THE QUEEN will sensationally step down next year and let Prince Charles become head of state, leading royal experts have claimed.
By LUKE HAWKER
The Queen, 94, is the longest-reigning monarch in British history and has been on the throne for the past 68 years. Royal biographer Robert Jobson believes the Queen could hand over power to her son Prince Charles, 71, in less than six months.
Mr Jobson expects the Queen will end her historic reign when she turns 95-year-old next year.
The Queen will celebrate her birthday on April 21 – with the special occasion traditionally marked with a Trooping of the Colour service in June.
Speaking on The Royal Beat, Mr Jobson said: “I still firmly believe when the Queen becomes 95, that she will step down.”
Appearing on the same show, fellow royal expert Jack Royston agreed with the remarkable claims.
Mr Royston noted the Queen would be reluctant in handing over the prestigious honour to the Prince of Wales but insisted it would make sense given the additional royal responsibilities already given to her son.
The Newsweek royal reporter said: «I think she won’t want to.
“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?”
The Prince of Wales became heir apparent at the age of three when his mother, Princess Elizabeth, acceded to the throne on February 5, 1952.
Prior to becoming Queen, Princess Elizabeth famously dedicated her life to her future role as monarch on her 21st birthday.
She said: «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 our great imperial family to which we all belong.»
The Queen became the UK’s longest-serving monarch on September 9, 2015.
She surpassed the 63 years, seven months and two day-long reign of her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria.
As a result, Charles has been the longest-serving heir-to-the-throne since 2011.
He surpassed the previous record of 59 years, two months and 13 days, set by his great-great-grandfather, King Edward VII.
This is not the first time reports of the Queen abdicating have surfaced, with many believing the monarch would step down in 2002 after 50 years on the throne.
The Queen celebrated her Golden Jubilee on June 3, 2002 but has continued to serve the British people.
Only once in British history has a monarch abdicated – the Queen’s uncle in 1936.
King Edward VIII stepped down in order to marry American socialite Wallis Simpson, as she was a divorcée he was not allowed to marry her otherwise.
