<P> On the day of the abdication, the Oireachtas, the parliament of the Irish Free State, removed all direct mention of the monarch from the Irish constitution . The next day, it passed the External Relations Act, which gave the monarch limited authority (strictly on the advice of the government) to appoint diplomatic representatives for Ireland and to be involved in the making of foreign treaties . The two acts made the Irish Free State a republic in essence without removing its links to the Commonwealth . </P> <P> Courtier and journalist Dermot Morrah alleged that there was brief speculation as to the desirability of bypassing Albert (and his children) and his brother, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, in favour of their younger brother Prince George, Duke of Kent . This seems to have been suggested on the grounds that Prince George was at that time the only brother with a son . </P> <P> Albert assumed the regnal name "George VI" to emphasise continuity with his father and restore confidence in the monarchy . The beginning of George VI's reign was taken up by questions surrounding his predecessor and brother, whose titles, style and position were uncertain . He had been introduced as "His Royal Highness Prince Edward" for the abdication broadcast, but George VI felt that by abdicating and renouncing the succession, Edward had lost the right to bear royal titles, including "Royal Highness". In settling the issue, George's first act as king was to confer upon his brother the title "Duke of Windsor" with the style "Royal Highness", but the letters patent creating the dukedom prevented any wife or children from bearing royal styles . George VI was forced to buy from Edward the royal residences of Balmoral Castle and Sandringham House, as these were private properties and did not pass to George VI automatically . Three days after his accession, on his 41st birthday, he invested his wife, the new queen consort, with the Order of the Garter . </P> <P> George VI's coronation at Westminster Abbey took place on 12 May 1937, the date previously intended for Edward's coronation . In a break with tradition, Queen Mary attended the ceremony in a show of support for her son . There was no Durbar held in Delhi for George VI, as had occurred for his father, as the cost would have been a burden to the government of India . Rising Indian nationalism made the welcome that the royal party would have received likely to be muted at best, and a prolonged absence from Britain would have been undesirable in the tense period before the Second World War . Two overseas tours were undertaken, to France and to North America, both of which promised greater strategic advantages in the event of war . </P>

How long was the mad king in power