Prince Phillip

If the queen visited a hospital, parking would be restricted, visitors checked, corridors cleared

Anniebach I am inclined to agree. I thought it looks a bit childish to be crossing their fingers, as well as disrespectful to the basis of oath taking - and God, if they were swearing the religious form of the oath. Sinn Fein have at least maturely stated their position.

The Royals never seem to visit their family when they are ill. I don't believe the Queen even visited her mother or sister towards the end either.

It's pretty poor, in my opinion, and doesn't reflect well on her, especially as she is on her Christmas break now. It's not as if she has to use that time, like most people, to rush around getting last minute shopping in, cooking it and clearing up afterwards but would still find the time to visit sick older members of the family! I can't see H and M rushing back either!

I have more respect for Sinn Fein MP’s than the SNP MP’s who publicly snubbed the oath.

You can Sussexborn if you preview your post first. I don’t always - and then get cross with myself for being too hasty!

I do hate the fact that you can’t correct your own posts! Shades of controlling Big Brother!

At the opening of Parliament ReadyMeals any of us who may want a republic for instance, such as Sinn Fein supporters, since the minute they decided to take their seats, they'd have had to either drop their stance against the crown or perjure themselves by swearing a false oath several of the SNP MP’s crossed their fingers and held them aloft on tv.

Is that what they were meaning? Non-allegiance?

My in laws, same generation as HM and PP, were intensely private people. I found out the hard way that she hated people seeing her in hospital and didn’t appreciate people calling at the house without notice. Totally opposite to my family who would have been hurt if they had been ignored or bypassed.

My Mum cleaned for various older affluent people as I was growing up and majority of them had separate rooms often with single beds. One couple in particular adored each other but didn’t share a bed which is their prerogative. Presumably they either followed their familial pattern. My OH often sleeps separately though it’s not a problem if and when we share a bed. He snores VERY LOUDLY and I like to read til I fall asleep, often in the early hours of the morning.

It’s interesting how the media and some members of the public state unverified opinions as facts about HM and her family. Pity she’ll never be in a position to defend herself or her loved ones. I thought she looked rather pale and uncertain on the news a few nights ago but most 90+ year olds have good and bad days I guess.

sodapop
Apologies, Edward the 7th not St Thomas.

SHW, or something that in any other person would have required a stretcher but Philip was too stubborn to accept one!

Lots of criticism it seems about Philip. I have read a lot and watched him over the years and he has tried to do a lot. He is grumpy but so?

Sodapop
The fact he was shown walking into St Thomas's and according to news reports 'of a previous condition' could be a uti ? Not unusual in the elderly male .

Taylor53, the Palace are not confirming that. This is educated speculation by royal reporters etc.

He has aged wonderfully-he is 98 and both of them are an inspiration

Not another referendum but I see no reason why the oath shouldn't be changed. Interestingly the first woman elected to Parliament never took her seat because of that oath. That was over 100 years ago- Constance Markowitz a member of Sinn Fein elected in 1918. You would think we could have found a solution by now.

It has already been said that the Queen will retire at 95, Prince Charles will not become King at that point but will take over her duties. He will become King when she passes.

Would certainly take our minds off brexit tho!

Not another referendum please.

omg! I don't think we could cope with the fallout from another referendum!! :D

We could have a referendum on whether to keep them, that’d keep folks happy......

The problem with our democracy is it has inbuilt protection for the monarchy, in the form of MPs having to swear allegiance to the crown. This effectively precludes any discussion about changing from a constitutional monarchy to another form of head of state, or even too much obvious tweaking to the financial support for the monarchy. It denies representation in parliament for any of us who may want a republic for instance, such as Sinn Fein supporters, since the minute they decided to take their seats, they'd have had to either drop their stance against the crown or perjure themselves by swearing a false oath. I don't have a problem personally with the current system but I can understand why some may feel resentful of it.

Bluebell I dont agree about Charles and maybe that is why she doesnt retire.

No they don’t - but then much of their behaviour is dubious, irritating and at times, downright appalling. If you’re funded by taxpayers to a fairly large extent then you can’t expect to go unchallenged.

Pre-existing condition? Well, that could mean anything - very vague.

I recall that during the last two years of her life the late Queen Mother had quite a few trips into hospital that were unconvincingly explained away as "having a fishbone removed from her throat" each time.

He's 98 - that's a pretty good run for anybody.

Other marriages don’t have their children , grandchildren, parents, siblings criticised almost daily by the media and the country.