JOINT HEIRS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 18 December 1936, Page 5

JOINT HEIRS

TO THRONE OF ENGLAND AMENDMENT OF ACT MAY BE NECESSARY THE TWO PRINCESSES (United Proas Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, 17th December. Many constitutional lawyers are of the opinion that Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose are joint heirs to the Throne, and consider that it will be necessary to amend the Act of Settlement to enable Princess Elizabeth to inherit it exclusively. The matter has not been referred to the law officers of the Crown, as Cabinet does not desire to raise further tricky constitutional problems at this juncture. If and when the question arises, the Dominions must be consulted.

THE EX-KING’S DECISION

BRITISH FEELING FULFILS TWIN DESIRE “NEWSLETTER’S” COMMENT (Received 18th December, 12.5 p.m.) LONDON, 17th December. The National Labourite organ “The News Letter,” paying a tribute to exKing Edward, says editorially: “It is to the enduring credit of the ex-King that when once he was satisfied that a morganatic marriage was impossible, he forced the issue to the only ending consistent with public well-being. He might easily have claimed the right or asserted that it was his duty to wait and leave the matter undetermined until the law permitted him to marry. He could then, in April, have confronted his ministers with a disastrous dilemma had he privately resolved to renounce neither the Throne nor the marriage. He might have succeeded in getting away at the price of inflicting an almost fatal loss on the prestige of the Monarchy and doing immeasurable injury to national and imperial interests. Instead he has allowed British feeling to fulfil its twin desire —to retain unimpaired the system of constitutional monarchy and to have in the Monarch, one who upholds certain standards of conduct. “There is no mistaking that the popular verdict of all classes of society is that ‘the woman I love’ must not be another man’s wife.

THE CORONATION DATE LONDON, 17th December. The King will shortly inform the Privy Council of his wishes regarding the formal Proclamation and Coronation date. It is suggested that he may be content to allow that made on behalf of ex-King Edward to suffice. It will probably be necessary to reappoint a Coronation Commission. It is likely that the Duke of Gloucester will be chairman. SAME DATE AS PREVIOUSLY (Received 18th December, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, 17th December. A formal announcement Ijhat the King’s Coronation will be oh 12th May will be made at St. James’s Palace on Saturday. GAVE NOINTERVIEW MR SIMPSON STILL IN LONDON THE GENOA MESSAGE LONDON, 17th December. The Central News Agency, which circulated an interview with Mr Simpson and sent it from Genoa on 16th December, now says that Mr Simpson has not left London and gave no interview. According to a message received from Genoa on 17th December, Mr Ernest Simpson, in an interview, said: “I am perfectly serene and calm. The only thing that would annoy me would be that this iove romance should bear my name. I have nothing to say regarding the events of the past few days. The morbid curiosity of the public has already caused too much annoyance to Mrs Simpson. I shan’t add to it.”

USE OF THE ROMANCE FORBIDDEN

AS SUBJECT FOR FILMS OR SONGS HOLLYWOOD EDICT HOLLYWOOD, 16th December. An informal memorandum circulated through the cinema studios by Mr William Hays, President of the Motion Picture Corporation, forbids the use of the Duke of Windsor and IV) rs Simpson romance as the subject for films or songs. THE ROYAL TRAIN SOON TO BE USED AGAIN WHEN COURT MOVES TO SANDRINGHAM (Received 18th December. 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, 17th December. For the first time since King George V died the Royal train will be used when the Court moves to Sandringham for Christmas early next v/eek. The train took King George V. on his last visit to Sandringham a year ago. A few weeks later it brought his body back to London. It has not been in commission since. King Edward preferred to travel by road or air, but when he used the railway, it was usually in’ a special coach attached to an ordinary train.