The Queen at the Royal Windsor Horse Show

[TigerLilyTail]

I've read so much about how she is frail/dying/already dead etc. and I'm so pleased to see her looking happy and animated at the Royal Windsor Horse Show even if she is still not walking around. I hope she will be with us for many more years.

www.bbc.com/news/uk-61437148

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10812857/Queen-smiles-arrives-Royal-Windsor-Horse-Show.html

On an individual level, there are wealthy people who die young, and poorer people who live longer lives.

But on a populatuon level, life expectancy is significantly correlated with wealth/socio-economic class.

I think you'll find that this is exactly what she's done.

Retired, handed over heavy duties to Charles and William, keeping the fun and easy stuff to do when she feels like it.

What's your beef??

I’d pay good money to see that!

I know income and life expectancy are linked, however that is an average too, so there is every chance you can also live a longer life too. It's similar to when people say that people didn't live as long in the past - actually many did, but the increase in child mortality, for example, brings down the average. But there were still many people living to their 80s and 90s even centuries ago,

Similar situation house/life worse here with my grandparents, especially so on one side. 7 and 8 children respectively in very small industry based houses, one a lone parent for much of it. Minimal income on one side. One set of grandparents had it slightly easier than the other. However all 3 were very robust strong characters and whilst not always in the best of health all three lived long full lives, into their 90s. Mind, having done a lot of ancestry based research many people in my family tree also lived long lives, so suspect that comes into play too.

If you read the Employment section here, there are plenty of threads where people are reminded that it's ok to be signed off work for reasons of physical or mental health, and still go out to social events. The two are not the same and you can be fit enough for one (and even find it helps your overall wellbeing) but not for the other. This is the best analogy I have for the Queen's situation. Her doctors advised her the day before not to risk the opening of Parliament as it was too much. The horse show was different. If you really want to complain about it, you're putting yourself in the ballpark of those people who moan that Doris has been off work all week but they saw her in the park with her kids on Saturday and it's not fair and she should be sacked.

@lameasahorse

Again - HM is 96 . Give her a break .

What was actually said was: "The Queen continues to experience episodic mobility problems, and in consultation with her doctors has reluctantly decided that she will not attend the State Opening of Parliament tomorrow," Buckingham Palace said in a statement.

It's a bit of a leap to say it's all down to vanity and not wanting to use a wheelchair.

You're sounding like the worst kind of benefits officer here. Or Jacob Rees Mogg.

She should abdicate, but she never would. To be fair, that is her right, not to.

I know how old she is. She has a job. She should resign.

I find it utterly strange that people keep arguing about whether she can do her 'job'. What kind of job pays hundred of millions to wave and do a few speeches? We've had monarchs who didn't live in the country, monarchs who were nuts and monarchs who did almost nothing- they were still the monarch. There are no skills or qualifications, nor is she expected to achieve anything for the money.

She has an inherited position of superiority and priviledge, not a job. Fine to think that should be scrapped but whether she turns up to do one particular speech is irrelevant.

So you think what the Queen receives is the same as a welfare benefit? I suspect not. Your comparison makes no logical sense.

I think it's quite a good analogy for the money side of things. The whole family are supported by the state and don't pay into society.

Imagine the headlines if we gave that much money to any other immigrant family who did very poorly at school, could never hold down a job for long, had a track record of failed marriages and were constantly rowing in public.

Imagine the headlines if we gave that much money to any other immigrant family who did very poorly at school, could never hold down a job for long, had a track record of failed marriages and were constantly rowing in public

That made me laugh!
Yes if you put it like that 🤣

In all seriousness, the Queen should have abdicated in favour of Charles decades ago. I know I know, before anyone says, it's a god given thing for her.
But other european royals have done this, all for the good of their family and country.

Spain's Juan Carlos had to because of his every increasing dodgy dealings but all for the better. Their RF was in the toilet until Felipe and Letizia came along. They still have enormous problems but it's been somewhat revitalised with this younger couple and young family.

The best example is Beatrix of Netherlands who abdicated in 2013 stating it was time to "place the responsibility for the country in the hands of a new generation."
She was the third Dutch monarch in succession to do this.

But us.. no... we cling on to this fossilised relic of a monarchy, outdated and past its sell by date. I swear they wouldn't have half the problems they have now (H&M, Harry, Charles not popular, scandals eerywhere) if HMQ had abdicated and allowed a younger generation to keep the RF relevant.

Your last part highlights how royalty has no requirements attached. The incumbents don't actually need to offer anything at all. Presumably, that's why a wave or a chat, or, simply turning up are enough. I wonder if this will change as we move forward with a more educated population?

In all seriousness, the Queen should have abdicated in favour of Charles decades ago. I know I know, before anyone says, it's a god given thing for her.

Thing is, Charles has pretty consistently meddled in politics to get stupid things (like homeopathy and favoured architects) payed for.

The Queen just costs money and traps our politics in the past- Charles would add corruption to that mix.

You want the Queen to be wheeled up to her throne and helped into it do you? You want her to sit in a wheelchair on the balcony?
you want her to struggle up steps and risk falling over just to suit you?
Do you have any elderly relatives ? I hope not, because you sound callous and ignorant.

But ... we'd be on to William and Kate by now, if we had followed what the Netherlands have done. They have a very forward thinking RF. The children go to state school, they are slimmed down totally, a tenth of the staff our lot have got, they have jobs, and most importantly the public love them!

Have a look at them here... so natural and appreciated
mobile.twitter.com/zjmhugz/status/1519252602017521665

Yes, we are trapped in the past. Times have changed. Our RF has not moved with the times. And it's only going to get worse.

I hate this agist attitude that because someone is old, they are no longer relevant. The Queen is an important part of history and will be remembered for generations to come.

I don’t think people should be forced to hide away because they are old or having health problems. I’m sure she is still a great inspiration to many.

Im tired of reading people saying that now she is old/widowed/having health problems, she needs to step down. I hope she continues to stick two fingers up to her critics!

@Roussette

“Yes, we are trapped in the past. Times have changed. Our RF has not moved with the times. And it's only going to get worse.”

In what way is it going to get worse ?

It's not because she is old. She should've stepped down 20 years ago or more.

Charles is not popular. He's an elderly man. He has to prove himself as far as his promises of slimming down that he's been saying for 20 years or more. It's not like he's a breath of fresh air is it? He has scandals and skeletons.

The majority of the population know no different than Elizabeth as Queen, he has to make changes but will it be enough to save the gradual erosion of the RF. Not sure.

That's what I meant.

Exactly.... in my job they are called "reasonable adjustments" .... which protects those who fall into one of the Protected Characteristics...

Of which she does