Bookies halt bets on Queen Elizabeth II abdicating this year

[-:Undertaker:-]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...nd-market.html

Bookies stop taking bets on Queen stepping down after £200 wager in Windsor on an abdication this year

- Coral slashed its odds on her stepping down, then closed the market
- Spokesman said wagers from Windows are usually 'spot on'
- Move follows reports that the monarch, 87, is handing over responsibilities

A bookmaker suspended betting on the Queen stepping down after a large wager was placed in Windsor.

The development follows reports that the 87-year-old monarch is handing over key responsibilities to Prince Charles.

Bookmaker Coral had slashed the odds of Her Majesty stepping down before the end of the year from 3-1 to 1-2, before suspending the market yesterday.

She said bets about members of the royal family which were placed in the Windsor area were usually ‘spot on’, suggesting there may be some insider knowledge circulating.

The bookmaker’s odds were 1-20 that Prince Charles would be next on the throne while Prince William was being backed at 8-1.

The Queen is due to visit the Normandy beaches later this year to mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings, along with Prince Charles, in what some claim will be her final overseas engagement.

A French government official was reported as saying: ‘We have been told this will probably be the Queen’s last official foreign visit.’

But royal aides have been quick to dismiss the claims and have stressed that the monarch is far from retiring and will continue to focus instead on ‘behind the scenes’ duties.

The movement of Charles to a more central role will allow the Queen to concentrate on her role as head of state – including hosting foreign ambassadors and state visits.

The Queen has already handed a number of responsibilities to younger members of the royal family in the last few months, including Charles and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman declined to comment.

The standard feeling has always been that Her Majesty will never abdicate and will serve for life, although she's never actually said that clearly herself. The move by the bookies along with the comment by the French official certainly make me think something may be afoot.... it's always best to go by rumours when it comes to the Palace as it has always been secretive. I'd be surpised though that if she does have abdication in mind, if she does it before September 2015 when she overtakes Queen-Empress Victoria's record.

Thoughts?

[Inseriousity.]

Could they be hiding an illness? Sounds morbid but I'd be surprised if she abdicated. I remember reading bout William doing that land management course at university and the timing coincides with this

[Kardan]

I'd be very surprised if she abdicated, but 1/2 odds are extremely short. Maybe she is ill...

[iBlueBox]

I would much rather not have her abdicated.

Though hasn't there been rumours that Charles would abdicate power to pass onto William.