How many times will Charles mention this over the next few weeks?

[TheFaQQer]

Just a little conversation over dinner, mummy.

BBC News - King Juan Carlos of Spain abdicating

[Troll]

Doesn't it defeat the point of a monarch if they abdicate?

It was hard for the UK to recover after Edward VIII

If she did a Beatrice of the Netherlands and passed onto Charles would may it hard to see any point in perpetuating the monarchy

[OwlHoot]

Doesn't it defeat the point of a monarch if they abdicate? ...

Well I suppose Charlie could take over the reins (or reigns?!) as Prince Regent if the Queen ever simply becomes too frail to continue the job.

But if the late Queen Mother was anything to go by, that may not be for years yet. Walking up and down those long palace corridors seems to keep the Royals hale and hearty to an amazing old age.

[TheFaQQer]

Well I suppose Charlie could take over the reins (or reigns?!) as Prince Regent if the Queen ever simply becomes to frail to continue the job.

But if the late Queen Mother was anything to go by, that may not be for years yet. Walking up and down those long palace corridors seems to keep the Royals hale and hearty to an amazing old age.

When I think of the Prince Regent, I always think of this

[VectraMan]

Doesn't it defeat the point of a monarch if they abdicate?

There's a point to a monarch?

But yes. Surely the monarch is something you just are, not something you can choose to be. I can't phone up my younger brother and say "I've decided not to be the eldest any more. It's your turn".

It was hard for the UK to recover after Edward VIII

In what way? Can't imagine it affected the lives of the ordinary people in the slightest.

[Doggy Styles]

In what way? Can't imagine it affected the lives of the ordinary people in the slightest.

Well, we did start a world war just afterwards. But not much other than that I suppose.

[VectraMan]

Well, we did start a world war just afterwards. But not much other than that I suppose.

The abdication of the king was the reason for the Second World War? I think I need to relearn some history. Clearly I've been misled.

[malvolio]

Madge is hanging on until she dies. The point is, as she has said several times, she took a vow to do exactly that at her Coronation and she is damned sure she is going to honour it. if she can't continue, then Charlie will turn Regent and take over her duties, but he won't be king until she is no more.

[d000hg]

Doesn't it defeat the point of a monarch if they abdicate?

Not if that country's monarchy has a precedent.

If they choose their successor it starts to get wobbly though.

[Doggy Styles]

The abdication of the king was the reason for the Second World War? I think I need to relearn some history. Clearly I've been misled.

If your king is hob-nobbing with your traditional world-war rivals, it's bound to stir it up. He probably told them on the QT that he didn't like Poles or Czechs, and one thing led to another.