Queen 'will never quit throne' claims cousin

THE Queen's cousin said today she was "perfectly sure" the Monarch will never retire or abdicate the throne.

The Hon Margaret Rhodes spoke as the Queen prepared for her 80th birthday celebrations.

She said: "I'm perfectly certain she will never retire as such. It's not like a normal job and, to the Queen, the vows that she made on Coronation Day are something so deep and so special that she wouldn't consider not continuing to fulfil those vows until she dies."

Ms Rhodes also talked about how she played alongside Princess Elizabeth as a child.

"When we were very small, it was mostly playing at being horses. It involved a lot of neighing and cantering and galloping," she said.