Foreign News: George VI

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Neither new King George VI nor any member of the Royal Family sat with Prince Edward during the abdication broadcast from Windsor Castle (see p. 15). His Majesty had become King and Emperor eight hours previously, and immediately dropped into a quiet routine of receiving British home & Dominion statesmen at his home, No. 145 Piccadilly. As Duke of York he aroused only the slightest public interest, but British aristocrats said with particular satisfaction of the Duchess of York, "She is one of us," and a popular knowledge that the late King George V was most fond of their little daughter "Lilybet" (together with her marked facial resemblance to Queen Mary) insures her great popularity with Britain's masses.

Lilybet was riding out last week when she read on screaming red posters in the street that her daddy is King and asked, "But what has happened to Uncle David?" She is now crown princess but not Princess of Wales for that title is never borne except by the wife of a Prince of Wales.

Rt. Hon. James Henry ("Jim") Thomas, who has been in scandalous eclipse since his resignation from the Cabinet after the Budget leak (TIME, June 1 et ante), is nevertheless a Privy Councilor for life and last week was out in full regalia with the 300-odd other Privy Councilors in the Throne Room of St. James's Palace to hear King George VI read his accession address: "... I take up the heavy task. . . . My first act ... to confer on [Edward] a dukedom. . . . He will henceforth be known as His Royal Highness, the Duke of Windsor. ... I declare to you my adherence to the strict principles of constitutional government and my resolve to work."

His Majesty at once set to work signing messages of congratulation to British near-centenarians which will be delivered on the 100th birthday of each. His Majesty commanded that his own 41st birthday this week be not celebrated or observed. He commanded that he shall be crowned May 12, 1937, the day on which the Duke of Windsor was to have been crowned. The 300 Privy Councilors were asked by all their intimates one question: "Does he still stutter?" No Privy Councilor could be found willing to be quoted as saying that His Majesty does not still stutter.*

Neither King George nor Queen Elizabeth has lived a life in which any event could be called of public interest in the United Kingdom press and this last week was exactly as most of their subjects wished. In effect a Calvin Coolidge entered Buckingham Palace with Shirley Temple for his daughter.