PROCLAIMING THE NEW KING

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 100, 22 January 1936, Page 15

PROCLAIMING THE NEW KING

Traditional Procedure

WHOLE PRIVY COUNCIL SUMMONED By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received January 21, 8.40 p.m.) London, January 21. When it became obvious that his Majesty’s end was near preparations were begun at Sandringham for the official ceremonial and acts which must be carried out to-day, the first being the summoning' of the Privy Council at which oaths of allegiance to the new sovereign will be taken and in which case King Edward will make a hurried journey to London to assume the mantle of his revered father.

The Privy Council differs from the ordinary in that the whole 300 members have been summoned to attend in levee dress with ribbons, orders and decorations. In addition the Lord Mayor, sheriffs and aidermen will wear robes. The King awaits in an adjoining apartment while the Lord President of the Council informs the assembly of King George’s death and the accession of his successor. Then at the Lord President, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald’s request, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Lord Chancellor, Lord Hailsham, go to the King’s apartment and inform him what has been done. His Majesty enters, addresses the Council and complies with their request. His declaration is made public, whereupon a proclamation is signed by the Privy Councillors and the Lord Mayor. After this the King takes the usual oath fop the security of the Church of Scotland and then the councillors are re-sworn and kiss his hands.

A proclamation of the King's death and the accession of King Edward will be made in traditional usage, chiefly by the Garter Principal King-of-Arms, Sir Gerald W. Wollaston, from the Friary Court balcony of St. James’s Palace and by others at Charing Cross and Temple Bar and the steps of the Royal Exchange. Twelve officers of the College of Arms and heralds will go in procession in Royal carriages to each place in their; quaint and beautiful uniforms, accompanied by an escort of Household Cavalry, State trumpeters sounding a fanfare at each point and the heralds each time announcing: “The King is dead; long live the King,” to show that the King’s peace has not been disturbed. All this follows the meeting of the Privy Council.

Parliament will also assemble today at 6 p.m. in conformity with tlie law requiring an immediate meeting on the death of a Sovereign. The Speaker will wear “weepers,” namely white bands around the sleeves of his black gown as a traditional emblem of mourning. The Home 'Seqrei/ary will solemnly announce the King’s death, after which members of both Houses will be resworn as soon as possible in another part of the Palace of Westminster. In the historic Westminster Hail the dead King will lie in state for his subjects to pay their last, homage. Another traditional ceremony to-day will be the firing of 70-minute guns at Hyde Park, tlie Tower of London and other saluting stations throughout Great Britain and the Empire. FIRST BACHELOR KING SINCE GEORGE HI Queen Mary May Act as Hostess ORDER OF SUCCESSION AND PRECEDENCE (Received January 21, 8.40 p.m.) London, January 21. The Prince of Wales becomes tlie first bachelor King since George HI succeeded in 1760. Assuming his continued bachelorhood, it is considered possible that Queen Mary will remain at Buckingham Palace to act as his hostess, but she may take up residence at Marlborough House, to which place Queen Alexandra went on the death of King Edward. The order of precedence of the Royal ladies remains unaltered. Queen Mary, as Queen Mother, is still first, lady of the land, then come the Princess Royal, tlie Duchess of York, tlie Duchess of Gloucester, the Duchess of Kent, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. Tlie Duke of York becomes . heirpresumptive, and next in succession is Princess Elizabeth, then Princess Margaret. There is no heir apparent. This position can only be occupied by the Sovereign's son or grandson. The title of Prince of Wales lapses, since, bv immemorial custom, it is conferred only on the Sovereign’s eldest son. It is recalled that Parliament, in 1910, increased Queen Mary’s annuity in tlie event of her surviving her husband from £30,000 to £70,000.