LAST REGAL ACT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 84, 21 January 1936, Page 5

LAST REGAL ACT

COUNCILLORS OF STATE.

THE QUEEN, PRINCE AND DUKES

KING’S USUAL SIGNATURE.

(United Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) LONDON, January 20. Privy Councillors' assembled in. the sitting-room adjoining the King’s bedroom, with the doors wide open to enable a meeting to be held in the presence of his Majesty, in accordance with constitutional practice. The King was propped up on pillows. Lord Dawson, who was present as a Privy Councillor, assumed the responsibility of seeing that the King a r as comfortable and not subjected to undue strain. •After the usual formalities Lord Dawson presented the King with a State paper constituting a Council of State. His Majesty signed it, after which the privy councillors and Sir Maurice Hankey lunched with the Queen. Doctors visited the Duke of Gloucester and stated that it was inadvisable to travel to Sandringham unless it was absolutely necessary. According to the official announcement, his Majesty appointed as Councillors of State— ,

Her Majesty the Queen, The Prince of AVales. The Duke of York, The Duke of Gloucester, Tho Duke of Kent.

The Privy Council consisted of the Archbishop of Canterbury (the Most Rev. Dr. Cosmo Gordon Long), Viscount Hail sham (Lord High Chancellor), Mr J. Ramsay MacDonald, Lord Dawson of Penn (the King’s Physician), Sir Clive Wigram (Private Secretary to the King), Sir John Simon (Secretary of State for Home Affairs), aud Colonel Sir Maurice P. A. Hankey (Clerk to the Council). - , Sir Maurice Hankey told the Iress that his Majesty affixed his usual signature, after which the Councillors withdrew to allow him to rest.. . L.j. ;

SIGNING OF A DOCUMENT.

■Hi POWER GIVEN TO THE QUEEN. DEATH-KNELL TO NATION. {Received This Day,. 12.50 p.m.) LONDON, January 20.- . A bulletin with the solemn words, “the King’s life is moving peacefully toward its close,” came almost as a death-knell to the waiting nation. After the restful sleep his Majesty enjoyed last nighty reassuring news had been eagerly hoped lor all day. J.hen, toward evening was made tiro g,»jye announcement rnat his condition showed diminishing strength, which, coming but a few hours after the King, with his own hand, had signed a document giving sovereign power to the Queen and his four sons, indicated that while attending to formal but essential affairs of the State, the King’s strength was slowly ebbing. His people, reflecting thereon, must have realised that the King himself, with his love of country and subjects, would wish his passing energies to be employed to no better purpose. His untiring devotion to State duties, even alien he was ill, was never more clearly demonstrated than when he jrerfonned what was probably his last official act. The evening bulletin, .showing the shadow of approaching death, revived nation-wide anxieties, which apparently had been somewhat alleviated.

GRIEF-STRICKEN THOUSANDS.

WAIT IN THE ICY RAIN.

NEWS SPREADS LIKE WILDFIRE

(Received This Day, 12.15 p.m.) LONDON, January 20.

At Sandringham, where many residents kept constant watch at the] gates, the news spread like wildfire.l Groups of villagers immediately hastened through the darkness 'amid the high wind to await further news. Arrivals on horseback, on cycles, and in cars from distances scanned the small typewritten characters, conveying the sad intimation, and turned away, whispering sympathy for the King. Crowds clustered ill the roadway, refusing to go home until they know the worst. Thousands went to Buckingham l al-l ace despite incessant showers of ievj rain to ascertain the latest news, de-j parting with grief-stricken faces. Itl had been announced that the next bul-j letin could be expected at 10.30 p.m., but at 9.30 p.m. came the surprising but not unexpected news which ievealed that all hopes must disappear. The doctors, in the interval between bulletins, found that his Majesty had lost so much that they were forced to realise that there was no loiigei a chance of recovery. Further examination revealed that Iris life was slowly passing. The sad news was immediately con-1 veyed to members of the Royal l<am-l ily, to the Duke of Connaught, who is I wintering on the Riviera, and -who was! continually in telephonic touch with I Mandrill sham, and to the King’s sister, I Queen Maud, of Norway, and also to I the Prime Minister (Mr Stanley Raid-1 win) in London. I