King Edward VIII has renounced the Throne, and will be succeeded by the Duke of York.
To-day the Act of Abdication will be passed by both Houses of Parliament, and to-night King Edward will give it the royal assent ╤ his last act as King.
The new King will hold the Accession Council at St. James╒s Palace to-morrow morning, and be proclaimed at noon. He will, it is understood, take the title of George VI.
The King╒s Message
The announcement of the King╒s ╥final and irrevocable decision, after long and anxious consideration,╙ was made in a message to both Houses of Parliament.
╥The burden which constantly rests on the shoulders of a Sovereign is so heavy that it can only be borne in circumstances different from those in which I now find myself,╙ said King Edward, who declared that he could ╥no longer discharge this heavy task with efficiency or satisfaction to myself.╙
Mr. Baldwin╒s Speech
Mr. Baldwin, in the moving and revealing speech in which he told the House of his conversations with the King, disclosed that he himself first raised the question of Mrs. Simpson on October 20 in an interview arranged at his own seeking ╤ a week before the hearing of the Simpson divorce suit.
On November 16 the King told him, ╥I am going to marry Mrs. Simpson, and I am prepared to go╙; the same night the King told Queen Mary and later informed his brothers. On November 25 the King asked that the morganatic marriage solution should be put to the Cabinet and to the Dominions, and on December 2 Mr. Baldwin gave him the answer. The King said he was not surprised at it, and never referred to it again.
The Premier, who said that the King had never wavered in his intention, paid high tribute to him and to his abhorrence of any idea of a ╥King╒s party.╙ He read a pencilled note from the King, written that morning, expressing confidence that his brother the Duke of York ╥will deserve and will receive the support of the whole Empire.╙ Mr. Baldwin said the King felt he could not carry the ╥almost intolerable burdens of kingship without a woman at his side.╙
The Abdication Bill
The text of the Abdication Bill, formally read a first time in the House of Commons last night, was issued when the House adjourned. It is entitled ╥A bill to give effect to his Majesty╒s declaration of abdication and for purposes connected therewith.╙
The phrase ╥Defender of the Faith,╙ which is usually included in the King╒s titles, appears neither in the instrument of abdication nor in the bill.
The terms of the bill exempt King Edward and his descendants from the operation of the Royal marriages Act. This means that he may marry without first obtaining the consent of the new King.
The Dominions of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa have assented to the new legislation, and the Free State Dail meets to-day. The Canadian Cabinet yesterday by Order-in-Council authorised Canada╒s inclusion in the Act; the Dominion Parliament will ratify it on January 14.
Last night the Parliamentary Labour party held a meeting at the House of Commons, at which the great majority of the members supported Mr. Baldwin╒s attitude.
THE ABDICATION INSTRUMENT AND BILL
Text of the King╒s Message to Lords and Commons
The text of the King╒s message to Parliament, read in both Houses yesterday, is as follows:-
After long and anxious consideration I have determined to renounce the Throne, to which I succeeded on the death of my father, and I am now communicating this my final and irrevocable decision.
Realising as I do the gravity of this step, I can only hope that I shall have the understanding of my peoples in the decision I have taken and the reasons which have led me to take it.
I will not enter now into my private feelings, but I would beg that it should be remembered that the burden which constantly rests upon the shoulders of a Sovereign is so heavy that it can only be borne in circumstances different from those in which I now find myself.
I conceive that I am not overlooking the duty that rests on me to place in the forefront the public interest when I declare that I am conscious that I can no longer discharge this heavy task with efficiency or with satisfaction to myself.
I have accordingly this morning executed an instrument of abdication in the terms following:╤
I, Edward the Eighth of Great Britain, Ireland, and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Emperor of India, do hereby declare my irrevocable determination to renounce the Throne for myself and for my descendants, and my desire that effect should be given to the instrument of abdication immediately.
In token whereof I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of December, 1936, in the presence of the witnesses whose signatures are subscribed.
(Signed) EDWARD R.I.
My execution of this instrument has been witnessed by my three brothers, their Royal Highnesses the Duke of York, the Duke of Gloucester, and the Duke of Kent.
I deeply appreciate the spirit which has actuated the appeals which have been made to me to take a different decision, and I have before reaching my final determination most fully pondered over them.
But my mind is made up. Moreover, further delay cannot but be most injurious to the peoples whom I have tried to serve as Prince of Wales and as King, and whose future happiness and prosperity are the constant wish of my heart.
I take my leave of them in the confident hope that the course which I have thought it right to follow is that which is best for the stability of the Throne and Empire and the happiness of my peoples.
I am deeply sensible of the consideration which they have always extended to me both before and after my accession to the Throne and which I know they will extend in full measure to my successor.
I am most anxious that there should be no delay of any kind in giving effect to the instrument which I have executed and that all necessary steps should be taken immediately to secure that my lawful successor, my brother his Royal Highness the Duke of York, should ascend the Throne.
