Queen Elizabeth is rumoured to be seriously considering stepping down from royal duties next year so that her son, Prince Charles, can ascend the throne.
WATCH: Queen to “step down” and make way for Charles
Speaking on the latest episode of The Royal Beat, royal biographer Robert Jobson believes the 94-year-old monarch will retire from official duties in less than six months.
He said while it’s unlikely that the Queen will ever abdicate, the chances of her handing over her regal duties to Charles in a regency role are quite high.
“I still firmly believe when the Queen becomes 95, that she will step down,” Robert told Royal Beat host Kate Thornton.
Newsweek royal reporter, Jack Royston agreed with Robert’s claims, saying while Her Majesty won’t want to step down, it only makes sense given Charles’ increased workload.
“I think she won’t want to,” Jack said.
“But realistically she will get to a point where she has handed over everything to Charles and then how do you look your son in the eye and tell him he is not going to be King?”
Charles, who became heir apparent at the age of three when his mother, Princess Elizabeth, became Queen in 1952, has increasingly been taking on more duties in recent years.
Robert went on to say that a title change is essential given that Charles has taken the lead and is conducting most of the foreign trips on behalf of the Queen.
“When [Charles] meets a king or president of high level, his visits are now state visits but he is still the Prince of Wales, which doesn’t have the same impact as the king.”
When Royal historian Anna Whitelock chimed in and suggested Charles will not be King but rather act under the Regency Act, Robert agreed.
According to the Regency Act 1937, a person or “regent” may be called upon to act on behalf of the reigning monarch being incapacitated or a minor.
“She won’t ever abdicate,” Robert said, referring to Queen Elizabeth.
“The bottom line is he is the king, he has the executive power, he is Prince Regent.”
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