Abdication?

Well quite Alea! The Queen won't abdicate, she pledged her life to the service of this country whether her life be short or long and she won't renade on that promise. I expect she'll hand over more and more responsibilities to Prince Charles. I agree with roses, another five years would be tickerty boo!

I can't believe the amount of knowledge (?) speculation as to what may or may not be in the Queen's mind at present.
However if it passes the time, why not

It's the last thing we need( an abdication) another 5 years would be good.

thatbags Queenie is hale and hearty, it appears, but many older people may not enjoy the kind of health she has.

I wasn't being ageist, simply practical. An older monarch may not be inclined to or able to commit to the responsibilities of the throne.

And I agree that Charles has earned his spurs. I think he'd make a capable King, if we must have one.

I had decided she should hand over to Charles but suddenly realised we would/could have William as PofWales , not well pleased at that, poor Kate

The timing isn't exactly right for an abdication and all the faffing about it would entail, what with the UK in such a stew about the Referendum. I'm sure the Queen (and the rest of the family) realise that, even if she does intend to do so eventually.

The only thing is if Charles is about 75 when he becomes king, having an expensive coronation, and then another less than ten years later let's say, is going to be a bit stressful on the state's coffers. Almost not worth it from a financial point of view, mind you Americans + will flock to London, so maybe a money spinner on both occasions who knows!!!

The King of Thailand is a little younger, at 88, than our Queen, but he has been on the throne for seventy years. Just saying.

I don't think having an old monarch is bad for the country or setting a bad precedent. Why would it be unless the aged monarch were somehow troublesome? Queenie isn't in the least bit troublesome so there isn't a problem with her age. To suggest that there might be a problem is quite simply ageist and negative. She has done a fantastic job and still is doing.

I read something interesting on the thread attached on here. It suggested that Charles could well be 80 when he acceeds (is that the right word?) the throne. William, in turn, could also be of a fairly advanced age.

So, in remaining on the throne, Queenie could actually be setting a precedent for very old monarchs. Not sure that's a good thing for the country.

I reckon Queenie's doing it on purpose. Maybe she thinks that abdicating will cause a constitutional crisis, and pertinent questions will be asked about the relevancy of the Family.

Could be she wants to remain queen , and there is Phillip to consider , possibly she knows if she was still around and Charles became King she would still get all the adoration, she can hardly enter a convent if she decided to hand over the crown would she have to watch his coronation on telly

I also think she should have passed the crown on a while ago, I wonder if she knows more than us. Is there some reason for Charles not to be King, or is he happy with his position where he can be outspoken

I do not wish her dead but I think Charles has earned time as King , difficult one , queenie could remain queen and appoint him Prince Regent I suppose but he would still be in her shadow

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands did the right thing a few years ago,when she abdicated to allow the next in line to take the throne.
I have always liked Charles and think he should have been crowned at least 10 years ago.
My mum worked as a domestic at one of the establishments he regularly visited.
He often sat in the kitchen with her for tea and chat.
She always spoke very highly of him and she was no royalist.

I think Charles has been and is a good heir to the throne , I really believes he cares for people , wonder how many could have kept going as he did when he was under years of media attack, and attack from other quarters

Jalima, I am all for excitement, it's good for one, but there is always the fact that too much of a good thing isn't . As I will discover if Murry wins Wimbledon this year

Good post Shellseeker, sums it all up nicely.

I know someone who worked for the Prince's Trust, they do wonderful work.
And PC is also very much into the environment, ecology, organic farming, anti GM crops (which many posters may be as well) etc

you realy need to calm down, too much excitement isn't healthy
Sorry anniebach I have to disagree (without being disagreeable iyswim) because I think we all need some excitement in our lives, it's what keeps us going!
Can we ever have too much? I don't know

Well said Shellseeker, I think you've summed up what a lot of people think very eloquently.
ab, I think it's best that you and I ignore each other, not very pleasant for others to have to read constant haranguing, so as far as I'm concerned we'll just ignore and avoid each other.

I have not long been with Gransnet and after reading through this forum I feel sad. Everyone is entitled to express an opinion on the subject of the forum, but I didn't realise that this also meant contributors could be bitchy and snipe at and about each other!
If we can return to the subject of the Queen and abdication I'd like to make the following comments:
No I don't think she will abdicate because she dedicated 'her whole life be it short or long .......' She is simply the best.
Charles - he has got a lot of stick over the years. He could have just lounged around waiting for his time to come. Instead of which he set up the Prince's Trust and is involved with many charities besides running the Duchy of Cornwall. All of this has to be done in such a way that he can work and be involved, but at the drop of a hat when the time comes he can leave it without damaging the work he has done. When the time does arrive he will serve his country well as his mother has.
Charles' marriage to Diana was for dynastic reasons. Eldest sons have to marry and produce heirs. This has happened throughout countless generations both in royalty and the upper classes where family estates and money are involved and they all know this from the start. After the births of the heir and a spare both partners were 'free' hopefully with some discretion to find happiness. The difference with Charles and Diana was the media. The world knew what was going on.
William - was reported to have said years ago that he didn't want to be King. Who could blame him? Who would want that job? Sadly for him he is the first born and he now seems to have settled to learning the job. I think the Queen has made a fantastic effort to guide him. He has been allowed to marry for love, he has the opportunity, denied to the Queen, to have a relatively normal life with his children while he can, but is now gradually taking on more royal duties.
Clothes - At the Patron's Lunch where many of the family were in evidence information was given about the designers of the clothes worn. I bet you that those clothes did not have to be paid for. That was free advertising for the designers!!

GrandTea,I apologise for posting of tennis, I had a lightbulb moment and remembered it started today , but I think queenies father played so not totally off topic

Niggly, you get over excited if you think you see a chance to bitch me, my remark on tennis was an expression of delight , any calm person would say - do you not like tennis? But not you, you realy need to calm down, too much excitement isn't healthy

Meanwhile, not a peep from durhamjen whose post it was which was actually complained about!

Mind you, that's typical.

Newquay seems like a lot of children got out of bed the wrong side this morning, time to respect the OP's thread.

The Queen mother used a walking stick without it causing any particular comment and I'm sure H.M could do the same . Fail to understand your sarcasm ab. Why the sarky comment over a tennis tournament? presumably you feel the same about Wimbledon? No one makes you watch either, so why be snippy over activities that a lot of people enjoy? Do you feel the same about football? I don't like that but I don't begrudge those that do. I just can't understand why you constantly take such a dismal attitude over so many things, it's quite depressing!

She could if she had time to play Elegran