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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:
Roussette · 17/11/2021 10:29

I do find some of the headlines this morning pathetic (it came up on a feed) saying 'The Magnificent Seven' will step up to take over the Queen's duties until the Spring.

How bloody embarrassing. Firstly, I doubt very much it needs 7 perfectly able adults to cover a 95 year old's duties. Secondly, if it does, they should be reported to SS for working her into the ground!

Voord · 17/11/2021 10:32

@CounsellorTroi

I think the Queen remembers the strain placed on her father by his brother's abdication and she would not countenance abdication for herself.

It’s really not the same though. Charles is the heir and would become King in due course anyway. He has been prepared for the role his whole life as she was. Her abdication in his favour would not place any strain on him, or anyone else.

Agreed, it’s a completely different set of circumstances in a completely different time. Prince Charles has, in effect, done the job of a monarch for decades. The only thing he doesn’t have is the title, the crown and his head on the stamps. That can hardly be compared to an unprecedented (in modern times) constitutional crisis in which a brother, unprepared and in some ways unsuited to the role, suddenly found himself on the throne.

On top of which, it doesn’t really require her to abdicate. She can remain monarch with the junior members of the family picking up the public duties.

Roussette · 17/11/2021 11:00

Which is what they're doing and should've been doing more of. She didn't have to abdicate, but she could've stepped back a bit. It's a ridiculous situation to have a man way past retirement age starting on the biggest job he's ever had.
And it will be the same with William no doubt.

I think there should be terms with our monarchs to avoid this situation. Abdication really isn't the worst thing, other european monarchs have done it for various reasons. And I've always said it's what the Queen should have done 20 years ago.

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands for instance. After 33 years she said it was time for the throne to be held by a new generation. Good on her. Stepping away for all the right reasons. And passing on to her son.
King Juan Carlos of Spain too. But he was dodgy as fuck, so had little choice in the matter. But King Felipe and Queen Letizia have revitalised the monarchy over there somewhat, given it was down the pan with Juan Carlos's behaviour.

KeflavikAirport · 17/11/2021 11:02

"magnificent seven" vom emoji I mean I'm sure they're perfectly nice people but they are hardly the country's best and brightest, are they?

Roussette · 17/11/2021 11:04

Magnificent Seven is as bad as Fab Four.
Look where that ended up 🤣

CathyorClaire · 17/11/2021 11:17

No, she wouldn't be Queen Mother, because that's an alternate title for Dowager Queen and only available to widowed Queens Consort

And also because we'd have a king.

I don't think she'll abdicate officially but unofficially it's pretty much a done deal already.

Is the Magniicent Seven the new Fab Four? Look how that ended...

CathyorClaire · 17/11/2021 11:18

Arf, Roussette

Cross post Grin

MaryAndGerryLivingInDerry · 17/11/2021 11:38

Presumably it’s being split between 7 because they all also have their own things going on too. Rather an indication that it takes 7 people to do the work the queen does.

ChurchofLatterDayPaints · 17/11/2021 11:51

Rather an indication that it takes 7 people to do the work the queen does.

Sure, each country needs 7 heads of state to represent it.

The cloning of Biden, times 7. What a terrifying thought.

MaryAndGerryLivingInDerry · 17/11/2021 11:58

Sorry, that was my fault. It’s Should read “ rather than an indication that it takes 7 people to do the work the queen does.”

Werehamster · 17/11/2021 13:36

Well, she's been photographed working today and looks well, so either she's still alive or they are using one of her clones.

JesusIsAnyNameFree · 17/11/2021 13:44

@Werehamster

Well, she's been photographed working today and looks well, so either she's still alive or they are using one of her clones.
Just what I came here to say.
A8mint · 17/11/2021 13:52

She can retire from public engagements, handing more over to other senior Royals but she would still be The Queen . Abdication is what i think you mean but that would be a very exceptional thing to do, and I think the Queen would see it as disrespectful to repudiate her privileged position as monarch

Peregrina · 17/11/2021 14:23

I think the Queen remembers the strain placed on her father by his brother's abdication and she would not countenance abdication for herself.

But her father was still a relatively young man, who had never been prepared for the role, with two young daughters of 11 and 7. This can't be said of Charles, who has been preparing for the role for 50 years and is now a grandfather, with his own heir much the same age as the Queen's father was when he became King.

The Queen could set a new precedent and follow the Dutch Royals of stepping down at a sensible time, which would help wipe out the memory of Edward VIII which is now more than 80 years ago.

Roussette · 17/11/2021 14:29

The Queen could set a new precedent and follow the Dutch Royals of stepping down at a sensible time, which would help wipe out the memory of Edward VIII which is now more than 80 years ago

I agree but I think that ship has sailed. She obviously has only a few years to go, and if she was going to do that, it should've been 20 years ago.

Being an heir to the throne is the longest apprenticeship in history!

SickAndTiredAgain · 17/11/2021 14:31

@CathyorClaire

No, she wouldn't be Queen Mother, because that's an alternate title for Dowager Queen and only available to widowed Queens Consort

And also because we'd have a king.

I don't think she'll abdicate officially but unofficially it's pretty much a done deal already.

Is the Magniicent Seven the new Fab Four? Look how that ended...

“Queen mother” comes from the fact she was queen, not that she is the mother of the queen. Queen mother is the mother of the sovereign, who used to be queen, and still retains the title queen. So Queen Mary (Mary of Teck) was technically queen mother when her sons (Edward VIII and George VI) were king, but I don’t believe she used the title. In this country you lose the title of king or queen when you abdicate, so she wouldn’t be queen mother because she would no longer be queen. Unlike her mother and grandmother who retained the title of queen after their husbands died.
Platax · 17/11/2021 14:39

@KeflavikAirport

The "anointed sovereign" bollocks is a bit rich considering she wasn't going to be queen until her uncle decided to abdicate. All part of God's plan for Wallis Simpson to get a divorce, was it?
At that point she was second in line to the throne, and given both Edward and Wallis Simpson's ages, that wasn't likely to change even if he had stayed on the throne. So there was every chance that she would succeed to the throne, albeit considerably later.
LakieLady · 17/11/2021 14:59

@BasiliskStare

I did not like the outpouring for Diana - it felt like more tourism than anything else

The Queen - her first Prime Minister was Winston Churchill ( and not just from watching the Crown ) - she has seen much.

The point of an hereditary / constitutional monarchy is stability Technically the Queen can dictate things - in practice she does not.

But when we want to forge a relationship with other countries - she does her job. She won't only be there for 4 or 8 years & then replaced.

I rather like having a head of state different from Prime Minister.

What I am in favour of is slimming down the Royal family.

I hope she continues as did her mother. Charles and William have big shoes to fill ( well the Queen has little shoes - but hope the point is taken )

Loads of countries have an elected head of state and an elected prime minister. It's a common model, and much more democratic as they can be voted out if that's what people want.
KeflavikAirport · 17/11/2021 14:59

I know, but that still means that Edward falling in love with a divorcee too old to have kids just so that Elizabeth could come to the throne was all part of God's great plan. Which seems a bit unlikely to me Hmm

CathyorClaire · 17/11/2021 16:10

“Queen mother” comes from the fact she was queen, not that she is the mother of the queen
Queen mother is the mother of the sovereign, who used to be queen, and still retains the title queen. So Queen Mary (Mary of Teck) was technically queen mother when her sons (Edward VIII and George VI) were king, but I don’t believe she used the title
In this country you lose the title of king or queen when you abdicate, so she wouldn’t be queen mother because she would no longer be queen. Unlike her mother and grandmother who retained the title of queen after their husbands died.

Ah, OK.

Just the usual convoluted royal bollocks red tape then...

CathyorClaire · 17/11/2021 16:16

Technically the Queen can dictate things - in practice she does not

She does if it impinges on her interests.

What I am in favour of is slimming down the Royal family.

Given the Soveriegn Grant is guaranteed not to fall in value Charles' much vaunted policy may not achieve the savings we're led to anticipate.

StoneofDestiny · 17/11/2021 19:47

Just because YOU don’t regard that as work doesn’t mean it isn’t and you certainly don’t get to unilaterally state she is insulting us

I didn't - I said 'those of us'. Didn't say 'all of us'.

Many people spend at least three hours a day doing official paperwork or having to entertain people that they can’t stand....and trudge around boring places when they would no doubt rather be somewhere else

The fact she is still doing it at her age is because it's well rewarded! She has a son who has been apprenticed to the job for 70 plus years, and a grandson in his 30's apprenticed to the same job! Ridiculous. All kept in absolute luxury for the on 'job'.

As for calling yourself 'working class' - geezo - Victorian times are back!

StoneofDestiny · 17/11/2021 19:55

I'd also add - I know several people in their 80's who spend over 3 hours a day writing letters by hand to people across the world who have been imprisoned unjustly - just to support them. They are unpaid. They do sterling work and it's not recognised by getting free accommodation, free security staff, servants, cooks, dressers, chauffeurs, private medical care etc etc

CathyorClaire · 17/11/2021 20:29

Presumably it’s being split between 7 because they all also have their own things going on too.

Given the acres of unexplained empty dates in the Court Circular that doesn't seem likely.

DuchessOfDisaster · 17/11/2021 21:41

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10212507/Queen-stands-unaided-returns-duties-official-engagement.html

Everyone who said she was already dead and we weren't being told look a little silly now.