« A few hours ago I discharged my last duty as a 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 will all my heart.
You all know the reasons wich have impelled me to renounce the
throne. 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 (…).
I have made this, the most serious decision of my life, only upon the
single thought of that would, in the end, be best for all (…).
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. »
