OK, so this comes from an internet rumor prompted by a fake news story.
But reading it got me wondering: is there any provision for a British monarch to retire, or precedent therefor? I suppose she could abdicate, but would that really be the same thing, from a legal standpoint?
And, if she did either “retire” or abdicate, would she possess the authority to declare that Charles should be passed over as her successor in favor of his son, William?
It wouldn’t surprise me if Charles has no desire to be king, but would that be his mother’s decision or his? Obviously, if the Queen dies, she won’t be around to make the decision, and Charles could always abdicate in favor of William. But would there be a mechanism by which the Queen, if she so chose, could unilaterally assure that Charles would not become king?
She could also request Charles be appointed Prince Regent, I imagine, since the last one did so well. That may be an issue when she gets into extended old age (100+). IIRC, the law of succession says the heir becomes regent, so she could not pick.
Let the experts answer, but the rules of succession are a law of parliament. Not likely to change. Charles would have to be the one giving it a pass himself (abdicate) to let the next guy (William) have a go.
Any changes to the succession are void, under the Statute of Westminster of 1931, until all the Commonwealth Realms pass exactly similar legislation to implement it.
Why does everyone pile on poor ol’ Chuck? I feel sorry for him.
Guy’s been raised since birth for one and only one job, and he can’t do it! You know how many people get to be King? Not too many. The job comes open even less often than the one for playing organ at the baseball stadium.
They guy’s been waiting decades for the job he was literally born for, and not even his MOM will let him have it. He is probably single-handedly responsible for extending her life well past its natural span.
Parliament wouldn’t stand in her way if she wanted to abdicate, although I strongly suspect that she will never want to, what with the situation with her dad and all. A lot of routine stuff is already done by her eldest son and eldest grandson anyway eg Rod Stewart was knighted today by the Duke of Cambridge. So she is semi-retired already - she’s in good nick for her age, but y’know.
No, that would need the agreement of all the Realms, which is unlikely.
Not by herself; that would also take an Act of Parliament, but unlike changing the line of succession the Commonwealth Realms wouldn’t need to consent.
Elizabeth II is a Windsor, not a Tudor - no, she can’t order someone summarily executed and, let’s face it, Charles just hasn’t done anything *that *wrong in his life.
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy, with a network of laws governing it. Her Majesty has some legal powers, but she exercises them on the advice of the PM and Cabinet. She does not have any authority to order summary execution or arbitrary detention.
Those matters were decided in the 17th century, during the Civil War and the Bill of Rights.
He can be a bit of an idiot sometimes, spouting off on things he shouldn’t/knows nothing about, but I think he’s basically OK. At least his personal life is now like a normal persons, unlike his first marriage.
I can see Charles abdicating if he becomes infirm, though. William and Kate (and Harry) seem to be doing the modern royal thing just right these days, and it’s maybe best for the Firm if there’s the continuity, but also a freshening up.
On the other hand, if she expressed her preference that the succession be changed, that might help to encourage all of her various realms to pass appropriate legislation.
And there is the answer. As she gets older, she will do less and less. Eventually she will retire altogether from public life, but it will still be her face on the stamps.
Many people thing that, regardless of his ability, it would be good for the monarch, and by extension, Britain, if Charles did pass up the crown, but that’s a decision for him.
The ruler of the realms of The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the Commonwealth has the authority to decide what she’ll have for lunch. And not much more than that. She has no executive power in herself – the Prime Minister and his Government does all of that, and they’re bound by law.
She could certainly discuss it in private with Charles and push strongly for the idea that they both abdicate on the same day, so William becomes King. Let’s face it a coronation for Charles at 67 is not going to excite anyone, and of course it raises the sticky question does Camilla get to have any involvement or not?
While a coronation of William with his Kate at his side would be a massive media event and bring a huge tourist boom to the UK. With the UK in it’s current self inflicted Brexit doldrums economically, it could be a very good good thing to give the UK a bit of an international PR boost and morale boost.
