On Tuesday’s episode of Jeremy Vine, Kevin Maguire appeared alongside Cristo Foufas and Christina Patterson on the Channel 5 show. The panellists debated whether the Queen should abdicate after missing the annual Commonwealth service at Westminster Abbey. Kevin, a Daily Mirror associate editor, argued that she should step down for the sake of Prince Charles’ future reign as monarch.
“We saw yesterday, as we saw with Cop26 in Glasgow, [the Queen] can’t fulfil those public duties,” Kevin began.
“She’s 96, she’s clearly frailer, and I think monarchists should think it would be better for the monarchy if she stepped aside and let someone else, her son, come along.”
“No one else would get to keep the job they couldn’t do, especially not one that comes with £86 million in the sovereign grant; they’d be asked to make way for someone else.”
“If we don’t resolve this with her now, and remember, The Queen Mother lived to be 101, Prince Charles is 73 now, we’ll be in the same position when he becomes king because he’ll be so elderly,” she says.
“He’s going to be the pensioner king and they’ll become a time pretty rapidly when he won’t be able to fulfil his duties,” he continued.
“If I was to say well a hereditary monarchy you have to keep going on the monarchy didn’t end when Edward VIII abdicated in 1936.
“If you look at the other royal families around Europe, Spain, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, they’ve had monarchs who have all resigned in recent years.
“In Japan which claims to have the oldest rolling monarchy in the world, the Emperor of Japan went a few months ago.”
Jeremy interjected: “These are brilliant historical examples but they have not swayed Cristo.
The panellist said: “I’m afraid you’re initial point is a complete contradiction, Kevin.
“Monarchists would never call for the sovereign to abdicate you would not be a monarchist in my opinion if you do that.
“And secondly, this lady has worked her backside off for the Commonwealth for the last 70 years and now she has reached nearly 96 because she’s unable to do a perfect job we’re going to say, ‘Thanks so much love you’ve got to step aside.’”
“We have to accept a few years where she might not be doing the most perfect job,” Cristo added.
Christina agreed: “The thing about the pandemic is it introduced us all to Zoom and she’s doing masses of stuff online and it will still be an enormous pleasure and privilege for people to converse with and meet the Queen online.
“But also to say she doesn’t deserve the money it’s utterly ridiculous.
“She has worked every day of her life since she became Queen.”
