OOn her platinum jubilee, the Queen renewed her pledge from 1947 that “my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service”. But what happens if the Queen is seriously incapacitated and cannot continue to serve?

The question has added salience since Buckingham Palace said Prince Charles, 73, who on Thursday tested positive to COVID-19 for the second time, had met his mother as recently as Tuesday.
In Britain, there has been legislation since 1937 that permits a regent or counsellors of state to exercise the Queen’s powers under certain conditions.