Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The royal family
Original poster

What if William abdicated?

48 replies

Walnutwhipsarenothesame · 07/01/2023 08:18

Just thinking about what would happen if William decided to step down from the line of succession, and take his children out of it too.
Who would take over? Harry is next , but assume he wouldn’t want it for himself or his children. If he did, he would be a disaster and it would probably create huge ructions.
Anne when Charles dies would be too old. I don’t think her children are in the line of succession and there’s no way they would want it or be up to it. So then it would pass to Andrew, who would also be too old and not fit for it either. What on earth would happen? There would be no one fit for the task or wiling to take it on. The monarchy would collapse.

OP posts:
Turefu · 07/01/2023 08:22

I’m not sure William would be able to abdicate on behalf of his children. Even less sure Harry would turn down an offer of being king. You can’t be too old to be monarch , it’s not how monarchy works. In any case, Beatrice would be Queen.

IamSamantha · 07/01/2023 08:22

It's unlikely and the crown goes to his children first.

Plumbear2 · 07/01/2023 08:26

If all these unlikely things where to happen then Prince Edward would be best candidate, he is a working royal and only 58. It's unlikely because William wouldn be able to abdicate his children.

Jean67 · 07/01/2023 08:27

There are lots of people above Anne in the line of succession - Andrew and his daughters and their children, Edward and his children. I think she's 16th in line. If William were to abdicate and George was under age then someone - it would usually be Harry - would become Prince Regent until he was of age. Unlikely to happen though.

Wallowingwendy · 07/01/2023 08:28

I think if William passes it up then it would be sensible to get a president rather than continue the farce that this organisation family are somehow special.

SheilaFentiman · 07/01/2023 08:30

Andrew is still in the line of succession, that cannot be removed in the same way that military titles etc have been.

so it is William, his kids
Harry, his kids
Andrew, his kids
Edward, his kids
Anne, her kids, her grandkids

SheilaFentiman · 07/01/2023 08:31

Sorry, forgot Andrew already had grandkids, slot those in too.

it will never be Anne.

fajitaaaa · 07/01/2023 08:33

I don't think he would.

Snippedasababy · 07/01/2023 08:34

William can’t abdicate for his children. And I very much doubt he would, if he could and chance Harry being king.

Edward didn’t have children, that’s why the crown went to his brother when he abdicated.

Enko · 07/01/2023 08:55

William can't abdicate on behalf of his already born children. Edward was allowed to take his line out due to them not already existing. So after he abdicated had he and Wallis had children they would not have been in the succession.

Anne is currently 16th in line to the throne. Technically the succession goes on infinitively. Some years ago a genealogist made a list of the first 5000th in line to the British throne its fascinating to look at. Though this was early 2000th so many births since then and deaths.

this YouTube video explains it well

Stepuptowardsinfinity · 07/01/2023 08:58

Of course William could abdicate for his children. It goes to the next in line if the king abdicates, which in this case is George. Edward II was deposed by his wife and her (supposed) lover and was forced to abdicate in favour of his son, who became Edward III.

creamcoffee · 07/01/2023 08:58

i was thinking exactly the same thought.
after all, this is how the queen became queen

Plumbear2 · 07/01/2023 09:08

Even if William did advocate George will be an adult in 9 years. It's entirely possible that Charles will still be King in 9 years going by how long his parents lived.

SheilaFentiman · 07/01/2023 09:18

Stepuptowardsinfinity · 07/01/2023 08:58

Of course William could abdicate for his children. It goes to the next in line if the king abdicates, which in this case is George. Edward II was deposed by his wife and her (supposed) lover and was forced to abdicate in favour of his son, who became Edward III.

Hi Stepup, PP meant that William’s abdication wouldn’t put his children out of the line of succession.

Howmanycups · 07/01/2023 09:19

Wallowingwendy · 07/01/2023 08:28

I think if William passes it up then it would be sensible to get a president rather than continue the farce that this organisation family are somehow special.

Very well said.

I don't dislike any of them as fellow humans but I just wish we were more like the Republic of Ireland.

AlecTrevelyan006 · 07/01/2023 09:20

the country would descend into anarchy and chaos as Meghan would go full on Lady Macbeth and urge Harry to return and seize the crown. Edward would then step up to the plate and a huge civil war would rage between Sussex and Wessex.

North of the border, Sturgeon would take the opportunity to proclaim an independent Hibernian nation and gather up all Celtic and Rangers supporters to protect Hadrians Wall.

William, Kate and the kids seek refuge in deepest Wales which tries to remain neutral.

Northern Ireland opens up talks with the Republic with a view to creating a new united island.

meanwhile, the king of Norway forges an alliance with Sweden and Denmark and launches an army of thousands, sailing across the North Sea in long boats that they’ve been secretly hoarding for years, just waiting for right moment to strike and recreate the Viking invasion…

something like that

probably

Snippedasababy · 07/01/2023 09:20

Stepuptowardsinfinity · 07/01/2023 08:58

Of course William could abdicate for his children. It goes to the next in line if the king abdicates, which in this case is George. Edward II was deposed by his wife and her (supposed) lover and was forced to abdicate in favour of his son, who became Edward III.

I mean on behalf of his children. He can’t make the decisions to abdicate for them. Only for himself.

Alexandernevermind · 07/01/2023 09:24

I don't think he can either, not on behalf of his children. Harry & Megan would be back like rats up a drainpipe at the potential of being King & Queen, can you imagine?

Stepuptowardsinfinity · 07/01/2023 09:26

Snippedasababy · 07/01/2023 09:20

I mean on behalf of his children. He can’t make the decisions to abdicate for them. Only for himself.

Show quote history

Sorry I misunderstood. Of course he can't. That's not how hereditary monarchy works. You can't just decide who becomes the next monarch - we aren't an elected one like the old Holy Roman Emperor was. The monarch can only decide for themselves and it automatically goes to the next in line.

EdithWeston · 07/01/2023 09:27

He can't take his existing DC out of the succession, only any born after an abdication (like Edward VIII, who - if he had had DC - would have had them after abdication)

So it follows the line of succession, and George becomes king, and a regent would need to be appointed.

Normally it would be next in line from adults over age 21 in the succession. But Harry is normally resident overseas, which excludes him (and right now I don't think anyone wants him back). One would hope that Andrew stays retired and the York princesses, as non-working royals with young families, also decline the role. But that they get together with the other Counsellors of State and in that role petition Parliament to install Edward and Anne as co-Regents (for carrying out the formal and legal roles of the monarch) and Catherine for the upbringing and education.

That it would wreck George's remaining childhood is a very compelling reason why he simply won't do it.

George cannot abdicate of his own volition until age 18

RUNPMTS · 07/01/2023 09:28

AlecTrevelyan006 · 07/01/2023 09:20

the country would descend into anarchy and chaos as Meghan would go full on Lady Macbeth and urge Harry to return and seize the crown. Edward would then step up to the plate and a huge civil war would rage between Sussex and Wessex.

North of the border, Sturgeon would take the opportunity to proclaim an independent Hibernian nation and gather up all Celtic and Rangers supporters to protect Hadrians Wall.

William, Kate and the kids seek refuge in deepest Wales which tries to remain neutral.

Northern Ireland opens up talks with the Republic with a view to creating a new united island.

meanwhile, the king of Norway forges an alliance with Sweden and Denmark and launches an army of thousands, sailing across the North Sea in long boats that they’ve been secretly hoarding for years, just waiting for right moment to strike and recreate the Viking invasion…

something like that

probably

Omg this would be amazing. Some entertainment for us plebs.

ivykaty44 · 07/01/2023 09:29

so it is William, his kids
Harry, his kids
Andrew, his kids
Edward, his kids
Anne, her kids, her grandkids

andrew then his kids then surely there children?

it doesn’t skip backwards then to Edward, I don’t think that’s how line of succession works

ButtonSister · 07/01/2023 09:31

Williams wife won't let him abdicate, it's been her life's mission to be crowned queen

SheilaFentiman · 07/01/2023 09:32

ButtonSister · 07/01/2023 09:31

Williams wife won't let him abdicate, it's been her life's mission to be crowned queen

I doubt it.

MrsElm · 07/01/2023 09:34

AlecTrevelyan006 · 07/01/2023 09:20

the country would descend into anarchy and chaos as Meghan would go full on Lady Macbeth and urge Harry to return and seize the crown. Edward would then step up to the plate and a huge civil war would rage between Sussex and Wessex.

North of the border, Sturgeon would take the opportunity to proclaim an independent Hibernian nation and gather up all Celtic and Rangers supporters to protect Hadrians Wall.

William, Kate and the kids seek refuge in deepest Wales which tries to remain neutral.

Northern Ireland opens up talks with the Republic with a view to creating a new united island.

meanwhile, the king of Norway forges an alliance with Sweden and Denmark and launches an army of thousands, sailing across the North Sea in long boats that they’ve been secretly hoarding for years, just waiting for right moment to strike and recreate the Viking invasion…

something like that

probably

This, absolutely 💯 🤣