On Wednesday, Buckingham Palace announced the Queen’s two-day trip to Northern Ireland was cancelled due to health concerns. Her Majesty was told to rest but remains in "good spirits" and is said to be "disappointed" she could not carry out her royal duties by commemorating Northern Ireland’s 100th year since founding.
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A Buckingham Palace spokesman said on Wednesday: “The Queen has reluctantly accepted medical advice to rest for the next few days.”
They added: “The Queen sends her warmest good wishes to the people of Northern Ireland and looks forward to visiting in the future.”
The Queen’s resting period is not related to Covid, in fact she was well enough to hold a reception at Windsor Castle for business leaders, diplomats and government officials with her usual charm and energy on Tuesday.
Earlier this month she appeared with a walking stick for the first time during a public royal appearance which provoked the press to question whether the Queen’s health and old-age was affecting her daily job as monarch.
These calls come in the same week the Queen rejected the ‘Oldie of the year’ award, and said “you are only as old as you feel”.
Hugo Vickers, who was involved in planning the silver, golden and diamond jubilees, said royal aides must ensure they do not “overstretch” the Queen by accepting too many duties.
“They are sometimes quite good at pacing things by changing things here and there, which makes things easier for her, but I am afraid I don’t think they are always as thoughtful as they should be,” he told The Times.
She is set to attend the COP26 summit in Glasgow that runs from October 31 to November 12, and will be involved in even more major events next year whilst celebrating her Platinum Jubilee.
Currently the Queen is still working as a full-time royal, and completed 136 engagements in 2020, but supporters are urging her to become part-time or retire completely to prioritise her health.
Columnist Dan Wootton wrote in the MailOnline: "Please, Ma'am, for the sake of all of us, it's time to slow down.
"We want you to reign as a centenarian – and I truly believe you can."
He added: "But the key to that is to see you less and allow you more time to enjoy a form of semi-retirement at 95.
"The idea you must keep driving forward with such a busy schedule is no longer necessary."
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Royal journalist and expert, Dickie Arbiter, said suggestions of retirement were “patronising”, arguing anyone would need rest after such a full-on schedule and that the break was not dependent on the Queen’s age.
On Good Morning Britain today he said: “The Queen will do what the Queen wants to do, and she's made her feelings crystal clear earlier this week when she was given the dubious honour of being "oldie of the year" and basically said 'naff off'.”
Mr Arbiter added: “Anybody who decides to tell the Queen 'You've got to step back, you can't rule anymore' is really fighting with fire.
"We've got to look at what's happened in the past month - she had a very strenuous reception at Windsor Castle a few nights ago, and that probably took its toll, which is probably the reason why they cancelled going to Northern Ireland.
"It's a lot to ask of anybody of any age to do, she's travelled more than 1,000 miles.”
Do you agree that calls for the Queen to resign due to her age are ‘patronising’? Let us know your opinion by commenting on this article.
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The absence of Prince Andrew, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from the Firm means prominent royals like Kate and William, Charles and Camilla, and Princess Anne will have to step up to the plate – and so they have.
A royal insider said: “The Prince of Wales in particular is taking on as much as he possibly can, and you've seen over the past five years how the Duke of Cambridge acknowledges his role has changed.
"Their overwhelming priority is now to support the Queen."
Most recently, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge held the Earthshot Prize awards which truly gave the British public a glimpse of William as a future King.
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Royal expert, Phil Dampier, has even suggested Lady Louise, daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex, could choose to become a princess and have a new working role within the Royal Family.
He told the Mirror: “Because she’s the granddaughter of the Queen, Lady Louise can call herself a princess when she becomes 18.”
Do you think there are enough prominent royals to allow the Queen to retire from royal duties? Join the debate in the comments section below.
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