At
long last I am able to say a few words of my own. I have never
wanted to withhold anything, but until now it has not been constitutionally
possible for me to speak.
A few hours ago I discharged my last duty as King and Emperor,
and now that I have been succeeded by my brother, the Duke of
York, my first words must be to declare my allegiance to him.
This I do with all my heart.
You all know the reasons which have impelled
me to renounce the throne. But I want you to understand that
in making up my mind I did not forget the country or the empire,
which, as Prince of Wales and lately as King, I have for twenty-five
years tried to serve.
But you must believe me when I tell you
that I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of
responsibility and to discharge my duties as King as I would
wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.
And I want you to know that the decision
I have made has been mine and mine alone. This was a thing I
had to judge entirely for myself. The other person most nearly
concerned has tried up to the last to persuade me to take a
different course.
I have made this, the most serious decision
of my life, only upon the single thought of what would, in the
end, be best for all.
This decision has been made less difficult
to me by the sure knowledge that my brother, with his long training
in the public affairs of this country and with his fine qualities,
will be able to take my place forthwith without interruption
or injury to the life and progress of the empire. And he has
one matchless blessing, enjoyed by so many of you, and not bestowed
on me -- a happy home with his wife and children.
During these hard days I have been comforted
by her majesty my mother and by my family. The ministers of
the crown, and in particular, Mr. Baldwin, the Prime Minister,
have always treated me with full consideration. There has never
been any constitutional difference between me and them, and
between me and Parliament. Bred in the constitutional tradition
by my father, I should never have allowed any such issue to
arise.
Ever since I was Prince of Wales, and later
on when I occupied the throne, I have been treated with the
greatest kindness by all classes of the people wherever I have
lived or journeyed throughout the empire. For that I am very
grateful.
I now quit altogether public affairs and
I lay down my burden. It may be some time before I return to
my native land, but I shall always follow the fortunes of the
British race and empire with profound interest, and if at any
time in the future I can be found of service to his majesty
in a private station, I shall not fail.
And now, we all have a new King. I wish
him and you, his people, happiness and prosperity with all my
heart. God bless you all! God save the King!
Edward VIII
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