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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think The Queen should retire?

411 replies

ThinWomansBrain · 14/11/2021 21:09

I am not a monarchist - but given that we have a Royal Family....
Given her age, understandably failing health, and the recent widowhood, is it be reasonable to think the Queen should step down and retire gracefully?
OK, maybe stay in post until the Jubillee next year, but then hand over.

OP posts:
monkeysox · 14/11/2021 21:13

I think she has died and they haven't told us. They didn't tell us she'd been in hospital....

AngelicaElizaAndPeggy · 14/11/2021 21:14

I don't think she could hand it over as such - there isn't any precedent for that really, although I'm no expert. But she should absolutely be able to hand over all her duties to other members of the RF. There are enough of them and it would give them something purposeful to do. So yanbu

AngelicaElizaAndPeggy · 14/11/2021 21:15

I don't think she has died - there are minute by minute instructions for the moment she doea so why would they not kick into gear immediately? We have to have a head of state.

logsonlogsoff · 14/11/2021 21:16

It’s called abdication. If she’s died we’d know.

allycat4 · 14/11/2021 21:17

Of course she hasn't died.

She won't abdicate. It's about getting the other senior royals to take on more, which is happening already.

Ilikewinter · 14/11/2021 21:17

I dont think she'll make it to her celebrations in June.

Theunamedcat · 14/11/2021 21:17

Prince Charles can step up as Prince regent or King in all but name

She said she will never abdicate

TerraNovaTwo · 14/11/2021 21:17

I don't think she has very long left to live.

HelloDulling · 14/11/2021 21:18

She can’t retire. That’s not one of the options available to a monarch. She could abdicate, but I doubt she will.

AngelicaElizaAndPeggy · 14/11/2021 21:19

Is it possible to retire from active duties but still remain head of state though? So you don't abdicate, you just deactivate slightly but remain in place.

Original poster
ThinWomansBrain · 14/11/2021 21:19

The precedent - for totally different reasons - would be the abdication by her uncle in 1936?

@monkeysox 🤣🤣🤣

OP posts:
Chloemol · 14/11/2021 21:19

She has always said she will not abdicate, which is the only why she could stop

lazymum99 · 14/11/2021 21:22

I think ‘sprained her back’ is not the whole story. She is fading.
She won’t abdicate she has always said this.

AuntyMabelandPippin · 14/11/2021 21:23

She feels it is her duty, given by God, to serve her country.

She may give her family more of her responsibilities, but she will not abdicate.

Herani · 14/11/2021 21:24

It did cross my mind too that she may have died already but the family/her wishes wouldn’t be to upstage the remembrance celebrations today. The family seemed to look extremely sad and tearful today; I know it was a somber occasion but they looked much more strained than other years.
However, I err on the side of thinking they know she’s unfortunately on her way out. I’m not a royalist, but she is an amazing woman.

Youngatheart00 · 14/11/2021 21:24

I find the speculation sad and upsetting. Speculating on whether our head of state is dead just feels….wrong.

I recognise this post isn’t about that, but has been derailed in that direction.

So in response to your question - yes I do believe she should formally pass duties to Charles as Prince Regent and she should be able to live a quiet life and relax into her remaining years. She’s mid 90s for crying out loud. She’s only human.

Cocomarine · 14/11/2021 21:25

“Recent widowhood”?

Are we saying women should retire when their husband’s die? Confused

She can retire whenever the hell she wants to. She hasn’t chosen to. Do you think she should retire because she’s not up to the role?

rainbowruthie · 14/11/2021 21:25

Does it really matter? The younger royals are taking on more 'duties' as it is.
I wish her well and I certainly don't think for one minute that she has died

tiredanddangerous · 14/11/2021 21:26

Of course she hasn't died. So people honestly think they'd be able to keep that quiet?

UndertheCedartree · 14/11/2021 21:26

I completely agree. She is 95 years old and has served for almost 70 years! She should be able to retire. Having said that I don't think she would step down. She sees being the Queen as her duty until the day she dies. But I think it's sad. She should have some rest and let the younger members have more work to do.

Comedycook · 14/11/2021 21:27

I'd be amazed if she is still with us next year Sad

Cocomarine · 14/11/2021 21:28

@Youngatheart00

I find the speculation sad and upsetting. Speculating on whether our head of state is dead just feels….wrong.

I recognise this post isn’t about that, but has been derailed in that direction.

So in response to your question - yes I do believe she should formally pass duties to Charles as Prince Regent and she should be able to live a quiet life and relax into her remaining years. She’s mid 90s for crying out loud. She’s only human.

She can do that though. Anytime she wants. And she clearly doesn’t want to.

I’d understand if there was some law forcing an elderly woman to do things against her will, that there might be a thread: “do we think the law should be changed to release this poor woman?”

But there isn’t.

So it’s ridiculous for other people to ask should she retire - unless, that question is posed regarding competence.

Porcupineintherough · 14/11/2021 21:28

I don't see why she should abdicate if she doesnt want to. I'm sure at her age we will understand if she wants to pass all or most of her duties on to the younger members of the family.

Seainasive · 14/11/2021 21:28

The last 2 queens of the Netherlands retired graciously and the monarchy doesn’t seem to have suffered. It seems perfectly sensible to me. I’m sure she won’t though.

claymodels · 14/11/2021 21:29

@monkeysox

I think she has died and they haven't told us. They didn't tell us she'd been in hospital....

For fucks sake, another one Hmm

Why the fuck would 'they' be hiding the death of the queen