abdication

plural abdications

1. countableobsoleteuncountableThe act of disowning or disinheriting a child.First known use Attested from the mid 16ᵗʰ century until the mid 17ᵗʰ century.
2. countableuncountableThe act of abdicating; the renunciation of a high office, dignity, or trust, by its holder.First known use First attested in the early 17ᵗʰ century.
3. countableuncountableThe voluntary renunciation of sovereign power.First known use First attested in the late 17ᵗʰ century.

   the king’s abdication

   2 more examples

   abdication of the throne, government, power, authority

   So yes: the abdication was when the Windsors opened the gate. After that it was – and will be – whack-a-mole. Every crisis will draw significant numbers of people out who would ask why you couldn’t cut off whoever was displeasing them in that moment.

   2025 October 31, Marina Hyde, “Now Andrew has been fired from the Firm, a nation wonders: who’ll be next?”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

4. countableobsoleteuncountablelawThe renunciation of interest in a property or a legal claim; abandonment.First known use Attested only in the mid 18ᵗʰ century.
5. countableobsoleteuncountableThe action of being deposed from the seat of power.First known use Attested only in the mid 17ᵗʰ century.