Hrh Abdication

[hammerman]

Do you think, when the time comes, that Charles will be king or will he pass it on to his son, William?

I don't mind Charlie but i just don't think he's in touch with the real world. Wills seems to have a level head on, a decent family man and is liked by most of the country.

Of course, we could just buckle-up, hold tight and give it to Harry. Now that would be a fun ride!!!!!

[waterboatman]

You've heard of the Sun King? Harry would be the Fun King! He's doing a grand job now he's settled down a wee bit and is taking life more seriously. He'd be an excellent monarch, as will William.

We will have to wait and see what happens.

[jno]

why would he? He's been waiting nearly 70 years to do the job and there may be another 10 years to go. Whether he'll live that long is another matter, though; he's not as healthy as his parents.

[sunny-dave]

We could (at long last) decide that we're a proper grown-up country and ditch the ludicrous anomaly of having a head-of-state whose sole qualification is that they are descended from a bunch of 19th Century German Aristocrats.

[jno]

all Anglo-Saxons are descended from Germans, so that particular dig doesn't really work.

[sunny-dave]

My name (I think) suggests celt/normanic origins - but even if I am actually a card-carrying germanic person, my personal ancestry doesn't guarantee me a 'job for life' and obscene amounts of privilege and wealth.

The Queen has done a wonderful job (starting from a very difficult position) - but her tenure should be the full stop.

[murraymints]

it does feel a bit outdated now...A family so privileged purely through birth...

[DTCwordfan]

Charles (potentially George VII) could well snuff his clogs before his Ma......the same happened between George II and III, the latter the grandson.

[DTCwordfan]

would that be MacvonRibbentrop, sunny?

[mikey4444]

jno....in view of what or might be happening at Sandringham, Charles may inherit rather quicker than we think !

Anyway, as long as Charles is still alive, he will be our next King....its unthinkable for it too happen any other way.

[EDDIE51]

The election of President Trump has to be the best possible reason for the retention of the Monarchy!!

[Hopkirk]

So you think it is more than a heavy cold then, Mikey?

[mikey4444]

Hoppy....yes......I have a feeling that there is more to her illness than they are saying.

She always goes by train to Sandringham, and yet this year, she went by helicopter, where she couldn't be seen as easily. Some people were saying that this may have had security implications, but I don't really think that holds water.

Betty has never, to my knowledge, failed to appear in public at Xmas at Sandringham. As someone has already pointed out on the other thread, a cold doesn't last 2 weeks, even for an old lady like her.

So, yes, I am still uneasy.

[ichkeria]

Harry's down at number 5 in the batting order so it would need a Day 5 Ben so batting collapse to see him come to the wicket

[ichkeria]

Chennai batting collapse!

[SherryBea]

"it does feel a bit outdated now...A family so privileged purely through birth..."

Yes but there are many many children born into privileged families. With the Royal 'privilege' comes Royal responsibilities, unlike celebrity privilege. Unlike ageing Celebrities and Oligarchs , The Queen is bound by her vows to our Country. Without these vows she could be passing her last days in retirement in Palm Springs.

She has given great service to this country and deserves to 'retire' ( not abdicate) but I don't think she can do this. Charles would make a good king, William is not ready yet and has a young family to consider. His relationships with his family and children would change if Kingship was forced onto him at such an early age.

[mushroom25]

//We could (at long last) decide that we're a proper grown-up country and ditch the ludicrous anomaly of having a head-of-state whose sole qualification is that they are descended from a bunch of 19th Century German Aristocrats. //

to date there are 28 individuals who fulfill the role of head of state as monarchs. not sure what your definition of "anomaly" is but I'd have thought it would be less than that; being one of 28 isn't all that unusual.

[ToraToraTora]

what a ridiculous notion, of course Charles will be king, why would he abdicate what he has spent his whole life waiting for? What you are saying is that i don't like Charles so wouldn't it be good if we could adjust the succession for my own preferences, breathtaking arrogance.

[mikey4444]

TTT....can't help but agree with you there.

[mikey4444]

Sherry....." William is not ready yet and has a young family to consider. His relationships with his family and children would change if Kingship was forced onto him at such an early age"

Exactly the same conditions applied to the present Queen, when her Dad died in 1952. She already had Charles and Ann.

[rockyroad]

I don't know where people get the notion that Charles is not in touch with the real world. He is probably more in touch than the Queen. As for Harry...it would not be a 'fun ride' . The royalty are figure heads it doesn't matter what 'personality' they have.