UK republicans has urged Queen Elizabeth II to step down as the head
of state as she marks her sapphire jubilee as queen.
The monarch
celebrated her 65th year on the throne on the 6th of February making her
the longest serving British monarch in UKs history.
Having celebrated her 90th birthday last year and suffered a heavy cold
over Christmas that led to her being absent from church, the republicans
have begun to raise questions as to how long she can continue in her
role.
Speaking on this, Graham Smith, Republic's CEO, speaking to Independent,
said it would not be surprising that someone at her age would be unable
to perform her duties optimally and so the reasonable thing will be for
her to step down.
"it's very reasonable to expect her to step down and retire and then let
the people decide who was going to replace her [but] it would
completely go against everybody's understanding of her view of the role.
She takes the notion she has some kind of divine right quite
seriously," Smith said.
"It's been reported throughout her reign that she's opposed to abdication."
It is expected that her son, Prince Charles, will ascend the throne
when/if Queen Elizabeth II retires, however, the republicans are
beginning to clamor for a head of state that gets chosen by the people,
not one who inherits it.
Smith said, "But obviously it needs to be up to the people to choose
someone. You can imagine any number of people being chosen. People who
have got experience in public life, whether it be academia, or law, or
politics."
He also added that "There would be plenty of people that could do an intelligent and sober
job of being head of state, and who can maintain their impartiality and
independence from the prime minister,".
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