Martin Ivens, Columnist

Britain Begins to Think the Unthinkable: Life After the Queen

Elizabeth II’s intention is to remain in public view as long as she can. But the shadow cast by her years lengthens.

October 30, 2021 at 5:00 AM UTC

Updated on

October 31, 2021 at 10:43 AM UTC

Martin Ivens is the editor of the Times Literary Supplement. Previously, he was editor of the Sunday Times of London and its chief political commentator.

Long live the Queen.
Photographer: Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson Collection

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The world’s leaders are gathered in Glasgow this weekend for COP26, but Queen Elizabeth II — most likely the dignitary they were keenest to glimpse — will not be there to greet them. She will address delegates in a recorded video instead. The conference will lack the magic dust that the physical presence of Europe’s last anointed and longest reigning monarch scatters over such occasions.

This is but the latest of several intimations of royal mortality. The Queen, 95 years old this year, long ago handed over arduous foreign tours to her son and heir to the throne, Prince Charles. Just as the Palace begins to transfer more duties around the royal “firm,” the U.K. must begin to think the unthinkable: of life without her.