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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:
UndertheCedartree · 14/11/2021 23:03

@RustyBear

On her 21st birthday, she broadcast a speech from the royal family's tour of South Africa "But through the inventions of science ....I can make my solemn act of dedication with a whole Empire listening. I should like to make that dedication now. It is very simple. I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong." Apart from the fact that it's now the Commonwealth, not the Empire, I think she will stick to that.
Yes, that's definitely something I remember my grandmother telling me. It definitely wasn't all from the Crown!
StoneofDestiny · 14/11/2021 23:05

Ridiculous Charles is still doing an apprenticeship at 73! And his eldest son is doing the same apprenticeship!

Jobs for life and unemployed for life - with all the luxury paid for by the taxpayers. What a joke of a system.

EmeraldShamrock · 14/11/2021 23:05

She might now, she has been through so much over the last few years its bound to have an impact on her health.

521Jeanie · 14/11/2021 23:06

@NeedAHoliday2021

My grandmother is the same age as the queen and recently came out of hospital after breaking her knee (came home a week ago) and I chatted to her for over an hour. She’s frail but mentally able and frustrated her body is letting her down. She doesn’t seem close to death. Just because a 95 year old has been in hospital and is unwell doesn’t mean death is imminent.
But 95 year olds can also die any time. My grandad got up, had breakfast, took the dog out, came over and "felt funny" - he was dead by lunchtime.
EmeraldShamrock · 14/11/2021 23:07

I blame Meghan. Really, that's unusual. Hmm
Not Andrew no?

SickAndTiredAgain · 14/11/2021 23:08

She doesn’t really need to officially retire or anything. Just reduce engagements and do what she can when she can. The state opening of parliament feels like the only thing that might cause a bit of an issue if she doesn’t do it, but even that she’s missed twice before due to pregnancy, and no one died. Parliament still opened. The lord chancellor read the speech. So it doesn’t really make any difference.

TatianaBis · 14/11/2021 23:10

@PieMistee

I blame Meghan.
Mabdication.
me4real · 14/11/2021 23:12

She's the Queen, she'll do what she wants, needs, or feels is right to do.

Remembrance Day is one of her main events, so I'm sadly fearing we will lose her at some point in the next couple of months. Sad

HoobleDooble · 14/11/2021 23:21

My gut feeling is her mental state isn't at its best right now, which is understandable after recently losing her husband, who she also called her rock, after such a long time. She probably doesn't want to risk getting emotional in public as she's been brought up to not show emotions, so she's having a bit of time out. Hopefully she won't 'do a Victoria' and go into a secluded state of deep mourning. Charles did look extremely upset this morning but I imagine his dad was at the forefront of his mind.

Anonymouseposter · 14/11/2021 23:22

The queen doesn't need to abdicate, other members of the family can take on her responsibilities without her formally retiring.
It's in bad taste to speculate about her health. A strained back or sciatica is very painful and could be the reason for her not attending or it could be something else.
Of course Prince Charles looked sad. His father died this year, a much loved son has distanced himself and criticises him publicly and he was there to remember thousands of young men killed in their prime.
How would yu expect him to look?

MaryAndGerryLivingInDerry · 14/11/2021 23:25

Remembrance Day is one of her main events, so I'm sadly fearing we will lose her at some point in the next couple of months. sad

It’s entirely possible to be too ill/in too much pain to be able to attend a public ceremony and not yet be knocking at the pearly gates you know! Her missing the remembrance ceremony is an indication of nothing other than that she wasn’t able to attend today.

EmeraldShamrock · 14/11/2021 23:26

I wish her well, she is a remarkable woman.

AdoptedBumpkin · 14/11/2021 23:26

Exactly @Anonymouseposter, no reason why he would look happy on such a sombre occasion, plus he was probably a bit nervous as well.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 14/11/2021 23:27

@Ilikewinter

I dont think she'll make it to her celebrations in June.
I don’t think so either
ICouldHaveCheckedFirst · 14/11/2021 23:34

I hurt my back a couple of weeks ago. I'm 100% again but for a few days, I could barely walk, so she has my sympathy!!

Babyroobs · 14/11/2021 23:36

@HalfCakeHalfBiscuit

It is utterly preposterous that in this day and age the head of state of this country is chosen by accident of birth. Hopefully Charles will be so hopeless that it will spell the end of this ridiculous institution
I can't imagine Charles really wants to start being king at the age of 73. He probably just wants to retire to potter round his gardens. The throne should pass directly to William if anyone has any sense.
daimbarsatemydogsbone · 14/11/2021 23:36

@monkeysox

I think she has died and they haven't told us. They didn't tell us she'd been in hospital....
Nonsense
LobsterNapkin · 14/11/2021 23:37

I can't see her abdicating. I think she will do the essentials of her job as long as she can. And when she can't, Charles will have to do them as regent, I suppose.

If she wanted to do that now I'd assume she felt she couldn't do it or at least as well as it needed to be done. She's not the shirker type which I admire about her. But I wouldn't want to see her making herself really sick or miserable trying to do work that she isn't really up to any more.

That being said, I suspect she might struggle with doing nothing.

Pixxie7 · 14/11/2021 23:40

This is the first time that I can recall that she has taken time out for her health, so surely she is allowed a few weeks off. She has led this country some trying times so why should she go?

Platax · 14/11/2021 23:40

@monkeysox

I think she has died and they haven't told us. They didn't tell us she'd been in hospital....
Why on earth wouldn't they tell us?
TheGirlCat · 14/11/2021 23:45

would say she should, but I really don't like either Charles or William and don't believe either of them deserve to be King. So the longer she holds on the better. Not keen on her much either tbh, then again, I am a republican, so.... shrugs.

HalfCakeHalfBiscuit · 14/11/2021 23:45

When she finally shuffles off this mortal coil the next monarch should be chosen by random lottery. Queen Doris of Dudley would make a much better job than the shower that is the current royal family.

Platax · 14/11/2021 23:45

I can't imagine Charles really wants to start being king at the age of 73. He probably just wants to retire to potter round his gardens. The throne should pass directly to William if anyone has any sense.

It's not a matter of choice. If Charles is around when his mother pops off, he becomes King automatically from that moment onwards. The only mechanism for renouncing his right to the throne requires an Act of Parliament, and I can't seriously see Charles doing something that puts him on a par with Edward VIII.

TheGirlCat · 14/11/2021 23:46

I missed out the 'I' at the start of that post.

TheGirlCat · 14/11/2021 23:48

@HelloDulling

She can’t retire. That’s not one of the options available to a monarch. She could abdicate, but I doubt she will.
@HelloDulling To abdicate is the same as retiring, so she can retire (abdicate).