To think a 95 year-old woman slowing down is not that shocking?

[WomanStanleyWoman]

Regardless of whether you are in favour of a royal family or not… is it really a shocker, or a crisis, that a 95 year-old woman is slowing down somewhat and missing engagements?

I personally am in favour of the royal family, and I hope nothing is seriously wrong with the Queen. But it’s not like she hasn’t been seen in months and there’s some great conspiracy to keep the reason a secret. She’s had one night in hospital and missed one engagement. She’s 95. Someone not having a few health problems at that age is a news story!

I know people are interested in royal stories, but realistically, ‘old woman not as young as she used to be’ isn’t news. For at least 25 years now, it’s been made clear the Queen won’t abdicate, but will hand over more responsibilities to Charles and, increasingly, William. Unless something major or out of ordinary happens, we don’t need a running commentary.

Didn't PP 'retire' at age 95?
I don't think QE2 would know how to retire, though.

I think when you have Boris openly admitting defeat on the issue as he has you'd have to wonder what hauling the 95 year old monarch to Glasgow would actually achieve.

She could make Charles Prince Regent and not have to abdicate

She's not Grandma, she's the Head of State, and naturally her health is also a matter of public interest due to her role.

If privacy is required, she should step down and Chalres ascends the throne (or serves as Regent).

It comes across as a big lack of confidence in PC that she doesn't make PC into Prince Regent. But she's had a hard year with loss of PP, maybe could be harder than ever to step down from public life. Anyone recall her sitting away from family at PP's funeral? :(

This is sudden. Her health has obviously taken a sudden dive. Perhaps a stroke or other medical event.
So YABU because it is not just slowing down.

She had a waking stick at a recent event didn't she?
So I don't think it can be that sudden.
She's 95, she's not going to be that sprightly now.
Much as I wish her a long(er) life and good health, OP is right. It's not that shocking.

@julieca

This is sudden. Her health has obviously taken a sudden dive. Perhaps a stroke or other medical event. So YABU because it is not just slowing down.

Don’t think it’s a stroke judging by pictures of her doing a zoom call today… news.sky.com/story/cop26-the-queen-will-not-be-attending-climate-change-summit-in-glasgow-12445267

I think she's actually dead and they're waiting for COP26 to be over before announcing. The BBC were doing one of their regular 'London Bridge' rehearsals last week.

But no its not odd for a 95 year old to be slowing down. Afertall most 95 year olds are dead.

From a 95yo monarch, I’d only expect a televised speech once per year. I’m shocked she still does engagements. Everyone in my family is long dead by that age.

She only very recently started using a walking stick.
Nobody is saying it is shocking. But it is being minimised.

There were people on MN saying Prince Philip was fine, doing well and would last for years yet, literally a few days before his death.
She is obviously more ill than we are being told. No not a shock for a 95-year-old woman.

@lljkk

It comes across as a big lack of confidence in PC that she doesn't make PC into Prince Regent. But she's had a hard year with loss of PP, maybe could be harder than ever to step down from public life. Anyone recall her sitting away from family at PP's funeral? :(

Want that to do with covid rules though?

She’s 95, she’s allowed to slow down and retire. Nothing unusual and I wish people would have more realistic expectations. Not even royals can beat nature forever.

Sure she can retire, but that is not what is happening.

I think she's actually dead and they're waiting for COP26 to be over before announcing

Possibly the biggest call ever made on Mumsnet.

@Bouledeneige so you think the photo of the video call was faked?

Well the Russians regularly wheeled out dead leaders. And a stuffed Jeremy Bentham is often in attendance at UCL meetings.

Of course I might be wrong. Old people do die quite regularly though.

If you are right, her death will be declared on the 13th of November.

@julieca

She only very recently started using a walking stick. Nobody is saying it is shocking. But it is being minimised.

I first picked up a, stick at 45. It's not an automatic sign of old age, just that something is a bit wobbly.

@julieca

There were people on MN saying Prince Philip was fine, doing well and would last for years yet, literally a few days before his death. She is obviously more ill than we are being told. No not a shock for a 95-year-old woman.

In fairness, I think MN also announced his secret death about 100 times before that.

Same way we had people whose sons friends were high up in the military saying there was going to be martial law at midnight throughout the first lockdown period.

Prince Charles last official engagement was on the 21st of October. So he could have been at her deathbed.

My Dad's 92 so we do discuss the likelihood of death at that age quite frequently. When I took him for his booster jab he cheerfully remarked that there was an undertaker's opposite the clinic so if things didn't work out I could drop him off there. I pointed out that it looked closed so I probably shouldn't just dump him there, like a bag of clothes outside a charity shop.

So yes, lets see on or around the 13th November. I imagine they've got some big freezers in Windsor Castle.

I agree that it’s not about “simple resting”, she’s not well which is not surprising at 95.
It could be that she struggles with walking because otherwise they could adapt the summit programme a bit to make her part easier. And a zoom call shows that it’s not heart attack or anything similar.