As members of the British royal family travel to the Balmoral Castle to be with Queen Elizabeth II, many have discussed the 96-year-olds health and what this could mean for the British Monarchy.
John Watkins, an expert on the British Monarchy and University of Minnesota professor, joined Adam Carter today to discuss the breaking news from across the pond.
“This is all very, very shocking,” Watkins said. “When you are dealing with anyone who is 96-years-old, a sudden decline of health is not to be unexpected, but when it happens, it feels shocking. Particularly when the person in question is the head of state.”
Right now, he said the news of what’s going on is “fuzzy,” but he finds it concerning that the family is assembling, noting “that doesn’t look good.” He also shared that they have called off the changing of the guard ceremony that was planned for tomorrow.
“This looks like a country that is bracing itself,” Watkins said. “It’s hard to say what’s going to happen. Never before have we seen the passing of a monarch in a period of great medical advancement.”
Watkins said that with modern medicine, people could go into “really bad states” and recover or even be on the brink of death for some time before passing.
One thing that Watkins says is on the table is an abdication, the act of renouncing the throne, though he said the queen is strongly against the idea.
“The queen doesn’t like the idea of abdication. I think in her heart of hearts, she’d rather die,” Watkins said.
Watkins shared that if the queen were to pass, her son Charles would “immediately” become king as there would be no time when there isn’t a king under British law.
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