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The Queen will never step down as monarch because 'abdication is a dirty word in the Palace'

Watch the full episode 12 of Yahoo UK’s show ‘The Royal Box,‘ here from Friday 23 November.

The Queen will never step down as Monarch because of her own bitter memories from the last time it caused upheaval for the royal family.

Elizabeth’s uncle, Edward VIII, abdicated the throne in December 1936, less than a year into his reign. The constitutional crisis was sparked when Edward proposed to Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee he had fallen in love with.

After Edward stood down, the Queen’s father, King George VI, became king despite having never anticipated that he would be monarch and making the then Princess Elizabeth heir to the throne at the age of 10.

As a result, the Queen has long decided this upheaval will not happen under her reign and, as a result, abdication is now seen as ‘a dirty word in the royal household’.

That’s according to an award-winning royal producer Nick Bullen, who says “it will never happen” under her watch.

Bullen, who has worked closely with the royal household for many years, tells Yahoo UK‘sThe Royal Box: “The Queen saw what happened when her uncle abdicated. Many people say becoming the king, for her father, is what ultimately killed him.”

Bullen says the Queen is dedicated to her role.

He adds: “Look at that broadcast she made when she was 21, in South Africa. And she said, whether my life is long or short, I am now dedicated to this. She’s there for the long run.”

‘The Queen will never abdicate,’ says royal producer Nick Bullen (PA)
‘The Queen will never abdicate,’ says royal producer Nick Bullen (PA)

George VI’s hard-working and conscientious manner eventually brought him hero status in his battered country during the First World War but that, and the stress of being an unexpected King was said to have left him physically exhausted.

He developed lung cancer, among other ailments, and Elizabeth took on more of his duties as his health deteriorated. He died on 6 February 1952.

Her Majesty, who is 93 next year, will have attended over 125 functions this year and shows no signs of slowing down.

Bullen, founder of TrueRoyalty.TV, says that while the Queen is likely to reduce her engagements, she won’t give up the crown.

“I think stepping back a little is fine, I think we’ll see that happen, she won’t do the foreign tours, she won’t be going overseas.”

The then Princess Elizabeth on her 21st birthday, in South Africa (Rex)
The then Princess Elizabeth on her 21st birthday, in South Africa (Rex)

There’s been some debate over whether the Queen, 92, will step down to make room for Charles, 70, who is the longest serving heir apparent in British history.

The claim comes in the wake of Prince Charles comments about refusing to ‘meddle’ when he becomes king.

Charles recently spoke about his future as king on the BBC documentary Prince, Son & Heir: Charles at 70 saying that he won’t speak out on issues he feels strongly about, such as the environment.

When asked whether his public campaigning would continue, he said : “No, it won’t. I’m not that stupid. I do realise that it is a separate exercise being sovereign. So of course I understand entirely how that should operate.”

The Prince of Wales has been dubbed as meddling by some critics for his views on issues, such as plastic pollution and climate change.

But he doesn’t see it that way.

The Prince of Wales has spoken about his future as king in a new BBC documentary (PA)
The Prince of Wales has spoken about his future as king in a new BBC documentary (PA)

Charles said: “But I always wonder what meddling is, I mean I always thought it was motivating but I’ve always been intrigued, if it’s meddling to worry about the inner cities as I did 40 years ago and what was happening or not happening there.

“The conditions in which people were living. If that’s meddling I’m very proud of it.”

In the hour long programme, he also said he has always tried to remain “non-party political.”

He added: “I think it’s vital to remember there’s only room for one sovereign at a time, not two.

“So, you can’t be the same as the sovereign if you’re the Prince of Wales or the heir.

“But the idea somehow that I’m going to go on in exactly the same way, if I have to succeed, is complete nonsense because the two – the two situations – are completely different.”


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