Lizzie not likely to follow Dutch Queen’s example
30 Jan 2013 4:05 PM IST
One European queen has announced her retirement. Any chance Europe's most famous queen, Elizabeth II of Britain, might join her? Not likely, experts say.
The spectacle of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands stepping down in April at age 75 so her 45-year-old son can become king is sparking some speculation in Britain about whether Elizabeth might follow suit so her eldest son, Prince Charles, can start his reign.
Elizabeth is 86. Charles, 64, has been heir to the throne since he was three. The British press poked fun at these concerns on Tuesday, with the Daily Mirror featuring a photo of Beatrix with the headline: ‘Queen Gives Up Her Throne to Son.’ Then, in smaller type, ‘Easy, Charles...It's Queen Beatrix of Netherlands.’ Others said, ‘Sorry Charles...it's in Holland, not here!’
But commentators quickly noted that Elizabeth who seems to be in excellent health, has said in the past that she regards being queen as a ‘job for life.’ At her Diamond Jubilee last summer marking 60 years on the throne, former Prime Minister John Major said the idea that the queen would abdicate was ‘absolutely absurd.’ He said she would serve her entire life unless a health crisis made it impossible.
The spectacle of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands stepping down in April at age 75 so her 45-year-old son can become king is sparking some speculation in Britain about whether Elizabeth might follow suit so her eldest son, Prince Charles, can start his reign.
Elizabeth is 86. Charles, 64, has been heir to the throne since he was three. The British press poked fun at these concerns on Tuesday, with the Daily Mirror featuring a photo of Beatrix with the headline: ‘Queen Gives Up Her Throne to Son.’ Then, in smaller type, ‘Easy, Charles...It's Queen Beatrix of Netherlands.’ Others said, ‘Sorry Charles...it's in Holland, not here!’
But commentators quickly noted that Elizabeth who seems to be in excellent health, has said in the past that she regards being queen as a ‘job for life.’ At her Diamond Jubilee last summer marking 60 years on the throne, former Prime Minister John Major said the idea that the queen would abdicate was ‘absolutely absurd.’ He said she would serve her entire life unless a health crisis made it impossible.
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