Will the Queen abdicate? It will be 'business as usual' for monarch after mourning period, say experts
Following the death of Prince Philip, some people have wondered whether Queen Elizabeth might step down as the longest-reigning monarch of the UK and choose to retire instead and live a more private life.
On April 9, when Duke of Edinburgh had passed away, the Queen lost her partner who was a part of her life for more than 70 years. Prince Phillip passed away, at home, and in the company of his beloved "Lilibet". Their son, Prince Andrew, said that the Queen has described the death of the Duke of Edinburgh as “having left a huge void in her life." Andrew, called his mother "incredibly stoic" even though she is "feeling it, I think, probably more than everybody else", reports Sky News.
READ MORE
On Sunday, April 11, former British prime minister Sir John Major said Prince Philip had provided great support to the Queen in the “very lonely position” of being the head of state. The monarch reportedly offered private prayers for her husband over the weekend as she attended a mass in Windsor Castle after his death on Friday, April 9. However, as to reports of her retirement, there is still a long way to go for the monarch who has always placed her duty toward the crown above all else, sometimes even above her own family.
Will Queen consider becoming regency after her 95th birthday?
Despite the rumors, it is highly unlikely that the queen will choose to retire from her royal duties and public life. Queen Elizabeth II, aged 94, is presently the oldest serving state leader in the world - the closest one being Cuba’s Raúl Castro, who is 89.
Her eldest son, Prince Charles, is also the longest-serving heir apparent to the British throne in history. He has held the role for more than 68 years. It was speculated that the Queen could consider a regency by allowing Charles to become a stand-in or acting sovereign after she turns 95. The Regency in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was famously a period at the end of the Georgian era, when King George III was deemed unfit to rule due to his illness, and his son ruled as his proxy, as prince regent. Traditionally, however, the heir-apparent to the throne becomes the ruler only after the ruling monarch dies.
Queen pledged her life to the Commonwealth on her 21st birthday
Another major reason why Prince Philip's death might not lead to the Queen stepping down from her royal duties is that she notably 'pledged' her life to the Commonwealth on her 21st birthday. She referred to her role as the Queen of England as a “job for life”. “I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong,” she said during her tour of South Africa in 1947.
She was also seen carrying out her official duties while Philip was in the hospital for four weeks earlier this year. One of the possibilities is that the public would see the queen delegate more official tasks to Charles and other members of the royal family following her husband's demise.
Queen will return to “business as usual” after mourning
The Queen is unlikely to abdicate and it is expected that she will return to “business as usual” mode following a period of mourning, a number of royal experts have suggested. “I can assure you the Queen will not abdicate,” royal historian Hugo Vickers told Reuters. “There is every indication the Queen is in extremely good health and with luck she will continue to be our queen for as long as possible.”
Joe Little, the managing editor of Majesty magazine, said he expected the Queen to rule until at least her Platinum Jubilee in 2022. “I suppose one way of looking at it was she was very fortunate to have the duke for so long. But I think as far as she’s concerned as monarch it will be very much business as usual after this brief period of mourning," he said.
He added: “I think, the fact the palace announced a while ago what the intention was for the Platinum Jubilee, next year, suggests she’s very much intending to be in the hot seat, at least until then. To my mind the oath she took on coronation day is something that she will abide by to the best of her intentions until her dying day.”