Can the Queen Abdicate? Here’s Why It’s Unlikely
As the longest reigning monarch in British history, Queen Elizabeth II has held her title for 66 years.
So it's natural to wonder: will she ever not be the Queen of England? In order for that to happen, she would have to retire, pass away, or abdicate.
To abdicate would mean that the queen would willingly step down from her position as head of state, and the throne would then be passed down the line of succession, starting with her oldest child, Prince Charles, followed by his oldest child, Prince William (this is how Kate Middleton would become queen).But while the queen can abdicate at any time, it's likely that she won't.
Even before she became queen in 1952 at the age of 25, Elizabeth II had revealed her intent to spend her life serving the Commonwealth.
In a speech given on her 21st birthday, she said, "I declare before you all that my whole life,
