Abdication or regency?: The Queen facing demands to step down amidst health concerns

The Queen is facing calls to take a definitive step back, either through abdication or regency, as her health concerns stop Her Majesty fulfilling her duty properly.

A long list of absences

Back in June, the monarchy’s annual report changed the Queen’s ‘job’ for the first time in more than a decade.

In recent months, the Queen has missed several royal events, including many of her Jubilee celebrations, as health issues continue to plague the Monarch.

It is also reported that she missed the Braemar Highland Games this weekend. She will also be appointing the new Prime Minister from her Balmoral Estate, another first in the Queen’s reign.

Calls for abdication

According to TheNews, these absences have started a debate on whether or not Queen Elizabeth II should step down from royal duties.

TalkTV host Mike Graham stated:

There isn’t any point having a head of state who can’t actually see anybody or go anywhere.

TheNewsalso reports Royal expert Daniella Elser called for the Queen's resignation if she is no longer capable of doing her job. She added that:

A smooth, joy-filled coronation for King Charles III, one which starred his beaming mother casting a proud eye over proceedings, would be a world away from a coronation tainted by the sadness of her death.

A tough act to follow

Express.co.uk reports that the Queen faces two options should she wish to step down: abdication or regency.

Royal expert Daniella Elser believes the Queen will never abdicate following what happened with her uncle Edward VIII. According to her, the Queen doesn’t view abdication as dignified but rather as a self-centred dereliction of duty.

Ms Elser suggests regency would be a good solution.

However, speaking on the Jeremy Vine show, columnist and self-proclaimed anti-royalist Yasim Alibhai-Brown said that Prince Charles is nowhere near as popular as the Queen and that he would struggle to be King.

According to her:

It would be quite difficult for the public to love him.

In the latest YouGov poll, Prince Charles ranks as the 7th most popular royal with only a 42% overall approval rate. His approval rate among younger generations is only 34%.

Research by Ipsos revealed that 42%of Britonsthink Prince Charles should allow Prince William to take the throne when the time comes.

But the Queen has stated her desires that Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall be known as Queen Consort. Suggesting that Her Majesty believes the throne shouldn’t skip a generation.

Read more:

⋙ The Queen: Her Majesty may never return to London, according to a royal expert

⋙ The Queen: You can holiday in her Balmoral estate for only £15 per night

⋙ Prince Harry’s security row to make visit to the Queen challenging