Queen will give powers to Prince Charles in TWO YEARS and ‘will relinquish majority of duties’, royal expert predicts
THE Queen will “give up her powers” to Prince Charles when she turns 95, a royal expert has claimed.
Her Majesty turned 93 in April, but could bring in the 1937 Regency Act in two years to relinquish the “majority of duties” to her son and heir to the throne.
The Act allows a reigning monarch to hand over power if they feel they are unable to fully perform their duties.
The Queen would keep her royal title, but Charles, 70, would step up to perform the majority of her duties, with her husband Prince Philip, 98, becoming the Guardian of the Queen.
In order for it to pass, Prince Philip along with a Houses of Parliament spokesperson and a third senior person, would have to provide evidence supporting the Queen’s request.
Royal author Phil Dampier told : “There is talk that when she reaches 95 in a couple of years she may slow down and possibly the Regency Act will be brought in.
“She will still be Queen but Prince Charles will, in fact, take over most of the duties.
“He is starting to do that already, being at the state opening in Parliament and the Commonwealth conference.
“He is starting to take over a lot of the duties and doing the investitures.”
Prince Charles has gradually been filling in for his mother and represented the head of state on foreign trips during her Diamond Jubilee year to Australia and New Zealand.
Royal commentator Robert Jobson previously told the he has spoken to a number of high-ranking courtiers who say preparations for the transition of the Crown are gaining pace.
He claims Palace communications staff have been ordered to be "up to speed" on the 1937 Regency Act - the bill which grants power to the heir apparent.
WHAT IS THE 1937 REGENCY ACT?
Should she decide to step down from her role The Queen may invoke the Regency Act 1937 where the monarch can cede power to their heir “in the event of incapacity of the sovereign through illness”.
It can also be used “for the performance of certain royal functions in the name and on behalf of the sovereign in certain other events”.
Any move using the act must be agreed to by three of the sovereign’s consort – the lord chancellor, the Speaker of the House of Commons, and the master of the rolls.
Currently The Queen devolves some of her duties to her relatives including foreign tours and investitures – where subjects are honoured with awards such as knighthoods and OBEs.
However, she remains in good health and determined to carry out the key responsibilities as head of state.
Mr Jobson said one senior former member of the Royal Household told him: "Out of the profound respect the Queen holds for the institution of monarchy and its stewardship, Her Majesty would want to make sure that she has done everything she can for her country and her people before she hands over.
"Her Majesty is mindful of her age and wants to make sure when the time comes, the transition of the Crown is seamless.
"I understand the Queen has given the matter considerable thought and believes that, if she is still alive at 95, she will seriously consider passing the reign to Charles."
Buckingham Palace insiders previously quashed the rumours by saying she is steadfastly committed to fulfilling her duties as British sovereign and referred to the oath she took on her 21st birthday, reported .
Then heir to the throne, she pledged: “I declare … that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service.”
Queen Elizabeth, at 93, is the oldest and longest-serving monarch following her Coronation in 1953.
In 2017, her husband Prince Philip officially retired from public duties at the age of 96.
The last time the Regency Act was invoked was in 1810 during the reign of George III, after the monarch became permanently deranged.
His eldest son assumed the title of Prince Regent for 10 years, until his father’s death, where he became George IV.
The ageing monarchs of Spain and the Netherlands have both handed their crowns to their children in recent years so they may handle the rigours and responsibilities of being head of state.
Buckingham Palace has been contacted by Fabulous Digital for comment.
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