Queen Elizabeth will not open UK Parliament this year, Buckingham Palace says

[brooklynite]

Source: CNN

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II will not attend the opening of Parliament on Tuesday due to mobility problems, Buckingham Palace said in a Monday statement.

“The Queen continues to experience episodic mobility problems, and in consultation with her doctors has reluctantly decided that she will not attend the State Opening of Parliament tomorrow,” it said.

“At Her Majesty’s request, and with the agreement of the relevant authorities, The Prince of Wales will read The Queen’s speech on Her Majesty’s behalf, with The Duke of Cambridge also in attendance,” the Palace added.

The Queen’s Speech, which is written by the government, is a significant event in both the royal and political calendars.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/09/uk/queen-elizabeth-opening-parliament-2022-intl/index.html

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She's going to die in office, rather than abdicate.

[OnlinePoker]

1. Queen Elizabeth is the 3rd longest verifiable reigning monarch of a sovereign state

In just over a month, she'll move up to second. Louis XIV of France was the longest, but he was crowned when he was 11, unlike Elizabeth who was crowned when she was 26.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_longest-reigning_monarchs

[Warpy]

2. Probably hanging on grimly

hoping Charles abdicates rather than cause a crisis over being married to a divorced woman with a living ex husband. The ex was born in 1939, so he's getting up there, too. In any case, it's shaping up to be a mess since Charles would be the head of the Church of England, something an officially adulterous marriage disqualifies him for.

It shouldn't, but there's a lot of antiquated law standing in the way and some people out there still take religious tradition very serioyusly.

[brooklynite]

4. Nobody cares about that...

After the death of Diana, Camilla's public reputation soared.

[Warpy]

8. Right, once he was a widower, they came to terms with the new wife

but you notice she is Duches of Cornwall, not Princess of Wales, as Diana had been

I have no doubt the bulk of the English population will yawn. It's the religious true believers who will kick up a stink.

Yes, they are a minority, but look at what's happening to Roe v Wade here in the US for the kind of stench a loud minority can create, especially when they're adopted by corrupt politicians wrapped in the flag and hiding behind the cross.

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. There's practically no-one left who will have an objection for Charles being head of the CofE

The monarch can now be married to a Catholic, and that's the basic point now - that a spouse's status no longer affects the qualification for head of the church. "Princess of Wales" is a courtesy title, and that's been reserved for Diana because the public want that (Duchess of Cornwall was not used in normal conversation, just as no-one talks about Charles as "Duke of Cornwall", so that title was handily "going free&quot . Plus, Queen Elizabeth has said she's fine with Camilla being called Queen Consort, so if the present CofE head is OK with that, that shows the CofE establishment is not going to say Charles isn't qualified to be the next head.

[Demovictory9]

10. Strange.how.charles will become king at retirement age

Trained for.a job he will get as a senior.citizen

Good thing.he has.got longevity genes

[obamanut2012]

6. There is zero mess, and Camilla is popular with folks

And, British Monarchs don't abdicate, ever, unless their they are immature sex-crazed Nazis named David.

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. Didn'y Henry the 8th create the Church of England

when he was excommunicated by the Pope?

[canetoad]

11. Right and wrong

He was the one to break away from Rome, declare himself head of the Anglican Church and divorce his first wife. Oh, and appropriate all the property held by Rome for himself.

[treestar]

16. True, odd to think adulterers cannot be its head

when the one who initiated it was one.

[Texaswitchy]

3. It will be a long time before we have a another Queen of England.

Her children and grandchildren are taking over duties.

Let her keep the title.

[treestar]

18. It only happened when a monarch had no sons

But with the new rules, all it takes is a monarch whose eldest is a girl.

[clementine613]

25. Yes, but the next two in line both have eldest sons.

George's heir (whether a male or female) won't ascend the throne for a loooong time.

[treestar]

26. Very true. With medical advances

George may live a very long time, too!

[obamanut2012]

5. She would never abdicate

They never do, except for her Nazi Uncle David.

It is their duty.

[rpannier]

9. If George III wasn't forced out when he went mad, can't imagine why she would

esp since she's very sound of mind

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. She's also religious, and sees her Coronation Oath as sacred

Since she swore by God to do it permanently, that's her duty, as far as she's concerned.

[obamanut2012]

15. Yup, 100%

[obamanut2012]

14. Yup, exactly -- she really was raised to see it as her duty and honor

No matter how one feels about the Monarchy, and all views are legitimate, QEII is a trouper.

[treestar]

17. An interesting thought - could she make Charles Prince Regent?

She's in her right mind, but say she's too old to do the job - such as it is. She said she would not abdicate. But she could give Charles the duties as Prince Regent. Another Regency era!

[sarge43]

19. No, she can't.

For a couple of reasons the monarch doesn't make that call.

The Regency Acts are in place mainly in case a monarch is a minor (17 or younger), legally unable to sign off on laws, etc. The second is in case the monarch can not carrying out legal duties, physically or mentally unable.

The following group can declare a regency. At least three have to agree.
Monarch's spouse (if any)
Lord Chancellor (equiv Attorney General)
Speaker of the House of Commons
Lord Chief Justice (equiv Chief Justice Supremes)
Master of the Rolls (second in command after Lord Chief Justice)

If a regency is declared, then the next legal adult in the line of succession is regent. For example, if George VI had died before Elizabeth reached age 18, her uncle, the duke of Gloucester, George's brother, would have been her regent.

Here's more detail: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regency_Acts

[treestar]

20. Oh I see

those people with the power to do it could do it for her, though, if she's just too old and wants a break.

[sarge43]

21. After conferring with Them What Matter, I'd say she'd request it and the wheels would start to turn.

After 70 years she's earned a break.

[ificandream]

22. Diana would have made a great queen.

[CTyankee]

23. Can someone tell me what an "episodic mobility issue" is?

Does she usually use a walker and controls public sight of it?

Or that the Parliament room area would be difficult for her alone to navigate?

I'm sorry she has this problem. My husband uses a walker and it has changed the way to live our daily lives.

[maxsolomon]

27. It's deliberately vague. Likely she does not want to wheel into Parliament

and deliver the speech sitting down (if she has the stamina to deliver one at this point). I can't see her wanting her frailty on public view.

She's 96. Her husband recently died. She's had new medical issues (back issues last fall, Covid in February). I'd be surprised if she makes it through the winter.

[clementine613]

24. "She's going to die in office, rather than abdicate."

That's been clear since the day she inherited the throne.