Dr David Torrance, constitutional specialist at the House of Commons Library and a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Westminster, has written a briefing paper for the Commons Library titled the Demise of the Crown which sets out the process following the death of the monarch.
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Dr Torrance’s paper, which was published on 9 September 2022, outlines the historical precedents for the events that will follow the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
The paper notes that the death of a monarch – and the accession of a new sovereign – involves the Cabinet, the Privy Council, Parliament, Buckingham Palace and the Church of England. Historical events touched on in the paper include the Demise of Queen Victoria in January 1901, King Edward VII in May 1910, King George V in January 1936, and King George VI in February 1952. It also draws on the abdication of King Edward VIII in December 1936.
Writing about the term ‘Demise of the Crown’, Dr Torrance said: “The Demise of the Crown is the legal term for the end of a reign, whether by death (as in 1952) or abdication (as in 1936). It refers to a transfer of Crown authority from one sovereign (or monarch) to another. There is no hiatus between reigns. The heir as defined in statute immediately succeeds upon the former sovereign’s death.”
Dr Torrance was formerly a freelance writer, broadcaster and journalist, reporting on the Scottish Parliament for STV, and contributing political commentary to a wide range of publications including The Scotsman, The Herald and The Times. He is the author of several books on Scottish politics, the best known being his unauthorised biographies of Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond.
Read the full briefing paper on the Commons Library website.
