her dispatch boxes to work through every day, no matter where she is, what other duties she has or how she is feeling? I think she is absolutely remarkable. I did feel sorry for Prince Philip when he retired and loads of people bleated and complained about it. He's a very old man - why the fuck shouldn't he retire?

If anyone thinks the Queen's life is so cushy, they ought to give it a try.

What’s the secret of these long living humans ?

A good diet, from birth, right through childhood and then into adulthood. It really is as simple as that.

I do admire the Queen for still riding at her age; having the hip flexibility and strength in your back and core and lower legs to do that is incredible. I'm in my mid-fifties and still ride but I almost need a winch to get on board nowadays!

I wouldn't want her life for a million years; having to attend function after function making small-talk, dealing with obsequious people, and having your diary filled five years ahead (I wonder if that is still the case?)

However, however, although she always has to be present, which must be a stress in itself, she has someone doing her admin, her PR, her grocery shopping, cooking her meals, cleaning her house, walking her dogs, doing her laundry, choosing and making her clothes and helping her dress, styling her hair, arranging her private social life (ie organising her Christmases and sorting birthdays) , managing her accounts, organising and facilitating her travel arrangements and she has teams of people maintaining, running and renovating her many homes and gardens and farms and studs and stables. Although one would have to do a lot of liaising (and it wouldn't be the ideal life for an introvert or for someone who needs their own space) I think many people could make a pretty good job of the role given that level of back-up and support. And although I suppose she is never totally off duty, she does have vast estates in which she can exercise and unwind.

To get back to the point of the thread though, I suspect the key to the Queen's good health is a combination of good luck, and living a life of routine. Getting up at the same time every day, eating small, regular meals, taking regular exercise such as riding and walking, going to bed at the same time, going on holiday at the same time every year etc etc. And doing pretty much the same thing on an annual basis, year in, year out.

Also, she is probably fortunate enough to have the perfect temperament for the job: very stalwart and self confident, reasonably intelligent but not intellectually clever, not prone to over-thinking or questioning things, not overly sensitive and intensely practical, with a strong sense of duty. So she can be herself whilst carrying out her public role which is bound to be healthy from a mh perspective.

Also, the queen is listened to and respected. A lot of elderly people are ignored and disregarded. Being listened to and seen must do wonders for you. Being ignored and made to feel past your sell by date can be self perpetuating leading to illnesses, a feeling of decrepitude.

Although the queen has the best health care on tap, she also looks after herself. But her job is immensely stressful. Her life has not been her own. She has riches and palaces, not a council flat in a high rise with a broken lift, but it is a life of being on show, not voicing an opinion, having to learn about every subject under the sun, be diplomatic. She has few days off due to sickness. She doesn't get to have a duvet day, it gets reported on the news.

She is a remarkable woman for her age. Whatever your views on the monarchy, there is no denying that. Her family seem hellbent on seeing her off at the moment though....