Royal style: the Queen of Spain reigns in the fashion games

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Previous thread, usual rules.

Max and family are away on their annual ski trip. Nothing much to report style-wise but don't all the royal cousins (with the exception of mini-Max) look alike?

And the Japanese emperor turned 60, though you wouldn't guess it to look at him! Masako looks so much happier these days too.

I wonder how Beatrix feels sometimes going from a Queen to a princess? I wonder if it’s a relief?

I think abdication in the Netherlands doesn't have the same connotation it would here. Her mother and grandmother both abdicated so it's almost a tradition there. She still carries out a few royal engagements but I imagine she's relieved to pass most of the duties of monarchy to Wax and Max.

The queen should be allowed to retire, its ridiculous to expect her to die in harness at her age.

The queen should be allowed to retire, its ridiculous to expect her to die in harness at her age.

I've always got the impression that she doesn't want to. they always go back to her cape town speech about how she'll do this her whole life. It does seem crazy though.

At least Queen Beatrix retired when Wax was only in his 40s. One problem with HM retiring is that Prince Charles is an OAP himself!

This is a really stupid question so please forgive me. If the Queen abdicated and Charles became King, would she become the King Mother (like her mother) or would she still be referred to as Queen Elizabeth (like her Grandmother)

I think she'd be the dowager queen, like her granny was. The king, her father, died so young his mother was still alive and was the dowager, so the Queen Mother had a special title.
I don' know how things would pan out - Charles would be king, but could Camilla become queen at that point? Will the queen stay queen until she dies, and then let Charles decide what Camilla's role is to be (with government input?)

If the Queen abdicated, they would have to decide on her title and style. She would likely just be known as HM Queen Elizabeth or maybe she could be Queen Emerita (I think that's what Spain did with Juan Carlos.) She wouldn't likely be Queen Mother as that usually designates a former consort not a queen regnant.

.... although she'd not really be a dowager, as that would relate being the widow of a monarch. I'd be dowager, like Downton.

I don't think she would be Queen Dowager either. Again that is usually a designation for a former queen consort. I think they would have to come up with something new or just call her HM Queen Elizabeth. She would no longer be The Queen.

There is no precedent for naming a retired Queen here.

She could return to The Princess Elizabeth, or perhaps Elizabeth, Queen Emeritus?

Her mother took the "Queen Mother" to avoid confusion as they were both named Elizabeth, and Queen Mary was widowed, so they do not set the pattern.
I don't think she will abdicate, though she is already passing on some of her responsibilities to Charles and he is getting increasingly involved.

I seem to recall reading somewhere that while any change in her status is unlikely, if there was, it would most likely take the form of a regency. with Charles as regent and her remaining as queen. I think there were some legal/parliamentary reviews of this that hit the press at some point, but I could be going too far.

So rather than abdication, formal responsibility passed to someone else but all titles etc remain with her. Not dissimilar to if george suddenly became king for some reason and Harry (or whoever) assumed his role as regent until he was of age.

Yes, I think a formal regency is much more likely than abdication.

Yes, a regency is more likely than an abdication. Charles would make a wonderfully dapper Prince Regent!

I think they are heading that way, as Charles is doing so much overseas stuff that the queen used to do, with the 'help' of Philip and his diplomatic disasters. The royal yacht must have been amazing for hosting cocktail parties.
My neighbour died recently aged 99, she was in great health until her final six months. I'm sure there is a huge amount of contingency planning for long illness, short illness, sudden death etc.

Thank you for the answers and for not making me feel daft!

It's not at all daft - presumably the Lord Chancellor or someone grand knows the answer, it is an interesting question!

I wonder what worst case planning goes on at the palace. I mean for example if something happened and George was to inherit whilst still a minor I think it is highly unlikely Harry would now be regent.

I guess it depends on circumstances - something might be drawn up so Kate becomes regent. Though if by any chance George becomes king while a minor and both his parents are gone then I don't see what other choice there'd be apart from Harry!

I think Anne would be a popular choice for Regent, but of course it would depend on who had died, what the circumstances were etc. I can't see Harry accepting the role, even if it were offered.

Edward and Sophie currently look like a safe pair of hands, but I don't know if he was brought up with this in mind - Andrew was always ahead of him so one would imagine he had some sort of regent training, and Anne was a girl so far down the pecking order. She'd look very regent though!

Under the current Regency Act, if George became king as a minor, the regent would be the next person in the line of succession who is age 21 or over, so that would be Harry. For Kate to be regent, the Regency Act would have to be amended because she would not be the next person in the line of succession over 21. There is precedent, though. The Act was amended to make the DofE eligible to be regent during the minority of Charles. Otherwise the designated regent would have been Princess Margaret.

Whether people like it or not it would be Harry wouldn’t it? As next in line to the throne or is that not hoe it works? Have we ever had a Regent. I can’t imagine blood royals being happy for Kate to assume the role in the event of something awful happening to William. Also at what age can someone assume the throne? Is it 18, 21 or 25?

Seneca

You answered my questions while I was asking them!