On 30th April, the 75 year old Queen Beatrix abdicated after 33 years on the Dutch throne. I must be getting old as I remember Beatrix becoming Queen following the abdication of her Mother, Queen Juliana. The Dutch now have their first King since 1890.... King Willem-Alexander.
So there has been much talk in the British media over whether Queen Elizabeth II should follow suit and abdicate in favour of Prince Charles who is now the longest serving heir apparent in our history.
I am not going to prattle on with my views on royalty other than to say that I am not a fully fledged Royalist, waving my flag at any opportunity. If there was a better system of a British Head of State, I would support that. But I still cannot find one. The current system aint broke so there is nothing to fix.
No one can fault the Queen's dedication to the job and the way she has done it. So in that vein, I have the greatest respect and support for her and I wish her a long life, good health and happiness.
So should the Queen abdicate?
My simple answer is NO....
Why?
Whilst I am not religious myself, the Queen is. She may be the Supreme Head of the Church of England, but she also has a deep faith and I admire her for that. I admire anyone who has faith ....as long as they keep it to themselves and dont start to try and force it down your throat. I dont force my political views on people. I just happen to be a Liberal Democrat..... but I also see good in all parties...(as well as things I dont like or support!).
On her 21st birthday, Princess Elizabeth as she was then made a broadcast to the British Commonwealth and Empire, pledging "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."
We forget that whilst she has now been Queen for 61 years, she was heir apparent since December 1936, when her father became King George VI on the abdication of his brother Edward VIII. In effect, the Queen has been there for 77 years as Queen, or Queen in waiting.
The Queen's health looks fantastic for an 87 year old and watching Prince Philip in Canada the other day, he was walking like a 30 year old. He will be 92 next month!
The Queen also made her Coronation vows, 60 years ago and I cannot see her abdicating. Its a job for life.
So why should she abdicate?
So what if Charles is waiting to become King? He will be 65 himself in November. He's hardly a spring chicken, so if you suggest there should be a younger monarch, why not suggest Charles abdicates as well, and lets William take over?
My final observations is that the Royal Family is "the Firm". The Queen still does many visits, investitures and other public duties, in addition to reading all the state papers and advising the Prime Minister. The Queen may not do so many overseas visits as she has done in the past, but no one is suggesting that she is no longer pulling her weight. I am glad if she can pull back a bit as she has Prince Charles and her other children to do some of her duties.
Then we also have the next generation. Both William (and Kate!) and Harry have proved that they are capable of taking on their own public duties.
Thus the fact that duties are being done by senior members of the Royal Family should be welcomed and who knows, maybe they will have to take on more as the Queen gets older. But in the meantime, there is no reason why the Queen should break her promise, and abdicate. Even if the Queen has to cut back her duties quite considerably in the years to come, the other members of the Royal Family are there to pick up the slack.
So I am happy for the Queen NOT to abdicate. Talk of it, just because she is getting old, is not a valid reason. Its not that the Queen is getting old. She is old, but I do not know of any other 87 year old that looks so good. There is no sign of her showing her age, other than the date on her birth certificate.
Even if old age does eventually catch up with the Queen in due course, I still see no reason why there's a need to abdicate. Charles, William, Harry, Anne etc... are all there to provide the cover. And we do know that one day, maybe you will have to put your feet up....But I am sure they would be able to manage.
So whilst Benedict and Beatrix have abdicated, Queen Elizabeth II is not a quitter, in my eyes!
Just carry on....you are doing a fine job..... and long may you have good health!
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