We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Queen Elizabeth II saw her life turned upside down when her uncle Edward VIII announced he would abdicate in order to marry his lover, Wallis Simpson. The abdication crisis sparked a major constitutional crisis which reportedly inspired Her Majesty to decide she will not give up her position for as long as she is alive. Royal commentator Stephen Grief told Channel 5 documentary ‘The Queen: Duty before Family?’: “The Queen’s life has been one long rebuttal to the abdication crisis.

“Again and again, she’s sacrificed those closest to her for what she feels is in the best interests of the monarchy.

“The story of Elizabeth II is a story of great sacrifice.

“A woman who dedicated herself from a very young age to duty regardless of the consequences to her family and those around her.”

Royal historian Hugo Vickers insisted the Royal Family remains very loyal to Her Majesty, suggesting they will back her decision to stay on until the end of her life.

JUST IN: Meghan Markle confession: Duchess hints royal exit was ‘hardest part’ in new speech

Mr Vickers said: “As we know, the nation adores the Queen but so does her family.

“They are very devoted to her and so what more can be said. I think it’s a success story.”

Historian Dr Anna Whitelock dismissed suggestions Her Majesty could choose to abdicate in favour of her eldest son, Prince Charles, and join husband Prince Philip to spend their final years in retirement together.

Dr Whitelock said: “There is much speculation that the Queen might.

READ MORE: Queen’s ‘real reaction’ to Harry’s Commonwealth criticism exposed

“I think there is no chance of the Queen abdicating.

“As she said at 21, whether her life short of long she remains committed to serving her people.

“The Queen would be very sensitive to the very personal costs that these crises have caused.”

She added: “She simply has a sense of duty and needing to ultimately trump personal difficulty and personal emotion.”

DON’T MISS

Queen’s ‘horror’ experience that had lasting impact on reign revealed [EXCLUSIVE]
Harry and Meghan dismantled for ‘lecturing’ people about Commonwealth [FURY]
Prince William pivotal in ousting Andrew as Duke bore new royal role [INSIGHT]

Some commentators have however suggested the Queen may choose to make Prince Charles her regent, thus bypassing the need to abdicate while having the Prince of Wales assume several of her duties.

Charles and other senior members of the family have already taken over some of Her Majesty’s obligations but a regency would allow her successor to start to take decisions in her stead.

Royal Central editor Moniek Bloks said last year: “I think if anything happens, it’s more likely she’ll make Charles regent instead of completely abdicating.

“I think it’s very unlikely that she will abdicate.”

The last regency in the UK took place between 1811 and 1820, when future King George IV took over control from his father George III.

The Queen would be able to make Charles a prince-regent by triggering the Regency Acts, a series of laws which dictate the rules to pass on powers from the monarch to an appointed member of the Royal Family in the event of the Queen being unable to carry out her duties.

Source: Read Full Article