NationStates Jolt Archive

This is:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/hamptonshire/8e75e43a.jpg

Live from the floor of the Royal House of Representatives, Hamptonshire City

This is Don Evans with CapitalBeat bringing you the swearing in ceremony of the newly appointed Regent of Hamptonshire. Just over an hour ago the Council of Dukes selected Senator Bernard Charles Allenby to serve as Regent for the two year interregnum period before a new Grand Duke can be elected.

Senator Allenby, once sworn in, will be the first sitting Senator to serve as Regent in Hamptonshire's history. As the leader of the Royal Congress and the nation's largest political party, HNN analysts predict that his Regency will be one of swift and decisive political action.

Once the Regent has been sworn in he will go off to a series of meetings with the Senior Cabinet and the Privy Council. He is expected to give an address to the entire nation either later this night or tomorrow morning. Rest assured that once the Regent is prepared to speak, HNN will bring it to you live.

We're getting the signal that Senator Allenby is ready to enter the Senate Chamber.


SARGAENT-AT-ARMS: Prince Patrick, Congressman Reinard I hereby introduce the President of the Royal Congress.


*The four hundres assembled lawmakers and VIPs rise to the feet and applaud Senator Allenby. With his characteristic coolness and detachment, he slowly, and regally, walks toward the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Realm. The Chief Justice stands with Cardinal Luther, the Primate of Hamptonshire, at his side.

These two men stand on the first tier of the three tiered RHR Platform. Prince Patrick and Congressman Reinard stand on the second tier. The third tier, the Royal Tier, remains unoccupied.*


CHIEF JUSTICE, LORD ALBERT FENTON: I stand before this House now as a Servant of the Grand Duchy and Lord Chamberlain of the Royal Court. This assemblage of the Royal Congress shall come to order and bare witness to the action undertaken here today.


*The assembled witnesses take their seats and the Chamber becomes deathly silent as a chill goes through the air.*


LORD FENTON: I request that the Speaker of the Royal House of Representatives gives me leave to address this assembled House.

CONGRESSMAN JULES REINARD, SPEAKER OF THE ROYAL HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: Your request is so granted. Any member of this Congress assembled here that attempts to interfere in this Ceremony shall be found in Contempt and fined according to established rules.

LORD FENTON: Senator Bernard Charles Allenby, Junior; President of the Royal Congress, stand before me and kneel.


*Senator Allenby kneels.*


LORD FENTON: Repeat after me: I, Senator Bernard Charles Allenby, Junior; President of the Royal Congress do come here today upon my own free will.

SENATOR BERNARD ALLENBY:I, Senator Bernard Charles Allenby, Junior; President of the Royal Congress do come here today upon my own free will.

LORD FENTON: I do solemnly swear and affirm that I will support and defend the Basic Law and Charters of the Grand Duchy against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.

SENATOR ALLENBY: I do solemnly swear and affirm that I will support and defend the Basic Law and Charters of the Grand Duchy against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.

ARCHBISHOP WALTER CARDINAL LUTHER, PRIMATE OF HAMPTONSHIRE: Repeat after me: I, Bernard Charles Allenby, do take this Oath with the full understanding that the office on which I am about to enter is that of Regent of Hamptonshire. I shall rule according to what is best for the Grand Duchy and all of Her Protectorate Realms.

SENATOR ALLENBY: I, Bernard Charles Allenby, do take this Oath with the full understanding that the office on which I am about to enter is that of Regent of the Grand Duchy. I shall rule according to what is best for the Grand Duchy and all of Her Protectorate Realms.

CARDINAL LUTHER: Upon my entrance into this Office, my life, from this point until that time my Regency comes to an end, is property of the Grand Duchy. I take this Oath freely but with a heavy heart.

SENATOR ALLENBY: Upon my entrance into this Office, my life, from this point until that time my Regency comes to an end, is property of the Grand Duchy. I take this Oath freely but with a heavy heart.


*Cardinal Luther annoints Senator Allenby's forehead. Lord Fenton presents the still kneeling Senator with a royal signet ring and the Staff of Office*


LORD FENTON: With the Ring and the Staff you are now Regent of the Grand Duchy and Sovereign of the Hamptonians. You have kneeled before this House a Commoner, rise a Prince of Hamptonshire.


*The newly created Prince Bernard rises and puts his ring on. The Royal Senate stands to its feet as the Prince walks up to the third tier. He carefully sits on the Throne. The assembled witnesses cheer:*


ALL: Long Live His Royal Highness Bernard III, Prince of Hamptonshire, Regent of the Grand Duchy and Sovereign of the Hamptonians!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/hamptonshire/hnn.png
National Address


Ladies and Gentlemen, My Fellow Hamptonians, I come to you this afternoon as your Regent and Sovereign. Today begins a new chapter in the great history of our nation. For the next two years I shall endeavor to pursue and enact such reforms that are necessary restructure our government and society to better fit the current and future needs of the Hamptonian State. Together we shall walk hand in hand into a new bright and glorious future.

After careful consideration and consulation I have decided that I shall retain my seat in the Royal Senate as well as my position as President of the Royal Congress until the next election cycle. The day-to-day affairs of the Royal Congress will be handled by the new position of Deputy President of the Royal Congress. In the interest of fairness and equality to all relevant political viewpoints I am, however, resigning as Chairman of the Nationalistisk Republikaner Folkeparti. I am sure that the leadership of Narp will select a new leader that will be equally capable in the cause of defending and enacting the Will of the People.

To reflect my position as a neutral, but not dispassionate, participant in government, I have created myself a Royal Duke. The newly created Duchy of Obsidia will serve to tie this Regency in with the greater history of Hamptonshire. This is the first step toward a full reformation of Hamptonshire's Peerage System, a system that can only be reformed from the inside.


My first acts as Regent were to fill the two top vacancies in the Government: the Prime Minister and the new Federal State Minister. After consulting with the Privy Council, I have used my Reserve Powers to issue a Royal Proclamation naming Senator Mel Ziller the new Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy. I have also increased the powers of the Prime Ministership by merging the office with that of the Finance Minister. In addition, from now on the Prime Minister shall be the Supreme Commander of the Royal Armed Forces. I am fully confident in Senator Ziller's abilities and look forward to working with him for the next two years.

The second position, that of Federal State Minister, was also filled earlier today upon the advisement of the Senior Cabinet and the Privy Council. I was asked by my most illustrious colleagues in both bodies to serve as the first Federal State Minister. While I time and again refused to accept this office, it was made very clear to me that they would accept no other candidate. Therefore, under duress, I reluctantly appointed myself Federal State Minister. I shall serve in this capacity only as long as the Privy Council needs to find a more qualified candidate.

Over the coming days,weeks and years Hamptonshire will be going through great change. Things as small and trivial as our national motto, anthem, and flag will be updated to reflect new Hamptonian values and traditions while our society and government itself will be fundamentally altered so that it better reflects the Will of the People.

It is only together that we can bring up the fundamental and necessary change that our nation so desparately needs. Don't follow me for your own needs, wants or desires; follow me for your children. What I do now, indeed what we all do know, is for all our children.

For the Glory of Hamptonshire!


His Royal Majesty Bernard III, Duke of Obsidia, Prince of Hamptonshire (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/hamptonshire/4e63e51d.jpg)
Regent of the Grand Duchy of Hamptonshire
President of the Royal Congress
Federal State Minister

OFFICIAL STATEMENT
--Office of the Regent--

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/hamptonshire/logo.jpg
Great Seal of His Royal Majesty Bernard III Duke of Obsidia, Prince of Hamptonshire, Regent of the Grand Duchy

Following the traditions of our forefathers and in the footsteps of Reginald Leopold the Great, I have in coordination with the Privy Council mandated the following changes:

The national flag of the Grand Duchy of Hamptonshire shall be changed to the historical flag associated with the former Duchy of Hampton. The new flag (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/hamptonshire/93c30774.gif) shall immediately replace the current one.

Hamptonshire's national motto shall be changed from "That which governs best, governs least", a fine sentiment that was the hope of the previous Grand Duke, to "Extra Civitatem Nulla Salus". This new national anthem much more accurately reflects the nature, status and future of the Hamptonian state. The accepted translation of the new motto is: "Outside of the State There is No Salvation".

The Hymn of Heroes (http://www.babylonsounds.com/media/staffel5/staffel5_abspann.mp3) shall immediately replace Hamptonia, Gem of the Ocean (http://lcweb2.loc.gov/natlib/ihas/service/patriotic/100010423/100010423.mp3) as the national anthem of the Grand Duchy of Hamptonshire.

Effective immediately, the Office of the Regent in coordination with the Office of the Prime Minister shall begin the process of dividing Hamptonshire Proper into seven Prefectures. These new administrative divisions will allow the Federal and Prefectural governments to more effectively and efficiently ensure the Will of the People.


Together we must stand tall against those that seek to weaken us. These are the first steps that me must take toward our rightful, glorious future. The sacrifices that we make now will be repaid a thousand fold for our children and countless other future generations.

For the Glory of Hamptonshire!


Signed,
His Royal Majesty Bernard III, Duke of Obsidia, Prince of Hamptonshire
Regent of the Grand Duchy of Hamptonshire
President of the Royal Congress
Federal State Minister