Britain's Queen Elizabeth reportedly vows never to abdicate

Feb 6, 2006, 14:50 GMT

Britain's Queen Elizabeth has reportedly vowed never to abdicate.

The 79-year-old monarch, who turns 80 in April, is allegedly determined to remain on the throne for the rest of her life.

Some bookmakers had taken bets the queen would retire this year.

The queen's decision means her son and heir, Prince Charles, 57, may not succeed to the throne until he is a pensioner.

A royal aide told Britain's The People newspaper: 'As far as the queen is concerned, abdication is not an option and never will be. She believes that her vows at the Coronation in 1953 tie her into the job for life - it is her constitutional duty to remain monarch until her death.

'With the queen's family history of long life that could mean Charles will be a very old man before he inherits the job for which he has been groomed all his life.'

The source said Charles will continue to stay involved in a host of causes, adding: 'But it is still very difficult for him to be left twiddling his thumbs as he waits for the job where he can really make his mark to become available.'

'The queen Mother lived until she was 101, so all the indications are that he could be well beyond pension age before he takes over the reins.'

Despite the queen's decision David Cameron - leader of the Conservative Party - will today call for the monarch to be stripped of many of her traditional powers.

Mr. Cameron paints the move as something that could limit what he calls 'the personal, presidential' style that has taken hold under New Labour.

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