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Queen Elizabeth II has now been on the throne for 66 years, the longest-serving monarch the United Kingdom has ever had and a beloved figure not only in the UK but also abroad. While the monarch has signalled she regards her job as a lifelong duty and would never abdicate, royal author Phil Dampier suggested the Queen may seek to offload much of her powers to Prince Charles in the next two years. Speaking to Yahoo's The Royal Box, Mr Dampier said: "There is talks that when she reaches 95 in a couple of years she may slow down and possibly the Regency Act will be brought in.

"She will still be Queen but Prince Charles will, in fact, take over most of the duties.": The Regency Acts are a series of laws which regulate the process of establishing a regency in the event of the monarch no longer being able to perform their duty. The last regency in the UK ran from 1811 to 1820, when the future King George IV was given his father's full powers during George III illness. The latest legislation was drafted in 1937 to set out plans for a regency in the event of then-Princess Elizabeth ascending to the throne while a minor. While talks of the Queen relinquishing all or part of her powers to the Prince of Wales were dismissed in the past, Charles has been increasingly taking on extra duties from his mother. READ MORE: Prince Philip’s SCATHING attack on the Queen ‘Who does she think she is?’

Queen Elizabeth II has said she would not abdicate but has been giving Charles more responsibility

The Queen has been said to hold private meetings with Charles to discuss his future role

Mr Dampier continued: "He is starting to do that already, being at the state opening in Parliament and the Commonwealth conference. "He is starting to take over a lot of the duties and doing the investitures." The Queen, now 93, has remained very active in discharging her royal duties and is known to have a busy schedule throughout the year. According to the Regency Act of 1937 at least three people – including Prince Philip, the Chancellor and the Speaker of the House of Commons – would have to declare evidence provided proved "that the Sovereign is for some definite cause not available for the performance of those functions." While Prince Charles would take on the roles usually performed by the sovereign, the Duke of Edinburgh would become a guardian of the Queen.

The Queen has now been on the throne 66 years

It was previously reported the Queen has been holding private meetings with her eldest son for months to discuss the matters of state. The Prince of Wales has also been added to the distribution list of despatch boxes that the Queen is sent from Whitehall. In April a royal source told the Daily Star the monarch has indeed been planning to trigger the Regency Act following her 95th birthday in April 2021. The source said: "The changes are starting, and although they are small changes, more will follow. Her Majesty will never resign, though. She will be on the throne to her last breath. “But with the Regency act and meetings that have taken place recently, when Her Majesty gets to 95 then (the Regency Act 1937) will be brought in through Parliament.” DON'T MISS" Queen left with major 'burden' after unexpected twist changed her life - 'Was not planned'

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The Regency Act was modified in 1937 in the event of Princess Elizabeth becoming queen while a minor

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