After Diana’s death a year later, Elizabeth was also criticized as being too slow to publicly mourn or console her people as she stayed behind closed doors at her Scottish castle, Balmoral, though she seemed to quickly rebound. Prince Charles has taken on a greater public role in recent years, increasingly standing in for his aging mother, Queen Elizabeth II.Ĭharles was portrayed as a villain in the media leading up to his divorce from Princess Diana in 1996. World & Nation Long in Queen Elizabeth II’s shadow, Prince Charles takes greater public role In a family whose celebrity status and tabloid scandals predate the modern Instagram- and reality TV-fueled followings of the likes of the Kardashians, Elizabeth has been among the few prominent members to largely maintain a positive image among her subjects in recent years. None of these men are as popular as the queen or as known globally.” But more than that, this family is going to hit a rocky patch. “We know who comes next in the line - Charles - even if of course many people want to see Prince William become king.

“Many people are wondering, pretty openly and loudly, what will happen after the queen passes,” said Pauline Maclaran, a professor of marketing and consumer research at Royal Holloway, University of London, who co-wrote “Royal Fever: The British Monarchy in Consumer Culture.” After falling ill with COVID-19 this year, she said it had left her “very exhausted and tired.” She has become increasingly frail and canceled numerous engagements. Her late husband, Prince Philip, died in 2021. Regardless of how much longer Britain will have Elizabeth, many Britons - as well as the royal machine that keeps the monarchy humming - are already bracing for her exit from the royal stage. 9, 2015, surpassing her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria.

Queen Elizabeth II, who turns 90 on Thursday, became Britain’s longest-reigning monarch on Sept.

World & Nation Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years The queen emerged on the famous Buckingham Palace balcony Thursday to watch a flyover tribute and to wave at the cheering crowds thronged outside the gates and along the Mall leading to the royal residence.īut her brief presence alongside other members of the royal family served only to underscore how rare and unpredictable such public appearances have become as Elizabeth battles increasing infirmity. Paul’s Cathedral and other events scheduled through Sunday. It’s been billed as the party of all parties, a star-studded four-day celebration of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch for her 96th birthday and 70 years on the throne.īut the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, which has snarled traffic around Buckingham Palace, given Britons an extra-long weekend and will offer up performances by American, Irish and British stars - Diana Ross and Alicia Keys among them - has also underlined the question of what happens next for a monarchy seemingly inseparable from its aging head.Īs wall-to-wall live coverage began Thursday of the Platinum Jubilee - the only one in a royal lineage that stretches back more than 1,200 years - speculation about the monarchy’s future is as rife as the excitement over the military parade, street parties, outdoor concert, service at St.

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