The British monarchy has undoubtedly seen an uptick in popularity in recent years. Interest began to swell when Prince William, a certified early aughts heartthrob and eldest child of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, announced he was engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Kate Middleton. The two have since had three beautiful children together: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
Public interest continued to rise as people awaited to see what Harry, the wildcard of the family, would do next. He's since settled into married life himself, choosing American actress and humanitarian Meghan Markle as his bride. The two are expecting their first child this spring.
Fans of the royal family have watched fondly as William and Harry have grown up. Alongside their charming wives, they are constantly setting the tone for what the next generation of the monarchy will be like. So far, that future looks modern, compassionate, and dedicated to improving the quality of life for all walks of people.
At the center of it all is 93-year-old Queen Elizabeth, who shows no signs of slowing down. What's more, a royal insider recently revealed that the Queen has no plans to abdicate and let Prince Charles, who is 71 years old himself, lead while she is still alive.
Queen Elizabeth is a true icon. She has been on the throne for 66 years!
Her son, Prince Charles, is next in line to the throne.
But the Queen is in no rush to relinquish her royal duties.
There have been rumors that the Queen feels if she makes it to 95, she will implement the Regency Act so that Charles can begin to rule while she's alive.
There has been no official word on this, however, and that's still a few years off.
In the meantime, the Queen has been enjoying her rule and watching her family blossom. She looks to them when she considers what the future of the monarchy might be.
The royal family endured a rough patch throughout the '90s, as scandal after scandal unfolded in the public eye, raising questions about the need for a monarchy in the modern world.
Sentiments have swung back in their favor in a major way over the last few years, and it's largely the new generation of royals who can be thanked for that.
Apparently, it's the public's interest in new members of the family that also plays a role in the Queen's decision to ride out her rule.
According to Marie Claire, Nick Bullen is an award-winning documentary filmmaker. He has worked closely with the royal family for a number of years.
The royal expert recently told Yahoo News, "I think the Queen sees what those boys and their wives bring, I also wonder whether she even throws forward to the great grandchildren."
Harry and Meghan's first child will be the fourth great-grandchild the Queen has welcomed in only four years.
The first three have already changed the way the monarchy is perceived. At just 5 years old, Prince George has proven to have a little bit of his Uncle Harry's naughtiness in him.
Then there's Princess Charlotte, whose birth rewrote the rules for succession to the throne. Thanks to the Perth Agreement, Charlotte is fourth in line to the throne, becoming the first female born into the royal family who didn't get bumped back due to a subsequent male heir.
The public also seems to love Charlotte's sense of style and all-around attitude.
The royal insider notes, "Princess Charlotte, already at the age of 3, knows how to work a crowd. Maybe now through her grandchildren [the Queen] can see a way of just staying on the crest of that wave."
It's safe to say that insiders are probably right about the Queen being anti-abdication.
Instead, she'll likely enjoy the rest of her time on the throne prepping the next generation to carry on the tradition and majesty that's special to their family.
Regardless of when and how she decides to leave the throne, no one can question Queen Elizabeth's commitment to serving her country, her subjects, and her family as fiercely and gracefully as possible.
