Ever Heard of the Demise of the Crown Act 1727?

No, neither had we, but it is an interesting Act nevertheless, as too are the other Acts of the same name but different date. It is an important legal and constitutional device that transfers the Crown, along with its territories and dependencies to the monarch’s heir.

The word ‘demise’ is Norman French and has a technical sense here. It means ‘property’, and indicates that, even in modern times, any named territories or dependencies are considered property.

Thus, in the 1727 Act, it says, “[its intent is] preventing all inconveniences that might arise from the determination of the offices herein after mentioned and described, upon the demise of his said late Majesty, or of his present Majesty (whom God long preserve), his heirs or successors, or by reason of the determination of any grant of the principality of Wales, or earldom of Chester, or of any descent of the dutchy of Cornwall, or of the custody of the said dutchy coming to the crown, it was the true intent and meaning of the said recited Act.”

So, the Principality of Wales, Duchy of Cornwall, and Earldom of Chester, are considered ‘property’. Note that purely administrative arrangements such as the Duchy of Lancaster are excluded, and also that the wording is ‘any descent of the dutchy (sic) of Cornwall’, which indicates the hereditary arrangements for the Duchy through the monarch’s first born, and which is not associated with the Principality.

Here’s a link to the legislation.