Junior Rasmussen
In the Netflix series The Crown, Queen Elizabeth II, played by Imelda Staunton, is depicted as considering abdication during the wedding of her son, King Charles, and Camilla Parker Bowles. While the show portrays the Queen as battling with thoughts of stepping down, there is no historical evidence to suggest that this was a serious consideration in real life. The Queen herself stated that abdication was something I can't do, and royal historian Hugo Vickers affirmed that an anointed Queen does not abdicate. The inclusion of this plotline in The Crown is likely a creative decision to add drama to the story, as the Queen never expressed any intention to abdicate the throne.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Depiction in The Crown | Queen Elizabeth II debating abdication in the final episode of The Crown |
| Real-life occurrence | Queen Elizabeth II never considered abdication |
| Reasoning | Devotion to duty, being an anointed Queen |
| Public opinion | A 1990 poll showed half of the British public thought she should abdicate in favour of Prince Charles, but "eventually" |
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What You'll Learn
Queen Elizabeth II's speech at Charles and Camilla's wedding
Queen Elizabeth II's speech at her son King Charles III's wedding to Queen Camilla in 2005 was described as "unusually sentimental" and "surprising". The Queen gave her blessing to the couple, who had faced public scrutiny due to the popularity of Charles's first wife, Princess Diana. The Queen also acknowledged the couple's past divorces, noting that while the Church of England does not encourage divorce, it is an unfortunate reality of life.
The Queen's speech was also noted for its humour and affection. She drew an analogy between the couple and horses, saying:
> "They have overcome Becher's Brook and The Chair and all kinds of other terrible obstacles. They have come through and I'm very proud and wish them well. My son is home and dry with the woman he loves."
This light-hearted reference to horse racing delighted the wedding guests, and royal correspondent Katie Nicholl described the speech as "an unusually sentimental speech from the monarch and it captured the visceral sense of relief the couple had, in their fifties, being able to make their enduring love official."
Despite speculation in Netflix's "The Crown" that Queen Elizabeth considered abdication at the time of her son's wedding, there is no evidence to support this. The Queen had previously stated that abdication was "something I can't do. I’m going to carry on to the end."
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The Crown's final season
In the final season of *The Crown*, Queen Elizabeth II, played by Imelda Staunton, wrestles with the decision to abdicate the throne. The show's finale, titled "Sleep, Dearie, Sleep," features Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles' wedding, which serves as a pretext for the Queen's internal conflict. While the Queen ultimately decides not to abdicate, the episode explores her contemplation of stepping down amid the approval of Charles and Camilla's marriage and other events, such as Prince Harry's costume scandal.
In the episode, the Queen is depicted as planning her own funeral proceedings in 2005, which stirs up emotions and thoughts about her mortality. She later confides in Prince Philip, played by Jonathan Pryce, about the impact of discussing her funeral. Rumors around the palace suggest that the Queen may announce her decision to step down during Charles and Camilla's wedding. However, while writing her reception speech, the Queen has a vision of herself as a young woman, reminding her of the oath she took to be the monarch for life.
The show's portrayal of the Queen's contemplation of abdication is a fictionalized aspect of the series. In reality, Queen Elizabeth II never considered abdication. She had expressed that abdication was "something I can't do," and that she would "carry on to the end." Royal historian Hugo Vickers also explained that the Queen, as an anointed Queen, would not abdicate.
The wedding scenes in the final episode were shot in Rochester, England, standing in for Windsor, where the civil ceremony took place. The York Minster was used to represent St. George's Chapel for the service of prayer and the final reflective moments with Queen Elizabeth II. The episode captures the intimate and real nature of Charles and Camilla's wedding, in contrast to his first marriage to Diana, which was a grand fairy tale wedding.
The final season of *The Crown* provides an emotional farewell to Queen Elizabeth II, exploring the internal struggles and decisions faced by the monarch amidst significant events in the royal family's life.
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Queen Elizabeth's thoughts on abdication
Queen Elizabeth II's thoughts on abdication have been the subject of much speculation, especially following the release of the final season of *The Crown* in December 2023. In the show, the Queen, played by Imelda Staunton, is depicted as contemplating abdication and announcing her decision to step down at the wedding of her son, King Charles, and Camilla Parker Bowles.
However, in reality, there is little to no evidence to suggest that Queen Elizabeth ever seriously considered abdication. On the contrary, she had consistently expressed her dedication to serving as monarch until her dying days. In 2003, the Queen told George Carey, the then-Archbishop of Canterbury, that abdication is "something I can't do. I’m going to carry on to the end." Similarly, royal historian Hugo Vickers stated that "one main reason why the Queen will absolutely not abdicate is, unlike other European monarchs, she is an anointed Queen. And if you are an anointed Queen, you do not abdicate."
The idea of Queen Elizabeth's abdication gained further attention due to a poll conducted in the early 1990s, which suggested that half of the British public thought she should abdicate in favour of Prince Charles. However, it is important to note that the poll indicated that the public believed she should consider it "eventually," rather than at that particular time.
While the finale of *The Crown* portrays the Queen as wrestling with the idea of abdication, it is unlikely that this was a significant consideration in her life. Royal Editor Emma Shacklock described the scene as "nothing more than an invented plot line from Netflix - and rather far from reality." She emphasized that the Queen was devoted to her duty as a monarch and saw it as a lifelong service.
In conclusion, while the specific thoughts of Queen Elizabeth on abdication are not fully known, there is a consensus among royal observers and historians that she was committed to her role as monarch and did not seriously contemplate stepping down. Her unwavering dedication to serving her country until her death in 2022 remains a testament to her sense of duty and service.
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The British public's opinion on Queen Elizabeth stepping down
In recent years, there has been some discussion among the British public about whether Queen Elizabeth II should step down. In 2022, the Queen missed the opening of Parliament, an event she had attended every year since 1963, due to health issues. This sparked questions about whether the Queen would step down, but Buckingham Palace stated that the Queen would continue as monarch, and her absence from the event was due to "episodic mobility problems."
Despite this, a YouGov survey conducted in May 2022 indicated a shift in public opinion, with one in three (34%) believing she should retire, up from 25% the previous month. At the same time, 49% wanted her to remain Queen, a decrease of 10% from the previous month. Additionally, 36% believed Charles would make a good king, an increase of 4% from April.
The idea that the Queen would consider stepping down was also portrayed in the Netflix series "The Crown." The show depicts the Queen contemplating abdication and announcing her decision to her family at the wedding of King Charles and Queen Camilla. However, this is largely considered to be a fictionalized portrayal, as there is no evidence to suggest the Queen ever considered abdication. In fact, the Queen herself stated that abdication is "something I can't do," indicating her dedication to serving as monarch until the end of her life.
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The Queen's devotion to her duty
The Queen's dedication to her role was also evident in how she navigated the many public-facing scandals faced by the royal family, particularly in the early 1990s, such as Charles and Diana's split. Despite nearly half of the British public thinking she should consider abdicating in favour of Charles, the Queen remained steadfast in her commitment to her duty.
The Queen's steadfastness was also reflected in her support for her son, Charles, and his enduring love for Camilla. In her speech at their wedding, she offered her blessing and acceptance of their union, capturing the visceral sense of relief the couple had in being able to make their love official. This was described as an "unusually sentimental speech" by royal correspondent Katie Nicholl, demonstrating the Queen's devotion to her family and her duty as a monarch.
While the Netflix series "The Crown" depicted the Queen as considering abdication, particularly in the context of Charles and Camilla's wedding, this is widely believed to be a fictionalised portrayal for dramatic effect. In reality, the Queen's unwavering devotion to her duty as monarch remained a constant throughout her life and was a defining characteristic of her reign.
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Frequently asked questions
In the final episode of The Crown, Queen Elizabeth is depicted as contemplating abdication and announcing her decision to her family at the wedding of King Charles and Queen Camilla. However, in real life, there is no evidence to suggest that the Queen considered abdication. In fact, she had stated that abdication is "something I can't do. I’m going to carry on to the end."
In the show, the Queen is portrayed as wondering if she should follow the example of other European monarchs and retire from the throne before becoming too old and unfit to rule. She wrestles with the decision to approve the marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles.
In the opening minutes of Season 5 of The Crown, a poll of the British public is mentioned, suggesting that half of them think Queen Elizabeth should abdicate in favour of Prince Charles. However, it is important to note that they said she should consider it "eventually", not necessarily at that time.
In The Crown, Queen Elizabeth ultimately decides not to abdicate and delivers a short, funny, and sweet speech at the wedding. In real life, the Queen discussed her horses in the toast, referring to the obstacles they had overcome and expressing her pride and well wishes for the couple.
