The Queen.

FannyCornforth I love the idea of Her Majesty putting her feet up her feet in front of the racing with a packet of custard creams. I hope she does that often, perhaps with a crafty sherry on the go.

Ooh yes, that does sound nice Coastpath
And she has a little dog too to cuddle, doesn’t she?
And she has lots of ‘friends’ (lady’s maids) who live with her. That must be lovely.

The Queen's dog; a cocker spaniel called Lissi (nee Wolferton Drama)

Because she didn’t make all public duties with her husband he was there, to talk with, to share, to support, to understand.

Dogs, friends, custard creams !

I wonder if she's had a hip replacement. That could account for her recent overnight stay in hospital and slightly reduced mobility. Her mother had one at quite an advanced age and I can't remember if Philip had one.

Aveline

I wonder if she's had a hip replacement. That could account for her recent overnight stay in hospital and slightly reduced mobility. Her mother had one at quite an advanced age and I can't remember if Philip had one.

I think if she’d had a hip replacement, the Palace would have announced it.

Didn't used to be treasons o speculate on the Sovereign's health?

She vowed 'my whole life' so she won't stand down and shouldn't but I hope she gets afternoons of racing with the custard creams- apparently she has given up alcohol so no sherry.

Why would it be necessary / beneficial to give up alcohol late in life?
Does anyone know?
I’ve wondered a this before

She may well just have arthritis and be in a great deal of pain. Many of us can empathise with that.
There is no sign of mental frailty, and even for 95 she doesn't work harder than many considering that all domestic tasks are done for her.
I think that graceful retirement would and should be the obvious step despite what she said all those years ago. Even monarchs have to bow to circumstances.

She's still driving herself about. I suspect the mind is willing but the flesh may be weak.

My mum is in her nineties FannyCornforth, and has stopped drinking because it increases the risk of falling, which is a huge issue for the very elderly. Not that she ever got drunk, but even one glass of wine now affects her more and she’s worried enough about that not to drink at all now.

My mum is 94. She’s completely immobile now, and needs a hoist to get her into and out of bed. But before this, she had great difficulty getting into or out of a car, or lifting her foot to go up one small step, and she could only walk a few steps if she had her walker. Mainly, if she went out, she was in a wheelchair. Considering all of this, I think the Queen is having mobility issues. It appears she doesn’t want to be seen in a wheelchair, but even if she was okay with that, as I said, getting into or out of a car has its own difficulties.

HM has suffered some emotional distress over the last year or more. The death of Prince Philip must have left her feeling vulnerable and alone. I can understand her wanting to retreat from the limelight.

Prince Phillip died only 11 months ago , after 74 years of marriage

On top of everything that others have posted, she has had Covid, which might have had more of an impact on an elderly
lady than we have been told.

Her mobility is the issue and she refuses to use a wheelchair .

Her husband died less than a year ago and they had a long and successful marriage. Look at any literature on the effect on health in the year after the loss of a long term partner and it will describe the marked effect it has.

The Queen is just showing that she is like everyone else in her position

She always seems like a very pragmatic woman to me. It suits her agenda to let the future incombant take over the ropes.

I think it is sensible to let Prince Charles represent her at the Commonwealth service, but surely she will not miss Prince Philip’s memorial service at the end of March?

and she refuses to use a wheelchair?

Who says so? Has the Palace stated that she doesn’t want to use one? Or is it just assumed that she won’t?

Calendar girl, the daily Mail reported to this morning that the Queen doesnt want to use a wheelchair to help attend the Commonwealth service
It was in the daily Mail it must be true - so said a character in Dinner ladies

Seriously the Queen is 94, mobility seems to be an issue as she told an official visitor recently. It’s time for her to let Charles take some work from herb

I think she is still recovering from Covid; it leaves some people very tired even after what is considered a mild case. Reading an article, they said it was due to comfort of getting the Queen to and from the ceremony.

I'm not sure what is involved, or where the ceremony is. Does she need to walk about and inspect troops?

I think Prince Charles is already taking over the reins quietly as his mother becomes more frail - and with her knowledge and consent. But she intends to remain Queen until she dies and the red boxes will still come to her.

I am always amazed at those who seem to have insider information.
We can all speculate but who in fact knows what the Queens thoughts are?