[Abernathy]

I don't know how much it's propaganda, but people who claim to know the family reckon that after seeing the effect that Edward VIII's abdication had on her father's health, abdication is the one thing she'd absolutely refuse.

So the abdication gave her dad cancer? That’s clearly total nonsense. And whose health is it that she supposedly fears would be affected by her own abdication? Obviously not her own. If anything, stepping down would actually be good for her health. Those “people who know the family” (and BTW, just who are these people?) are clearly talking bollocks.

[davidjay]

I thought it was the Queen Mum, gawd bless 'er, who believed becoming king affected George's happiness and perhaps his mental health - worsened his stammer, that sort of thing. The Queen believes herself to have been given the job by God, and it's therefore hers for life.

[Andy McDandy]

Her father took the job very seriously, and treated it more as a duty than Edward, who saw it as wave, open things and shag posh totty. The strain of the war obviously had an effect, even if he wasn't on the front lines. He was a guy who never planned for a public role, suddenly thrust into being a focus for millions of people. And yes, he did do a share of diplomancy and actively aiding the war effort. All of that adversely affected his health, including him increasing his fag consumption to deal with stress, which led to the cancer which killed him.

He wasn't starving, or digging for coal with his teeth, and the inherent daftness of monarchy remains; but the point is that the job killed him in his mid-50s. No great age.

[Boiler]

Her father took the job very seriously, and treated it more as a duty than Edward, who saw it as wave, open things and shag posh totty.

Many years ago there was a series on the radio called The Bands That Mattered, which covered the histories of Decca's most important dance bands of the 20s and 30s. One of these bands was that led by Bert Ambrose, more simply known as "Ambrose". Ambrose became a firm favourite of Edward's, who seemed to be the archetypal posh playboy who spent more time in London's more sophisticated night clubs than in any royal duty. The Embassy club in Bond Street even had a sofa set aside exclusively for Edward - and when Ambrose was thinking of setting up in New York, the Italian owner of the Embassy asked Edward to get him back.

"The Embassy needs you. Come back. Edward." read the telegram.

In return, Ambrose would deliberately slow the tempo of a waltz down at the start when Edward danced (he wasn't a particularly good dancer) and then bring it up to the correct tempo as Edward got into the swing of things.

Edward does seem to have come across as a complete wastrel and the less said of his politics as the 30s advanced, the better. No wonder his antics helped take down his father.

[Boiler]

I shall just sit and enjoy this picture from the Jubilee celebrations.

[Abernathy]

the point is that the job killed him in his mid-50s. No great age.

So Brenda was determined to make up for that -with fucking knobs on ?

[Andy McDandy]

I think it was more that she went in with her eyes open, ready to devote herself to it. You're born into this, may as well be good at it. Not like she can quit being herself, or forcing one of her kids to do it.

I get what you're aiming at, but I think you're missing the point. It's an anachronism, it's silly, but she's bloody good at it. Also, to quote Stacker Pentecost, sometimes you need a fixed point of reference.

[davidjay]

I think it was more that she went in with her eyes open, ready to devote herself to it. You're born into this, may as well be good at it. Not like she can quit being herself, or forcing one of her kids to do it.

I get what you're aiming at, but I think you're missing the point. It's an anachronism, it's silly, but she's bloody good at it. Also, to quote Stacker Pentecost, sometimes you need a fixed point of reference.

Listening to Joe Biden on Thursday, I realised that nobody on earth, possibly in history, has got so much experience in dealing with top-level politicians and heads of state. They respect her and they want to meet her. Whatever the rest of the royal family might get up to, she definitely boosts our prestige in the eyes of the world.

[Nigredo]

So, I was at the pub this weekend with a journalist for a major publication and the murmurings he's heard from a guy who knows a guy that knows a guy etc. is that now this weekend is done and dusted, Brenda is basically going to sign off as much as she can to Charlie Boy who will become a prince regent in all but name. Handing over as much as she can without fully abdicating so she can wind down and slip off on her own quiet terms.

Make of it what you will, it all sounds plausible to me. I'd be surprised if she carried on for another year now that she's basically got no reason to keep going.

[Abernathy]

I think it was more that she went in with her eyes open, ready to devote herself to it.

Well, yes, but 70 fucking years is taking the piss.

[Watchman]

I think Charles is likely to carry on in a similar vein to Brenda, he’s always given the impression that’s the flavour he prefers. However, I would like to think that William has read the room that is an ever changing world and gets the monarchy to reflect that. The Spanish and Dutch royal families seem to have a completely different relationship with their country than our royalty. Obviously with Spain a lot of that is down to how they reintegrated following the Franco years

[Boiler]

So, I was at the pub this weekend with a journalist for a major publication and the murmurings he's heard from a guy who knows a guy that knows a guy etc. is that now this weekend is done and dusted, Brenda is basically going to sign off as much as she can to Charlie Boy who will become a prince regent in all but name. Handing over as much as she can without fully abdicating so she can wind down and slip off on her own quiet terms.

I thought that's been the (ongoing) plan for at least two years now.

[Boiler]

I think it was more that she went in with her eyes open, ready to devote herself to it.

Well, yes, but 70 fucking years is taking the piss.

Woman holds same job for 71 years

[Nigredo]

So, I was at the pub this weekend with a journalist for a major publication and the murmurings he's heard from a guy who knows a guy that knows a guy etc. is that now this weekend is done and dusted, Brenda is basically going to sign off as much as she can to Charlie Boy who will become a prince regent in all but name. Handing over as much as she can without fully abdicating so she can wind down and slip off on her own quiet terms.

I thought that's been the (ongoing) plan for at least two years now.

Oh yes, definitely. I just find it plausible that she's done her "last great duty" and will ramp up the handing over of duties to Charlie so she can spend the rest of her days with her feet up, maybe still doing the annual Christmas message.

[Boiler]

Oh yes, definitely. I just find it plausible that she's done her "last great duty" and will ramp up the handing over of duties to Charlie so she can spend the rest of her days with her feet up, maybe still doing the annual Christmas message.

That's pretty much what Jonny Dymond has said on the BBC today.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61699950

This was also, alongside the partying and pageantry, a farewell to the Queen who after seven decades is withdrawing from public life.

She'll do the Christmas message until she croaks but yes, expect to see the future George VII around more.

[kreuzberger]

She stood on a balcony while planes flew past. So bollocksed was she rendered that she wrote the rest of the weekend off. Given that the original plan was settled and agreed, that seems to be quite a tailspin.

It is reasonably normal for the bereaved to just chuck it. That looks to be where the smart money should be.

[Boiler]

[Malcolm Armsteen]

I read that the queen's doctors are 'concerned for her health'.

The Queen is under medical supervision at Balmoral after doctors became concerned for her health, Buckingham Palace said.

A Palace spokesperson said: “Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen's doctors are concerned for Her Majesty's health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision. The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.”

Preparing us for the inevitable?

[Abernathy]

I sense this Operation Unicorn is about to swing into action.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_London_Bridge

[Oboogie]

The use of the word "comfortable" in this context manages to be simultaneously ominous and meaningless as, with modern anesthetics and analgesics, patients can be comfortable despite being in the most awful state.