Queens Speech

Said on the news that the Queen will not be attending the State Opening of Parliament. Prince Charles will take her place. That must have been a difficult decision for her.

We don’t know for a fact that the queen won’t be seen in a wheelchair.

If it’s true then I think that’s a poor show and I am Sure any wheelchair users on here would agree.

I said I hope the Queen doesn’t live to 106. If that’s what’s been alluded to. I didn’t say that I hoped she’d die soon. There’s a big difference. I shouldn’t think anyone would want to live to be 106. I visit my elderly mother in a care home. The sights I see there could make me weep, and it’s a beautiful, caring home. People are bed bound, including my mother, who can only be got out of bed in a hoist. Others have various disabilities caused by their age. I did not say I hope the Queen will die soon. I said I hope she won’t live to 106 because her living another ten years was mooted. I apologise if I’ve offended anyone, including Annie for this. But I still wouldn’t wish living to 106 on anyone.

I’m a royalist but am beginning to lose patience. Does she have agoraphobia? Does she not want to be seen in a wheelchair? This isn’t the first time she has left people waiting until the 11th hour and let them down. I have no doubt that she’s still sharp mentally and capable of dealing with her boxes and zoom calls. But I’m beginning to think she is stubbornly clinging to a promise made when she was 21, and only recently renewed. She seems to be turning into Queen Victoria. I didn’t think I would ever say this but I think it’s time for her to step down.

Same here, Germanshepherdsmum, I agree.
I have every sympathy for her plight, but she just isn't doing the job properly.
Surely there comes a time in your life, usually well before 96 years, when you have to say to yourself, "Who am I helping carrying on in thus role?" "Who is getting any benefit?" Whether you be a monarch, a leader, a manager or a complete control freak you eventually, when very elderly, lose your stamina and outgrow your usefulness. I don't mean that unkindly, because you still have plenty to offer, but surely you want to see someone else take up the reins and succeed?

I'm not sure that it's just concern about being seen in a wheelchair.

I'd have thought with the State Opening she could just have been sitting on the chair/throne rather than walking in? Does she usually walk in? No idea. I've never really watched it.

I think maybe she's feeling rubbish and it could be time to step down. Or sit down rather.

Possibly she's waiting until the Jubilee celebrations are done?

Grandma70s

It only seems to be the physical things she can’t do. She can still do the paperwork. I’m not sure what that is, but I know there’s s lot of it.

With respect...

You know she can still do the paperwork but we never see her doing it.

You don't know what the paperwork is but you know there's a lot of it.

How???

I'm not convinced...

Just read the whole thread...are we having an outbreak of common sense on GN??

Volver, surely not couldn’t cope if common sense prevails.I’m off for a lie down in a dark room till normal service resumes. ?

Germanshepherdsmum

I’m a royalist but am beginning to lose patience. Does she have agoraphobia? Does she not want to be seen in a wheelchair? This isn’t the first time she has left people waiting until the 11th hour and let them down. I have no doubt that she’s still sharp mentally and capable of dealing with her boxes and zoom calls. But I’m beginning to think she is stubbornly clinging to a promise made when she was 21, and only recently renewed. She seems to be turning into Queen Victoria. I didn’t think I would ever say this but I think it’s time for her to step down.

I think you're right, Germanshepherdsmum

However, I think what is stopping her is that her sense of duty and loyalty is such that she believes she would be letting us down.

I expect an announcement of some kind mid-June.

The mobility problems may not be due to her age, they could be due to Long Covid.

Sad.
Such a lack of compassion.

I’m wondering about something more sinister- bone cancer in her spine, or some sort of disc/spinal problem ? Acute osteoporosis?
I’m sad some seem to be losing sympathy, I am still convinced that she would struggle on if she possibly could.

No lack of compassion at all. Just lack of understanding what is going on in the queens mind.

MawtheMerrier

I’m wondering about something more sinister- bone cancer in her spine, or some sort of disc/spinal problem ? Acute osteoporosis?
I’m sad some seem to be losing sympathy, I am still convinced that she would struggle on if she possibly could.

Well that's cheery.

She's 96 years old. We don't need to be looking for "sinister" illnesses. It's none of our business.

MawtheMerrier

I’m wondering about something more sinister- bone cancer in her spine, or some sort of disc/spinal problem ? Acute osteoporosis?
I’m sad some seem to be losing sympathy, I am still convinced that she would struggle on if she possibly could.

Well that's cheery.

She's 96 years old. We don't need to be looking for "sinister" illnesses. It's none of our business.

I think if we didn’t have the Jubilee looming, she would have already stepped down. I expect there to be an announcement afterwards but after all her years of service, I feel we should at least accept that she deserves to stay, in whatever capacity, until then. It’s only a few weeks after all.

I agree Libman. Her Platinum Jubilee is an amazing achievement and IMO she deserves to be able to celebrate it.

She's not going.

Charles and William are doing the job instead.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10798363/The-Queen-96-miss-State-Opening-Parliament-tomorrow-mobility-issues.html

I’m not sure why the queen’s health is “ none of our business” when we expect photos of all the family , including children, at every opportunity, and we pay for their lifestyle, keep them in crown jewels and fur robes. You can’t have it both ways. She is an unelected Head of State who is unable to fulfil her role- we should know why. We know she is of a great age when anyone would be frail and need assistance to do many tasks. Why not come out and say so or just retire gracefully?

Perhaps she is just so pi**ed off at Johnson and Partygate - especially on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral- that she wants nothing to do with him?

I think the Palace ought to give a bit more clarity, then people wouldn’t speculate so much. ‘Episodic mobility issues’ means nothing really. Have you ever heard anyone else being diagnosed with that? No, thought not.

It makes you think it’s something serious, otherwise why not say she has severe osteoporosis or arthritis or similar?

Looking back to the Duchess of Cambridge’s pregnancies, they had to say why she was in hospital, with severe morning sickness. And why not? That ended the questions.

I know privacy around health issues is important, but when you’re the Queen, it’s a bit different surely.

I’m another who thinks we will hear more after the Jubilee.

If she can't do her job because of her health, then we need to know. Speculation along the lines of she might have bone cancer is just distasteful, especially on a social media site like this. If she's ill, then she's ill. If she's just old, then she's just old. If we didn't treat her like the mother of the nation then we wouldn't think talking about her private issues was acceptable.

I think that the term episodic mobility issues is being used as a euphemism for a broader spectrum of issues that go with advanced old age. Mobility issues per se can be sorted but if you add into the mix a bit of cardiovascular issue like atrial fibrillation, again not uncommon at the Queen's age it becomes much more of a problem. One of the symptoms is unpleasant dizzy spells so it would be understandable why she wouldn't want to appear at such a public occasion. This would be my gut instinct (before anyone falls on me demanding evidence) and I don't see that the public needs any more information than that which the Palace has given us.

vegansrock

I’m not sure why the queen’s health is “ none of our business” when we expect photos of all the family , including children, at every opportunity, and we pay for their lifestyle, keep them in crown jewels and fur robes. You can’t have it both ways. She is an unelected Head of State who is unable to fulfil her role- we should know why. We know she is of a great age when anyone would be frail and need assistance to do many tasks. Why not come out and say so or just retire gracefully?

Exactly vegansrock. The royal family appear to want it both ways, the waving crowds and the interest in every engagement from the public, but the absolute privacy and ability to hide behind palace walls (Prince Andrew) when it suits them.
The Queen is no longer able to fulfil her role, she needs to hand over to Charles. It is said the royal family are there (in place) by consent. This consent may rapidly wane in the present circumstances. We are spending millions on celebrating the jubilee of a monarch who cannot perform the most important of her very few duties.