The Queen.

The Queen has been very good at it in the past - nearly 300 engagements a year.
That's why people are missing her visible attendance now. A victim of her own success.

It'll depend on the constitutions/traditions/job descriptions/hierarchies/personalities in those countries. What works in one country or at one time may not operate successfully elswhere or in a different era.

The Queen doesn't actually have to do anything - she just has to stay alive and she remains queen. She's been very good at that I suppose.

It would be interesting to know what Heads of State do in other countries. Not Heads of Government, Heads of State.

Just so we know what we're missing, you know?

(e.g. - leading your country in a war against fascism, that kind of thing.)

She's mid 90's, still working several visits (or maybe less now), it's not surprising she is looking frail. During the last few months of my mum's life, she lost a lot of weight due to being bed-ridden and it was like she almost shrank to nothing. Don't forget, they tell us that HMTQ isn't as mobile as she was and I feel she was unable to mourn her husband which must take a huge toll on someone who is in the public eye a lot and has to smile and do small-talk. We'll probably know a lot more on the date of Prince Philip's memorial. I feel she will go downhill after her Jubilee this summer.

Her "duties' aren't much - a telephone call or a signature on a bit of paper someone shoves at you is about it. But if her duties are meeting heads of state, hosting banquets, attending church services, opening hospitals, then yes, she is becoming increasingly incapable of doing these and someone else has to take over. So its all a bit of a smokescreen saying she is fulfilling all her duties, she is so marvellous etc when in reality those around her are doing most of it.

Less than a month since she had Covid , does everyone recover fully in three weeks ?

The Queen is doing her duty by being the Queen untill her last breath. It's not as if she hasn't said so many times.

On the dog breed aspect, maybe they were sold a pup. (see what I did there? ).

I recently met a man with a most beautiful young dog. I asked him if it was a cocker spaniel and he said ‘Sort of.’ He’d been sold the young puppy as a ruby Cavalier King Charles. As she grew, she became more and more cocker spaniel-like.

They queried it with the breeder and it seems there may have been an ‘incident’ with the CKC mum who had escaped during her season and gone off to play with other dogs. ? ? Anyway, they were still very happy with their gorgeous little dog, though I hope they got a refund! ?

I really don’t get the ‘loose cannon’ thing?
What’s she likely to do?
The mind boggles…

Yes, what’s poor old Edward done ?

He’s done very well after making a bit of an arse of himself as a young man

Dempie55

I think she is perhaps becoming more frail mentally. She is 95, and, despite people saying that she is still sharp as a tack, I doubt this is true. I fear she may be a bit of a loose cannon in public.

Rude.

My mother is a year younger than the queen, still living in her own home with no carers. I’d be prepared to put money on my mother being more on the ball about most things than 95% of the population.

Sparklefizz

^That's what we've agreed is a good way to run the country.^

But volver, she doesn't "run the country".

I answered this misunderstanding of my post upthread. 13:30.

Maddy

I also wonder what duties she isn’t fulfilling. She’s been seen meeting people in the last few days. We know that she also has zoom meetings. She has recorded a message for today’s service. There’s no suggestion that she isn’t attending to her red boxes every day. So many allegations simply because she isn’t attending a church service.

Anniebach just come back. If you are in a wheelchair it shouldn’t mean you can’t go out anywhere. A wheelchair is an enabling device. Plenty of people have to use them. My son did for many years.

There are special adapted vehicles you can use to get in and out of whilst still seated in the wheelchair. There are wheelchairs that enable you to stand. All very expensive but then the Queen isn’t short of a bob or two. It would be wonderful for disabled people everywhere. If, however, it isn’t that the Queen doesn’t want to use one, but that she doesn’t feel up to long ceremonies then that’s a different thing altogether.

Mummer - are your adult children beyond reproach? Your judgemental approach could well have many of us dismissed as having disgraceful children.
I don’t claim mine as perfect but I’ll love and support them as best I can. I suspect I’m a bit like the Queen in that (caveat - I draw the line at Andrew)

That's what we've agreed is a good way to run the country.

But volver, she doesn't "run the country".

Mummer you think a divorce is a disgrace, and what has Edward done to disgrace his mother ?

What duties has she ceased to fulfill maddy ? And should she retire because some think she should because of her age ?

Big difference to you saying ‘she should retire’ to ‘she could be
a loose cannon’.

She's really old. She's not been well. She has a routine older than most of us on here!! She's not a "normal" person! She sounds as if she's basically retiring by stealth! I don't blame her, her kids are a disgrace apart from Anne. One of her DGS is a spoilt little tosspot hell Bent on ruining what looks possibly to be her last reigning year. I'm full of admiration for how she's resisted screaming "Orff with their bloody heads!!!!" She wants to do what she wants for a change!

I hope no one is thinking that I don’t tolerate old people just because I think the Queen should retire. I have a 94 year old mother. I have done everything I can to ensure she is cared for and well looked after. After my father died I helped her to move close to us. We, my husband and I, did everything we could , shopping, taking her to medical appointments, repairs, daily visiting. Everything! After her three falls last year. two bleeds on her brain, and a broken shoulder, she was no longer able to live in her sheltered apartment. We found the very best care home we could (we wouldn’t have put a dog in some we saw.) Now we visit almost every day, buy whatever she needs, organise everything for her.

She wasn’t a very good mother. She has narcissistic traits. She often shouts at me or tells me things I should have done differently. She prefers my sister but is wise enough to know that my sister wouldn’t do half of what I do.

This is relevant because I won’t have it said that I don’t tolerate old age. I believe the Queen should retire because she can’t fulfill her duties and because everyone deserves to retire. It’s not like we haven’t got someone waiting in the wings.

I understand Elegran

Just pointing out that we're not allowed to say the Queen might not have the mental acuity she once had but we can comment on the mental state of other countries' Heads of State if we like.

It looks as though she has lost a great deal of weight since his death.

volver

Anniebach

Agree Elegran such intolerance for the aged , it’s frightening

Do you mean the post above you Anniebach?

I imagine Anniebach was agreeing with my post at 12:51:19
"I can't imagine her becoming a loose cannon, at any age." Between that and her post was only CarlyD7's at 12:53:57 - less than 3 seconds after mine, so Anniebach wouldn't have seen it.