Enough with the jubilee already.

In an odd move for a committed Republican I think that Charles could be the breath of fresh air the Monarchy needs. We know what he's like because he has had opinions on a lot of things, and talks about them. He won't be subject to the fawning attention from the "because he's been around all my life" brigade.

I seem to remember reading that there wasn't much enthusiasm for Edward VII after Victoria's long reign, but he was a pretty good King and the Edwardian era, although short, was quite lively and forward thinking.

Come on Charles, show us what you're made of. He'll have to dump the over the top uniforms, though.

Surely the celebrations are about the people who want to go them considering she doesn't seem in good enough health to enjoy them herself? and by health I mean she is 96, most 96 year olds struggled to go out once a week I imagine, let alone a knees up for days on end. Those that are still alive, that is.

Agree with Volver, Charles could very well be like Edward VII after Queen Victoria’s long reign. Being of similar age, I like to remember him young, in that iconic photo on Bondi beach being kissed by a girl in a bikini!

Aveline

My suspicion is there are more complex factors around the Queen's withdrawal from some lengthy appearances. She's 96. Lots of potential physical problems.
She's very obviously and elegantly handing over to Charles without a big hoohaa abdication. This feels much more natural.

I agree with this. At 96 and having lost her husband, I think she will want to get the Jubilee events over with and then quietly hand over to Charles. She won't abdicate, as she took the vow of service for life, and duty comes above everything for the queen.

I agree Aveline.

He has been undertaking quite a lot of the duties of H of S for quite some time.

Aveline

My suspicion is there are more complex factors around the Queen's withdrawal from some lengthy appearances. She's 96. Lots of potential physical problems.
She's very obviously and elegantly handing over to Charles without a big hoohaa abdication. This feels much more natural.

You could be right.

I just wish Charles didn't look so pensive!

...then quietly hand over to Charles. She won't abdicate, as she took the vow of service for life, and duty comes above everything for the queen.

I know it can't just be me that sees the innate contradiction in this?

She may quietly hand over to Charles, so Charles will do all the "work" including the bits with actual responsibilities, not just the ceremonial bits, but she still wants to keep the title because she thinks it's her duty to be Queen? What service will she still be performing?

Callistemon21

I agree Aveline.

He has been undertaking quite a lot of the duties of H of S for quite some time.

So a bloke who isn't actually HoS is doing all the HoS stuff?

This isn't a grown up country, not at all... ?

I agree volver. I can’t imagine what duties she is going to perform for the remainder of her reign.

To be the monarch you don’t have to do, you just have to be.

Well I'd like a HoS that actually does something please.

The others can still call themselves what they like, but I want somebody who does the job we pay them for. Doesn't just "exist".

I agree with volver and GSM. Our Head of State needs to be able to perform the duties of state, not just let the next one in line get on with it. She’s clearly a very stubborn lady. And yes, this could go on for several more years, and there is absolutely not a jot anyone can do about it.

BlueSky

Agree with Volver, Charles could very well be like Edward VII after Queen Victoria’s long reign. Being of similar age, I like to remember him young, in that iconic photo on Bondi beach being kissed by a girl in a bikini!

Perhaps she is on Gransnet now.

?

I'm surprised at monarchists expecting the Queen to abdicate to make way for Charles - isn't that being rather pragmatic and sensible? IMO there's nothing sensible about a Royal Family in this day and age.

We have an hereditary monarchy, not a meritocratic one... if you go down a 'who is best' or 'makes more appearances' why don't we have say Princess Anne lined-up.

I'm not a monarchist, but do like and admire the Queen as a person in her role - monarchists advocating abdication should be careful what you wish for!

IMO the monarchy will be on shaky ground when Charles becomes king - the world has moved on since the Queen was crowned.

Isn't the monarchy "on shaky ground"now with someone in charge who isn't well enough to fulfil the duties of a H of S?

StarDreamer quite possibly!

I really think that this is the real divide.

There are people who think that the Queen (or King) should be Queen or King just because that's the way things are, and we need to keep quiet and accept that, and they can't understand how anybody can question that. So questioning that becomes disrespect to the person of the present Queen, in their head.

The there are those who think the being the monarch is about being an important part of the way this country is governed, and that we should expect certain things from the person in that position. And that it's an important role that shouldn't just be given to the next in line, because of who their parent was.

Monarchy not looking on very shaky ground at all judging by the colossal outpourings of good will all over the country.
I suppose that's the problem for the anti monarchy people looking for a concrete H of S. It's how the monarchy makes people feel that's so intangible yet invaluable.

Germanshepherdsmum

She could go on for years like this. I feel sorry for Charles.

But why do you feel sorry for Charles?

He's in this extraordinarily privileged position by virtue of his birth, not down to any skills on his part.

And by the same token, his mother become Queen at a very early age by virtue of her birth.

That's just how it is... if you are a fan of the monarchy I don't know why you wouldn't accept this.

abdicate is such a weird word. How does it mean to fail to fulfil if you are 96 fgs

I feel sorry for him because apart from his short and none too illustrious stint in the Navy this is the only job he’s been trained to do and he’s been waiting for it for such a long time. A lifetime. He’s now an elderly man and his mother is happy for him to do the work but won’t let him have him have the title. It’s entirely possible that he could die before her.

Huge outpourings ofgood will? Not in my part of the world ,I think there were 10 folk for the beacon being lit in Dumbarton and a councillor remarked there were 20 and a dug in Strathclyde park ...and it was more than they had expected

Germanshepherdsmum

I feel sorry for him because apart from his short and none too illustrious stint in the Navy this is the only job he’s been trained to do and he’s been waiting for it for such a long time. A lifetime. He’s now an elderly man and his mother is happy for him to do the work but won’t let him have him have the title. It’s entirely possible that he could die before her.

Well indeed, his none too illustrious stint in the Navy was down to his not being up to it - but you want him to be our Head of State!

He shouldn't get his go at being our HoS just because he's been waiting for a long time - it's bad enough he gets it by virtue of his birth!

We should just stick to the Queen - she's done the job for the past 70 years.

There's no rhyme nor reason why she's there, and no rhyme nor reason to change the rules - unless you don't agree with having an hereditary monarchy.