Demise of the Crown

"**Demise of the Crown**" is the legal term for the end of a reign by a king, queen regnant, emperor, or empress whether by death or abdication.

## Commonwealth realms

The term was coined in English law to signify the immediate transfer (Law French *demise*, "sending down [the line of succession]", from Latin *demiss*-[gender ending], the perfect participle of *demittere*, having the same meaning), of sovereignty and royal prerogatives to a successor of the monarch without interregnum. The word "demise" is sometimes mistakenly interpreted as referring to the death of the Sovereign rather than to the transfer of the Crown. This erroneous meaning is undermined by the principle in constitutional law of the continuity of the monarchy, as expressed in the ancient Medieval maxim "the Crown never dies" expressed by Sir William Blackstone.

Upon the Crown's demise, in the United Kingdom, a meeting of the Accession Council is held in London in order to give directions for the proclamation of the late monarch's successor. This meeting is to arrange for the formalities; neither the identity nor the accession to the throne of the next monarch depends on it. The proclamation takes place at St James's Palace, Charing Cross, within the City Boundary at Temple Bar, and the Royal Exchange. In Canada the Privy Council for Canada meets in Ottawa to perform the same functions, as does Australia's Federal Executive Council in Canberra, the Executive Council of New Zealand in Wellington and equivalent bodies in the remaining Realms as their shared Monarch holds each of the Crown separately from the others in a personal union.

Historically, the demise of the Crown resulted in the immediate dissolution of Parliament. This practice was ended by the Reform Act 1867. The Succession to the Crown Act 1707 provides that in the event of the demise of the Crown, Parliament, if adjourned or prorogued, must meet as soon as possible and if sitting must immediately proceed to act without any summons in the usual form. In Canada, upon the demise of the Crown, the *Manual of Official Procedure of the Government of Canada* states the prime minister is responsible for convening the Parliament, tabling a resolution of loyalty and condolence from the Parliament to the next monarch of Canada, and arranging for the motion to be seconded by the leader of the Official Opposition. The prime minister will then move to adjourn Parliament.

In the UK, under the Representation of the People Act 1985, if the demise of the Crown occurs during a general election, the vote is postponed by fourteen days.

At the first meeting of Parliament under a new monarch there is no speech from the Throne. All Members of Parliament and members of the House of Lords take an oath of allegiance to the new Sovereign. The House votes an Address to the Crown in response to the official notification of the previous monarch's demise, expressing condolences upon the death of the previous monarch and pledging loyalty to his or her successor.

All civil service and Crown offices also, traditionally, became vacant upon the demise of the Crown. As all staff were employees of the monarch, their employment would end upon the death of the monarch thus all civil servants would have to be rehired and swear out oaths to the new King or Queen. The Demise of the Crown Act 1901 in the UK, and similar legislation in other Commonwealth realms, now makes this process unnecessary – they are all employees of the Crown, rather than any particular Sovereign.

The demise of the Crown also brought all legal proceedings to an end, until this rule was abolished by the Demise of the Crown Act 1702.

The coronation of the new monarch usually occurs within eighteen months, but is not necessary to secure the succession.

## East Asia

Similar terms are also used in East Asian civilizations, mostly due to Chinese cultural influence:

### China

In ancient China, "駕崩" (jiàbēng, "mounting the collapse") or "晏駕" (yànjià) were used to refer to the passing of the Emperor of China, the Empress, or the Empress Dowager. "宾天" (bīntiān) was also used as a euphemism, to show that the Emperor has become a guest in Heaven.

The *Book of Rites* mentioned that different words were also used in feudal times when referring to the deaths of people, by their respective social classes: "薨" (hōng) was used for feudal vassals and higher officials, "卒" (zú) for the king's adviser, "不禄" (bùlù) for officials, and "死" (sǐ) for commoners. Template:Deprecated inline

### Japan

In Japan, "崩御" (hōgyo, "the Emperor has collapsed") is used as a respectful term to refer to the passing of the Japanese Emperor or any monarch. It also had an additional meaning, "to be hidden": as the Emperor of Japan was considered as a descendant of the solar goddess Amaterasu, his passing was also interpreted as "the sun has been hidden behind the clouds".

Other terms similar to those used in the *Book of Rites* are also used in Japan, in the event of a royal's passing. "薨御" (kōgyo) is used for the passing of the Empress of Japan, "薨去" (kōkyo) is used for the passing of the Crown Prince or a third-rank member of the Imperial Household, and "卒去" (sokkyo, shukkyo) is used for fourth-rank or fifth-rank members of the Imperial Household.

## Southeast Asia

In Brunei, "ليندوڠ" (lindung) is used in the Malay language to refer the passing of the Sultan of Brunei or the Raja Isteri. For other members of the royal family, "مڠکت" (mangkat) is used instead.

In Malaysia, "مڠکت" (mangkat) is used in the Malay language to refer the passing of the Malay Rulers and other members of the nine Malay royal families.

In Thailand, "สวรรคต" (sà-wǎn-kót) is used in the Thai language to refer a high-ranking royal person like the King of Thailand and the Crown Prince of Thailand. The term was derived from the Sanskrit language term "svargagata" (स्वर्गगत), which means "has gone to Heaven".

## References

1. ↑ Halsbury's Laws of England *Crown and Royal family* Volume 12 (2)
2. ↑ Parliamentary Elections. page 4. Retrieved on 7 May 2020.
3. ↑ Michael Pownall (2010). Companion to the Standing Orders and Guide to the Proceedings of the House of Lords. Retrieved on 13 March 2012.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 . Privy Council Office (1968).
5. ↑ Hopper, Tristan (5 January 2017). What happens to Canada should Queen Elizabeth II die: The behind-the-scenes plans. *National Post*. Postmedia Network Inc.. Retrieved on 8 December 2018.
6. ↑ Epochtimes.com 「天子死曰『崩』，諸侯曰『薨』，大夫曰『卒』，士曰『不祿』，庶人曰『死』。」