Prince Philip Retires (Previously: Something happening at Buckingham Palace?)

[Groningen]

In the media it seems that something happened at BP. Reports there there will be a pressconference right now.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4471696/Royal-staff-called-London-emergency-meeting.html

Queen calls her ENTIRE household to 'highly unusual' emergency meeting at Buckingham Palace today - but aides say there is 'no cause for concern'

• A top secret emergency meeting called by Buckingham Palace has caused fevered speculation
• Staff from across the UK to be addressed by senior officer of Royal Household Sir Christopher Geidt at 10am
• It has fuelled feverish rumours of announcement concerning Queen or Prince Philip but both are 'fine'
• Royal Standard is flying at full mast meaning no death in family and Palace source insists 'no cause for alarm'
• Queen met Theresa May yesterday and Prince Philip at Lords - both have engagements in London later today
• Ex-royal press secretary Dickie Arbiter says it could be about Buckingham Palace's proposed £369m refurb
• Others have claimed that Prince Philip could be about to announce his retirement from royal duties

 

[duncanp]

Strangely enough there is nothing about it on the BBC, ITV or Sky News websites.

Perhaps they know better than to speculate.

Buckingham Palace has said that neither The Queen or Prince Philip has died, nor is The Queen going to abdicate.

However that does not exclude an announcement about another member of the Royal Family, such as Prince Charles letting the throne pass directly to William on the death of The Queen.

Correction

There is now something on the BBC news website, but the fact that it happened in the early hours of the morning suggests it is significant.

 

[edwin_m]

We have local elections today so I can't imagine anything would be announced unless really important and time-critical.

BBC now has it as a meeting of household staff: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39801908

Officials at the palace have not said what this morning's meeting, reported to involve all senior staff from across the UK, is about.

Such internal royal meetings usually happen about once a year.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

This one?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39801908

A meeting of household staff called at Buckingham Palace is not a cause for concern, the BBC understands.

The BBC's royal correspondent Peter Hunt understands the meeting is not about the health of either the Queen or Duke of Edinburgh.

Officials at the palace have not said what this morning's meeting, reported to involve all senior staff from across the UK, is about.

Such internal royal meetings usually happen about once a year.

 

[duncanp]

The BBC are now saying that the meeting will take place at 10:00 this morning, so I guess we will know shortly afterwards.

 

[oversteer]

I saw one of the Royal 67s leaving Wembley this morning.. about 0845

 

[Blindtraveler]

The queen might no have died but given her age a deterioration in health leading to possible complications or death is possible?

Given my previous posts about the royals which offended some on here I must stress that the above is not ment malitiously.

 

[AlterEgo]

It could well be that the Queen has decided to remain monarch and conduct only essential Royal business like the opening of Parliament etc - and divesting all other duties to Charles or others.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Is that unusual/unheard of?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Crikey, give it half an hour and we'll know

 

[EM2]

My guess is that it's to do with Prince Philip. Probably drastically reducing his Royal duties. He is 96, after all.

 

[ainsworth74]

£5 for the honourable member above!

Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, to retire from royal duties in the autumn, Buckingham Palace says.

The decision was made by Prince Philip himself and is supported by the Queen, a palace spokesman said.

Prince Philip turns 96 next month.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39802636

 

[Howardh]

My guess is that it's to do with Prince Philip. Probably drastically reducing his Royal duties. He is 96, after all.

Still time for him to make his debut for Lancashire then...

 

[Cowley]

My guess is that it's to do with Prince Philip. Probably drastically reducing his Royal duties. He is 96, after all.

Blimey EM2. You wouldn't happen to know next Saturdays lottery numbers would you?

 

[Darandio]

Blimey EM2. You wouldn't happen to know next Saturdays lottery numbers would you?

I wouldn't trust his lottery numbers, they would all be one number out. Prince Philip is actually 95.

 

[Cowley]

I wouldn't trust his lottery numbers, they would all be one number out. Prince Philip is actually 95.

He's obviously spending too much time in the future.

 

[EM2]

I wouldn't trust his lottery numbers, they would all be one number out. Prince Philip is actually 95.

He's very nearly 96, his birthday is 10th June.

 

[Howardh]

The chances of either of them dying or being taken very seriously ill in the days up to the General Election - which would almost certainly be postponed on death - opens up a whole new can of spaghetti. Has a General Election ever been postponed before?

Basically, if Labour did find any shoots of recovery, another fortnight might just get them into the lead! Unlikely at this stage obvs, but time's ticking away for the opposition and a bit longer could be to their benefit!

 

[me123]

So all this fuss is about an almost 96 year old man retiring? At least no-one's dead or abdicating, I'm not really in the mood for a media frenzy.

 

[KashmireHawker]

That media frenzy all kicked off on Twitter - as per usual... Not too surprised he's retiring with his 96th around the corner.

And not matter your views on the family, over 60 years of service as a serving Royal is phenomenal. I have a feeling he might live to at least 100 and perhaps beyond Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester - who has the record of longest living royal after passing aged an impressive 102 in 2004.

Just hope Operation Forth Bridge (Philip's plan for after his death) doesn't come any time soon.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

He's very nearly 96, his birthday is 10th June.

Indeed. Given his age, I think it's rather impressive that he has been doing royal engagements for this long. I'd wish him well in what I imagine would be well deserved retirement.

I was surprised though. When I saw the news of the meeting, I assumed they'd be discussing Theresa May's demand to be made monarch-and-emperor for life, in the name of strong and stable Government. I guess that'll be on the agenda for next week instead

 

[TheEdge]

So all this fuss is about an almost 96 year old man retiring? At least no-one's dead or abdicating, I'm not really in the mood for a media frenzy.

I was thinking that. Not sure why its big news, he isn't monarch, he isn't dying (neither is she for that matter). It all seems like a lot of fuss over not much of a story.

And this is coming from me as a committed royalist.

 

[ExRes]

I was thinking that. Not sure why its big news, he isn't monarch, he isn't dying (neither is she for that matter). It all seems like a lot of fuss over not much of a story.

And this is coming from me as a committed royalist.

The only real reason it's news is because that's the way the media want it, he could have just stopped doing engagements without any announcement but that would have caused a massive media frenzy as well, why has he stopped doing engagements? why weren't we told? what a secretive unfriendly organisation they are etc etc

Now we live in this media/twitter/facebook world we have everything stuffed down our throats by the media and individuals only to be told it's because we want/need to know everything and, sadly, it's probably becoming true

There is also a desperate need to be the first to tell everyone the news, even if it's wild guess work as on this thread

 

[AM9]

The only real reason it's news is because that's the way the media want it, he could have just stopped doing engagements without any announcement but that would have caused a massive media frenzy as well, why has he stopped doing engagements? why weren't we told? what a secretive unfriendly organisation they are etc etc

Now we live in this media/twitter/facebook world we have everything stuffed down our throats by the media and individuals only to be told it's because we want/need to know everything and, sadly, it's probably becoming true

There is also a desperate need to be the first to tell everyone the news, even if it's wild guess work as on this thread

Part of the reason that it is big in the news today, (and probably why it was announced today) is that the UK broadcast media can't have any news or items about UK politics on election day until 22:00 hrs when the polls close. Just see how prominent the French election and in particular last night's TV debate is on all bulletins.

 

[Qwerty133]

We have local elections today so I can't imagine anything would be announced unless really important and time-critical.

BBC now has it as a meeting of household staff: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39801908

Or something that they want to get a large amount of publicity for that wouldn't ordinarily get much...
There are few days in which news is as slow as on polling days...

 

[J-2739]

If you don't like it guys, then don't read it.

 

[Greenback]

If you don't like it guys, then don't read it.

Exactly right. Thats precisel why I don't bother with Twitter

 

[Antman]

The only real reason it's news is because that's the way the media want it, he could have just stopped doing engagements without any announcement but that would have caused a massive media frenzy as well, why has he stopped doing engagements? why weren't we told? what a secretive unfriendly organisation they are etc etc

Now we live in this media/twitter/facebook world we have everything stuffed down our throats by the media and individuals only to be told it's because we want/need to know everything and, sadly, it's probably becoming true

There is also a desperate need to be the first to tell everyone the news, even if it's wild guess work as on this thread

No that's the way the palace wanted it.