Time for the Queen to abdicate?

[GreenFingersWouldBeHandy]

If the first day of our new 'Prime Minister' is spent having to do a 1,000 mile round trip to Balmoral and back, rather than sorting out immediate problems, then is it time for the Queen to abdicate and let Charles take over?

She didn't write "round trip and back" though did she? I read it to mean "a 1000 mile round trip (to Balmoral and back)". I'm pretty sure everyone knew what she meant. I don't get the point of everyone commenting and laughing at this, it's just mean.

Wouldn't mind a referendum. I don't care either way but the OH is a staunch royalist, so I would vote to keep. I reckon that 'keep the Royals' would win comprehensively. Surprisingly, the general population doesn't reflect mumsnet!
@Parky04

Genuinely curious why your OH being a staunch royalist would mean that you would vote to keep, unless you are also a staunch royalist yourself?

You know you're allowed to vote independently or abstain💁 (in the scenario of there being a referdum or such like)

Agree
And slightly on a tangent, family were talking about Vesta Tilley this afternoon! One member had never heard of her, but she and her husband were associated with a local landmark!

Yes but they love to be mean on here, going over and over the same bloody point thinking it's so witty. Mean and tedious I'd say.

As for the original question OP. No the Queen will never abdicate. She saw how her uncle's abdication affected her father and this will never be an option for her.

She saw how her uncle's abdication affected her father and this will never be an option for her.

I agree she won't abdicate but the circumstances are totally different because Charles has always known he would be king one day.

Yawn.
It must be a few weeks now since we last had one of these threads.
Apart from the “let’s abolish the monarchy” ones which come up almost daily.
It’s not going to happen.

I agree. Some posters seem to have a vastly inflated idea of how important their opinions on this are!

Plenty of non-royal over-privileged people preaching at us. Can we abolish them too?

I don’t recall the Queen preaching recently though.

Well yes. She surely must be aware that if she abdicates it’s not going to cause a constitutional crisis like it did when her uncle did it.

What a lovely photo of the Queen in the news today, huge smile even though she's using the dreaded walking stick!

I'm a little more agitated that as head of state she hasn't stepped in whilst all of this chaos has been going on, from Brexit to covid to cost of living crisis - she is effectively the PMs boss is she not?

As a constitutional monarch she acts on the advice of her ministers (though she has the clout to ensure that advice is mainly what she wants to hear)
This means that she's supposed not to interfere, and also that she gets to dodge the blame for bad news, so despite the PR fluff about her "protecting us" stepping in isn't really an option

How the meddling Charles will handle this remains to be seen, but as a PP said it may be just as well he's too old to make much difference now.

In the meantime we have William waiting in the wings, and given the busted flush his father's become it's not hard to see why the curation of William's image is bordering on the obsessive

It made me sad. She’s lost so much weight and she looks really frail. In fact she looks very much like my mum did in her last couple of years. The end of an era is very close.

@Blossomtoes I know.. :-(
Still a beautiful smile, though, bless her..

She's not got long left. Soooooo leave her be

as head of state she hasn't stepped in whilst all of this chaos has been going on, from Brexit to covid to cost of living crisis - she is effectively the PMs boss is she not?

This is a deep & damaging misunderstanding of the nature of the British constitutional monarchy. Makes me wonder what people actually learn in schools ...

How the meddling Charles will handle this remains to be seen,

I really worry about this ... Charles Windsor has overstepped his role many times since becoming Prince of Wales, and he's none too bright, and arrogant to boot.

Charles Windsor has overstepped his role many times since becoming Prince of Wales, and he's none too bright, and arrogant to boot

That's why I said what I did about the curation of W&K's image, LuftBalloons

Realistically they must know that Charles is a busted flush, so if and when he makes an even worse fool of himself the palace can concentrate on the "clean pair of hands" coming up behind

I've just had a pop up saying that she has postponed the Privy Council meeting due this evening (Wed) as she needs to rest. It was going to be via video link.

So yes, I think we shall be seeing increasing use of the Counsellors of State this autumn, and would not rule out a retirement via Regency at some point

I can see the Counsellors of State, Edith, but would have said it's a bit late for a Regency; after all Charles will be "it" soon enough

Then again I was saying that when HM missed the Cenotaph service and she's still here ...

Apparently there are certain things the counsellors of state cannot do (including appointing the PM) so if the Queen became incapacitated to the extent that she couldn't undertake any duties at all, we'd have to have a regent.

Don't worry, I've been insulted by experts so I'm not easily offended.

The Queen deserves our respect and support, not idle speculation.

I don't think we got an answer to this. i hope that the Queen respects me, she gave me a shilling and all...
The usual answers trotted out are things like "works hard" "long service" "head of state" etc
which is all fluff and meaningless. She is not hacking away at the coalface is she? As for long service - well born with all those advantages i'd hope she had a good long life (although her sister managed to die relatively young). As for Head of State - well Monty Python have it right with "well i didn't vote for him" and the bit about farcical aquatic ceremonies not being a god basis for government

Still. At some point, i am assuming over the next 10 years due to her advanced age, we'll be wondering how much behind the scenes interference is going on from Charles.

Most jobs aren't hacking away at the coal face' though, are they? Many are not physically demanding at all, but they're still real.

I imagine they made the journey because some obscure rule dating back centuries states that the Prime Minister has to present themselves to the Monarch or something.

The Queen will not abdicate and there is no reason for her too - she can let Charles take on all official duties - everyone knows why its not a big secret she is getting on a bit. I guess there may be somethings that he cannot do for the same reason as in my first paragraph without becoming official regent though, but that is a well established role and i assume quite easy to initiate.

Maybe she actually likes still doing the odd thing. I must admit when i saw her i felt sorry for her having to do this stuff at her age but i am quite sure she is able to make her own decisions on this.

Actually thinking about it - this could also be the reason why they made the trip - the queen wants her last few moments in the middle of important events - and why not. I am no fan of the monarchy and would abolish the lot of them not least because little George should have the choice to become a plumber if he wants to - but i would not begrudge anyone nearly 100 and still working a slightly indulgent last few wishes

Looking at the photos I don't think abdication is going to be a consideration for long. She's not looking well.

I think she looks remarkable for her age.

She does...for her age. She is 96 years old.