Royal expert claims Queen will ‘hand over power to Charles within two years’

The Queen is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon, often spotted representing the royal family at various events but according to one royal expert she could step down from her duties in the very near future.

While there has been speculation in the past that Prince William will take to the throne when his grandmother’s reign comes to an end, royal author Phil Dampier has now claimed that Prince Charles will take on the majority of Her Majesty’s duties within the next two years.

Speaking to Yahoo’s The Royal Box recently, Dampier said while he believes the Queen will never renounce the throne, her eldest son will continue to gain more responsibility in the royal family once she turns 95.

“There is talk that when she reaches say 95, in a couple of years, that she might slow down and possibly the Regency Act will be brought in,” he explained.

“She will still be Queen, but Prince Charles will, in fact, take over most of the duties.”

The author added: “He is starting to do that already, being at the state opening in parliament and the Commonwealth conference. He is starting to take over a lot of the duties and doing the investitures.”

Charles

The Regency Act is a series of laws which come into effect in the event that the monarch can no longer perform royal duties. The Queen has the option to hand over power to the heir “in the event of incapacity of the sovereign through illness”. While it can also be used for the performance of certain royal functions “in the name and on behalf of the Sovereign by a Regent”.

However, it can only be carried out if agreed upon by at least three of the sovereign’s consort, such as the Lord Chancellor, the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Master of the Rolls.

If the Queen does choose to enforce the Regency Act her title would remain the same, while her husband Prince Philip would change to Guardian of the Queen.

The last time a regency was in place in the UK was from 1811 to 1820 when the future King George IV was given his father’s full powers during George III’s illness.

Would you like to see Prince Charles take on the Queen’s royal duties? Or do you think someone else, such as Prince William should be handed the power?