The median age of Britons, while increasing, has hovered between 68 and 82 since the 1950s. However, a look at the royals shows: Queen Elizabeth II, her husband Philip and her mother, Queen Mum, were significantly older. What are they doing differently?
Prince Philip was almost 100 years old when he died. Queen Elizabeth II has now died at the age of 96. Her mother, Queen Mum, even lived for a whopping 101 years. That’s far more than the average life expectancy of one of their subjects. According to “Statista”, this is around 68.6 years for people born in 1950. At birth in 2022, it will be around 82.2 years. Is that a coincidence or what are the royals doing differently?
A professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, S. Jay Olshansky, who researches aging processes, attributes the old age that 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 show the major differences in life expectancy due to people’s living conditions. According to the genetic prerequisites, education, income, health care, food or living and working environments play a role in life expectancy.
The Queen and Prince Philip’s refusal to smoke may also have contributed to their long lives. 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) among other things due to smoking. The Queen herself is said to have never smoked and is said to have asked Prince Philip to quit smoking after the wedding.
In addition, the royals apparently eat very healthily – 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 also proved that physical activity helps to reach old age. He is said to have kept fit into old age, and the monarch herself is said to have been pursuing her favorite hobby, horseback riding, until last year. In addition, walks with their dogs were the order of the day. Mental fitness should always have been in demand with the royal couple’s busy schedule.
The Royals also have access to exclusive health care with private doctors. Problems can thus be detected early. Studies have also shown that one of the many reasons for longevity is a strong “purpose in life”. That should also have played a role with the Queen. Just two days before her death, she personally appointed the new British Prime Minister, Liz Truss.
