Page:His Majesty King Edward the Eighth's Abdication Act 1937.djvu/1

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[Date of commencement―10th February, 1937.

To declare the abdication of King Edward the Eighth and to provide for alterations in the laws relating to the succession to the throne and for purposes connected therewith.

(Assented to 6th February, 1937.) (Signed by the Governor-General in Afrikaans.)

HEREAS His Majesty King Edward the Eighth has, by his royal message of the tenth day of December, 1936, been pleased to declare that he is irrevocably determined to renounce the Throne for himself and his descendants and also has for that purpose executed the Instrument of Abdication a copy of which is set out in the Schedule to this Act and has signified his desire that effect thereto should be given immediately: it is deemed desirable that the position created by the said Instrument of Abdication be clarified and regulated:

the several States, Members of the British Commonwealth of Nations, have agreed to accept the alterations in the laws relating to the succession to the Throne required by the said Instrument of Abdication:

legislative effect has already been given to the aforesaid alterations in the laws relating to the succession to the Throne in respect of the other Members of the British Commonwealth of Nations:

it is meet that the Parliament of the Union of South Africa should also give its assent to the alterations in the laws touching the succession to the Throne required by the aforesaid instrument of Abdication:

E IT THEREFORE enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate and the House of Assembly of the Union of South Africa, as follows:―

1. (1) It is hereby declared that the Instrument of Abdication executed by His Majesty King Edward the Eighth on the tenth day of December, 1936, and a copy of which is set forth in the Schedule to this Act has, and has had, effect from the date thereof; that the accession to the Throne of King George the Sixth, as the member of the Royal family next in succession to the Throne, took effect from such date and that everything done thereafter by His Majesty, or the Governor-General as his representative, in accordance with law, is and has always been of full force and effect.

(2) Everything purporting to have been done in the name of the former King Edward the Eighth in accordance with law after the date of the said Instrument of Abdication and before the passing of this Act, shall be deemed to have been lawfully done and to have and have had full force and effect, the provisions of the preceding sub-section notwithstanding.