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Original poster

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

211 replies

WomanStanleyWoman · 26/10/2021 23:20

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.

OP posts:
Bouledeneige · 27/10/2021 00:34

julieca good spot. Maybe Charles was at the deathbed and is now helping preparations for the funeral. Unless he is feeling a bit iffy himself....

Bouledeneige · 27/10/2021 00:35

I think a 95 year old who has had a very busy schedule recently is very likely to be resting for a few days. (If they're not already dead).

PermanentTemporary · 27/10/2021 00:36

I assumed she'd die within a year of Prince Philip dying.

jamandmarmalade · 27/10/2021 00:37

Blimey!

Maj's 2021
endured 'disappointing' Harry and Meghan Oprah interview
turned 95
lost her 'Strength and Stay' true love of her life husband weeks before his 100th birthday
welcomed ninth great grandchild
watched her favourite son Andrew dodge the slammer

i'm middle aged and i'd want a rest after that year never mind the Queen at 95.

Poor Queen!

julieca · 27/10/2021 00:39

@Bouledeneige Charles is rumoured to be a heavy drinker. No idea if that is true or not although the rosacea does suggest that. If yes, he is unlikely to live anywhere near as long as his mother.

LuluJakey1 · 27/10/2021 00:39

I suspect there is more to this than we are being told. She has lost quite a lot of weight in the last few months although she has looked very lively and in good spirits. The expression 'preliminary tests' is an unusual phrase for the palace to use - 'routine' or 'scheduled' would be more usual. Co-inciding with the sudden appearance of a walking stick, it makes me wonder if she has suffered some balance issues and i wonder if she has a heart problem of some kind. Would explain her being told to rest.
I suspect the next announcement will be that she had undergone some kind of 'procedure' and will be in hospital for a short time or is even already back at Windsor recuperating.

julieca · 27/10/2021 00:40

@greenlynx

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.
Yes, I wondered if the issue was she could not walk anymore or was struggling with walking. Maybe she had a fall and tests were after that?
greyinganddecaying · 27/10/2021 00:42

I'm another who wouldn't be surprised if she lasts less than a year without PP.

Wonder if we'll still get our extra bank holiday next year if she doesn't make it until then?

StTherese · 27/10/2021 00:46

If she's not up to the 'job' then she should step back and let PC be Regent. I'm sure I remember a few years ago that was the plan anyway. FWIW I don't think she'll make the platinum jubilee.

Original poster
WomanStanleyWoman · 27/10/2021 00:46

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

You can’t get much more slowed down than that…

OP posts:
AcrossthePond55 · 27/10/2021 00:48

My understanding is that she made a solemn vow before God that she would serve as queen for all the days of her life. As a deeply religious woman she believes that vow is sacred and cannot be broken. She will be queen until death or incapacity no matter what her 'secret wishes'.

Honestly, if she didn't believe that don't you think she'd have abdicated years ago? Or at the least when the DoE's health began to fail? I do. Her 'lifestyle' wouldn't change if she abdicated. And her day to day life would be so much more relaxed and easy. She'd still live out her life in luxury just as the Queen Mum did after George VI died.

Bouledeneige · 27/10/2021 00:49

Given Prince Phillip didn't actually live with Queen in Windsor Castle but with the nice lady carriage driver in a cottage I'm not entirely sure she can't live without him. But change is pretty deadly for older people and with the antics of her children and grandchildren I'd not be surprised if she'd given up the ghost and had enough. Better than sitting through another Harry and Meghan whinefest interview.

So maybe Charles is nicely steeped in a bath of Chateau Lafitte as we speak and the little people are sorting the funeral/coronation. You could probably stash a nice little bottle of whisky under the ceremonial cape or in the orb? It would give Camilla a giggle anyhow.

Original poster
WomanStanleyWoman · 27/10/2021 00:50

@PicsInRed

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).

Thanks for the lesson in constitutional law, but I do understand what the title of Queen implies.

This isn’t like Edward VIII and the abdication, where ever day or even hour could bring another twist. ‘95 year-old woman might not live forever’ isn't drop your cork leg time.

OP posts:
2Two · 27/10/2021 00:53

@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? :(
Not really, he has taken on a lot of her duties and responsibilities. We would only need a Prince Regent if she lost capacity mentally and/or physically.
whoopy1 · 27/10/2021 00:54

@PicsInRed

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).

I have NO time for the Royal Family, but the Queen IS entitled to some privacy! She has (and still does) carried out a tremendous number of duties over many years and the Public are privy to these, but she should not have to tell the public if she is having tests or investigations.

Please do NOT wish the odious Charles and Camilla on us any earlier than absolutely necessary!

TrishM80 · 27/10/2021 00:59

She's a great lady but she's on the way out. Getting sick in your 90s is no joke. She should have stepped aside 20 years ago, let that jug eared git Charles take over and enjoyed her retirement. Madness.

PyongyangKipperbang · 27/10/2021 01:07

IT pissed me off no end when I saw the headlines at work that the "palace" was being accused of covering up her illness....... in the Daily Mail. Which, when I nicked one off the shelf and read it I found it was the DM actually making the accusation!

Let the poor woman be! I am a Republican but FFS she is in her 90's and has worked all her life. She is, I hope, doing a "soft" abdication where Charles and William take over more and more of her official duties and she steps back until she passes. Who can blame her?

I am not a monarchist by any definition but I am a humanist and this human needs a break.

Iloveallofthem · 27/10/2021 01:10

@JackieCollinshasnoauthority

Lazy cow.

🙄

Iloveallofthem · 27/10/2021 01:13

What a dreadful and distasteful thread .

Some of the comments are astonishing.

Wow.

Nancydrawn · 27/10/2021 01:15

I assume she will want to stay through at least the Platinum Jubilee, if possible, before taking a firm step back from royal duties.

I hope she can find some way to square that with her vow. I think ideas of life in one's twenties and the reality of one's nineties are different.

Dreamstate · 27/10/2021 01:22

Thing is the royal family always has this contract with the press right where the press may hide certain stories and not report on them in exchange for xyz. I'm guessing a certain level of access.

So people can say all they like its not right for them to have had headlines like being lied too when there is this unwritten agreement between them.

To the media it will seem like a betrayal of that agreement

PizzaCrust · 27/10/2021 01:26

I’m sure the scandal surrounding Andrew hasn’t helped her in her old age, either.

The whole situation is disgusting but I can imagine it would take it out of someone in their 90s. God, I think it would destroy most people if you knew, or at least suspected, that was what your son was up to for all these years, in your 40s.

1forAll74 · 27/10/2021 01:26

The Queen probably has a dodgy hip ,or maybe sciatica as she has been using a walking stick lately,, and she sometimes is stooping a little, so wouldn't be much fun to travel so far, or stand around shaking hands with people.

WhereWeAreNow · 27/10/2021 01:29

Ofc it's not unreasonable for her to take a step back.

But I do wonder about what's coming next.

SilverBirchWithout · 27/10/2021 01:34

Personally I’m feeling a tad guilty. A few weeks ago I was at a village meeting where a few people were frothing about making plans for next year’s jubilee. I made an unfortunate comment about it being a risk to plan so early as she was no spring chicken ...

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