Particularly long life expectancy: why are the British royals so old?
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Extremely high life expectancy
Why are the British royals getting so old?
14/09/2022, 8:10 PM
The average age of Britons is rising, but has fluctuated between 68 and 82 since the 1950s. A look at the royal shows: Queen Elizabeth II, her husband Philip and her mother, Queen Mama, were considerably older. What do they do differently?
Prince Philip was almost 100 years old when he died. Queen Elizabeth II has now passed away at the age of 96. In fact, her mother, Queen Mum, lived a whopping 101 years. That is much more than the average life expectancy of any of their subjects. According to “Statista”, this is about 68.6 years for people born in 1950. At birth in 2022, that is about 82.2 years. Is that a coincidence or what do the royals do differently?
A professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, S. Jay Olshansky, who studies aging processes, attributes the old age royals reach to their privileges. In an article he wrote on the subject for The Conversation, he cited a 2017 study conducted in Manchester, England. This is intended to visualize the large differences in life expectancy due to the living conditions of people. According to the genetic conditions, education, income, health care, nutrition or living and working environment play a role in life expectancy.
The Queen’s and Prince Philip’s refusal to smoke may also have contributed to their longevity. Elizabeth II had her sister Princess Margaret (1930-2002), her father George VI. (1895-1952), her uncle Eduard VIII (1894-1972), her grandfather George V. (1865-1936) and her great-grandfather Eduard VII (1841-1910) partly through smoking. The Queen is said to have never smoked herself and asked Prince Philip to stop smoking after the wedding.
Queen ate very few carbs
Moreover, the royal family apparently eats very healthy – probably thanks to the numerous chefs who work for the royal family. Queen Elizabeth II is said to have loved fish and avoided foods like pasta and potatoes when eating alone. For dinner, she reportedly preferred a combination of meat or fish with vegetables.
Philip and the Queen have also proven that physical activity helps to grow old. He is said to have kept fit well into old age, and the monarch himself is said to have pursued her favorite hobby, horseback riding, until last year. In addition, walks with their dogs were the order of the day. Mental fitness should have always been in demand with the royal couple’s busy schedule.
The Royals also have access to exclusive healthcare from private doctors. This way, problems can be identified early. Studies have also shown that one of the many reasons for longevity is a strong “purpose in life.” That should have played a role with the queen too. Just two days before her death, she personally appointed the new British Prime Minister, Liz Truss.
