Page:Regency Act 1953 (UKPGA Eliz2-2-3-1 qp).pdf/2

 Rh Now, therefore, we, Your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, do most humbly beseech Your Majesty that it be enacted, and be it enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1.—(1) If a Regency becomes necessary under the Regency Act, 1937, on the succession to the Crown of a child of Her Majesty and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh while under the age of eighteen years, His Royal Highness, if living, shall be the Regent.

(2) If a Regency becomes necessary under the Regency Act, 1937, during the reign of Her present Majesty, His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, if living, shall be the Regent unless, or (as the case may be) until, there is a child or grandchild of Her Majesty and His Royal Highness who can under the provisions of the said Act be the Regent.

(3) The preceding provisions of this section shall have effect subject to—
 * (a) subsection (2) of section three of the Regency Act, 1937 (which enumerates the disqualifications for becoming or being Regent), and
 * (b) subsection (5) of that section (which provides for the case where the Regent is incapacitated by infirmity for performing the royal functions or is not available for the performance of those functions),

but, save as aforesaid, that section shall have effect subject to the preceding provisions of this section.

(4) Where His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh is Regent by virtue of this section, section six of the Regency Act, 1937 (which relates to the appointment of Counsellors of State) shall have effect as if the following provision were substituted for subsection (4) thereof:—
 * “(4) The provisions of this section shall apply in relation to a Regent with the substitution for references to the Sovereign of references to the Regent and the omission, in subsection (2) thereof, of the reference to the wife or husband of the Sovereign.”

2. The heir apparent or heir presumptive to the Throne shall be deemed for all the purposes of the Regency Act, 1937 to be of full age if he or she has attained the age of eighteen years.