Why Queen Elizabeth II will never abdicate

Queen Elizabeth II won't abdicate.
(photo source: Getty Images)

“I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of the great imperial family to which we all belong.” These were the lasting words dedicated by then twenty-one year old Princess Elizabeth when she made a broadcast while on tour with her family in South Africa in 1947.

For the rest of her life, she would hold on to that promise and never let go that once in her life, she vowed never to abandon the duty thrusted upon her. Fast forward and in 1952, the untimely demise of her father, King George VI made her Queen of what once mighty empire, now reeling behind the weakening effect of World War II. Her reign was seen as a New Elizabethan age, a time when most of Britain’s far-flung colonies have started to gain independence, with the Crown as the one and only tie that bounded a loose confederation of independent states we now call the Commonwealth.

The Queen’s reign has seen many ups and downs. Political turmoils in the homeland, economic crisis and other issues that tend to challenge the peace and order of her reign, but through it all, she persisted and acted as a wise lady whom everyone adored and revered. Even politicians would find her wisdom much better than their own.

When her Silver Jubilee came in 1977, the whole national rejoiced and it seemed that the rest of her reign would continue assailed by problems. Her children, by then in marriageable age, wedded and had their respective families. It seems that the Royal Family has become the ideal model of hearth and home, of familial contentment and harmony. But came 1992. The year her Majesty called as Annus Horribilis. It coincided her 40^th year on the throne and instead of celebrations and pageantry, scandals rocked the Firm.

First, there were the bitter break-up of her children’s marriage. Second, Windsor Castle caught fire and the issue of who should foot the multimillion-pound damage spiraled into the issue of the Royal Family’s immunity from paying income taxes. The Queen and the rest of her kin decided to pay and when everything seems to have calm down, another event almost cost the royal family to sink in the eyes of popular endearment—the death of the Princess of Wales. The Queen was castigated for her seemingly unconcerned attitude. In fact, why should she? The Princess of Wales was already divorced from Prince Charles back then. The moment she signed the divorce paper meant that she has already severed her ties from the Royal Family. In other words, divorced cost her to lose her status as a member of the royal family. But the press—and the Labor government of Tony Blair—insisted that the Palace should mourn Diana’s demise. Her Majesty, for the sake of the love of her subjects who were enamored by the charity and kindness of the late Princess, gave in. Her Majesty’s standards were lowered to half-mast, she appeared on a live broadcast in mourning suit, and, for the first time in many years, she ventured outside Buckingham Palace to see her subjects, all grieving the loss of the Queen  of Hearts. This one act saved the monarchy from a tide of republican sentiment and at modernized the way people have perceived the Crown to be. Evidence of the never-ending love and support was the popular acclaim that Her Majesty received during her Golden and Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2002 and 2012, respectively.

Now approaching her 87^th year, it seems that the Queen, still at the fairest of her health, shows no sign of slowing down. Never did it came into her mind to quit the post that she dedicated all her life to. While the thought of abdication means rejoicing and reverence for the Dutch, in England, the same is not true. What an ordinary Briton will remember was the cold and dreary December day when the Queen’s uncle, King Edward VIII “abdicated” so he could marry the woman he loved. And I really don’t see any reason why Her Majesty would ever want to abdicate. Ever true to her words, she’ll find it difficult to depart from the pledge she’d given her subjects in 1947. She loves to do her job. She loves to see her people. Her daily activities, no matter burdensome it may be to our eyes, are part and parcel of her existence. Simply put, it’s the reason why she stays alive. It’s the reason why a lot of Britons are happy about. Take her out of the throne and I can only imagine the unimaginable… perhaps, a frail, bent old lady? Or a Britain in disaster and chaos? Whatever it may be, I don’t wish it to happen. I am happy seeing the Queen remain the Queen and I bet Elizabeth Alexandra Mary still finds it delight to remain the Queen of 16 countries…. And that’s the reason why she would, should and will never abdicate.