OUR NEW RULER

Wairarapa Age, 23 January 1936, Page 5

OUR NEW RULER

ACCESSION OF KING EDWARD THE EIGHTH

FIRST MONARCH TO FLY TO LONDON

TIME-HONOURED CEREMONIAL AT WESTMINSTER.

DUTY OF SOVEREIGNTY ACCEPTED.

(Received Wednesday, 5.5. p.m.) LONDON, January 22. King Edward VIII. made history by being the first British monarch to fly to his capital when to-day he hastened to London to participate in the consultations and ceremonies which are essential to his accession. Privy Councillors arriving for his Majesty’s first Privy Council were headed by the Lord Mayor of London, accompanied by the Sheriffs, who travelled in state in horse-drawn landaus, with coachmen and footmen in historic liveries. . Cabinet members and judges wore Court dress, the Archbishop of Canterbury his purple robes and Earl Beatty an Admiral’s uniform. Miss Margaret Bondfield, the only woman Councillor, wore deep mourning. The Rt. Hon. J. Ramsay MacDonald, as Lord President of the Council, informed the Assembly of King George’s death and of the accession of King Edward. The Council requested the Archbishop of Canterbury to acquaint King Edward with what had taken place in the Chamber. The King then walked the fifty yards across the Ambassadors’ Court to St. James’s Palace, where the Council was being held. His Majesty wore his Guards ’ scarlet tunic and all his Orders. He looked tired, but his head was high and his step assured as he strode through •the Guard of Honour, whose erepe-draped colours were now for the first time lowered in salute to the new head of the Army. The Duke of York wore a naval uniform and the Duke of Gloucester at Hussars’ levee dress. Many naval and military officers, including Fieldmarshal Birdwood, attended the King. The doors of the Council Chamber were flung open and an official announced his Majesty the King. The Archbishop of Canterbury and Mr. MacDonald entered escorting King Edward by the hand. The Councillors bowed low and listened attentively to the King’s Speech. The King, addressing the Council, said:— “In the irreparable loss the British Commonwealth of Nations has sustained by the death of his Majesty, my beloved father, there has devolved upon me the duty of sovereignty. I know how much you and all my subjects, with, I hope I may say, the whole world, feel for me in my sorrow, and I am confident, in the affectionate sympathy which win be extended to my dear mother in her overpowering grief. When my father stood here twenty-six years ago, he declared that one of the objects of his life would be to uphold constitutional government. In this i am determined to follow in my father’s footsteps and to work as he did throughout life, for the welfare of all classes of my subjects. I place my reliance upon the loyalty and affection of my peoples throughout the Empire and upon the wisdom of their Parliaments to support me in this heavy task. I pray God guide me to perform it."

After delivering his speech, his Majesty took the Oath of Accession and also subscribed to the oath securing the freedom of the Church of Scotland. The Councillors then swore loyalty to the King and kissed his hand on being presented. The Councillors then returned to Westminster, where a special Parliament was summoned. Both Houses of Parliament met in silence. It was a sombre gathering of politicians who had forgotten conflicting opinions in their common sorrow. The whole scene was dominated by the solitary Throne on the dais in the House of Lor&s, which, as a symbol of the King’s authority, had been installed to-day, replacing the two Thrones which were there yesterday for the late King George and Queen Mary, while the gilt chair the Prince of Wales usually occupied was also removed. The House pf Commons was crowded with black-suited and black-tied men. It was also noticeable that blackedged notepaper was in the racks, replacing the usually wholly white paper. The Speaker, wearing white “weepers” over his black cuffs and black shoe buckles instead of silver, then began the ceremony of taking the Oath of Allegiance to King Edward. The Speaker leading, was followed by members of the Cabinet. Among the earliest sworn in was Captain Sir lan Fraser, a blind member of the House of Commons, who was led to the table and his hand guided to the place on the roll which he laboriously signed. Lord Dawson, who last night signed the death bulletin, to-day signed the roll in. the House of Lords, acknowledging the new King. His features showed the strain of recent days. NEW ZEALAND OBSERVANCE. TO-DAY’S PROCLAMATION. THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S ~ INSTRUCTION. WELLINGTON, January 22. An extraordinary “Gazette” issued to-day contains the proclamation of the accession of King

Edward vm. The GovernorGeneral directs that the fallowing formalities be observed in connection therewith:— proclamation be publicly read of Parliament Buildings at 11 O*ni. on Thursday, January 23. That ‘in the case of public and private buildings and ships all flags be mast-headed from 11 a.m. until sunset on Thursday and thereafter be at halfmast until after the funeral. That the public be requested to observe a holiday between 10 a.m. and noon on Thursday. The proclamation reads:—“Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God to eall to His mercy our late Sovereign Lord King George the Fifth of blessed and glorious memory, by whose decease the Imperial Crown of Great Britain, Ireland and all other of his late Majesty's Dominions is solely and rightfully come to the High and Mighty Prinee Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David, we therefore, George Vere Arundell, Viscount Galway, Governor-General of the Dominion of New Zealand; Michael Joseph Savage, Prime Minister of the said Dominion, and members of the Executive Council of ths said Dominion, assisted by members of both Houses of the ‘ General Assembly, Judges and Magistrates, Ministers of Religion, Mayors, chairmen and members of local bodies and numerous other representative European and. Maori, citizens here present, do now hereby with one voice and consent of tongue and heart publish and proclaim that the High and Mighty Prince Edward Albert Christian George -Andrew Patrick David is now, by the death of our late Sovereign of happy memory, become our only lawful and rightful' Liege Lord, Edward the Eightk, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, Iretaad and the British Dominions beyend the seas King, Defender of the Faith,. Emperor of India, to whom we do acknowledge all faith and constant obedience, with all hearty and humble affection, beseeching God by whom kings and queens do reign, to bless the Royal Prince Edward the Eighth with long and hqppy years to reign over us.”—(P.A.)