during Gibbs's term as Governor Several high-ranking officers of the Rhodesian military went to Governor Gibbs earlier in the day, made a statement of loyalty to him, and asked Gibbs to issue a warrant so that they could arrest Smith and Dupont. However, Gibbs knew that the bulk of the officer corps, as well as the rank and file of the Rhodesian military, were solidly behind Smith's government and that such a move would lead to a ''
coup d'état''. Gibbs announced that despite the UDI, he had no intention of resigning his office or leaving
Rhodesia, and that therefore, he would remain in
Government House in
Salisbury as the sole legal representative of Queen Elizabeth II. With few exceptions, the international community continued to recognise him as the Queen's sole legitimate representative in the area—and thus, the only lawful authority in what London maintained was still the colony of
Southern Rhodesia. In response, Smith declared that Government House was only "temporarily occupied" by Gibbs "in a personal capacity", and would be occupied by Dupont (whom he had appointed as
Officer Administering the Government after London rejected Smith's advice to make him
Governor-General) as soon it became available. It also took away his ceremonial guard and official cars, and sent him bills for the rent of Government House, which he refused to pay. While Gibbs continued to occupy Government House, Dupont and his wife held official receptions at Governor's Lodge in the
Salisbury suburb of Highlands. This had previously been used by Gibbs when Southern Rhodesia was part of the
Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. During this time, Government House had been the residence of the
Governor-General of the Federation. In 1967, on the second anniversary of UDI, Gibbs declared that his visitors' book would be open to all those who wished to show their loyalty to
the Queen, while Dupont, in response, announced that the visitors' book at his office, on the same street, would be open to all those who wished to show their support for the UDI. In June 1969, Gibbs resigned after Smith's government held and won a
referendum that year making Rhodesia a republic. He remained in Rhodesia and lived the rest of his life on his farm. Throughout the 1970s he was known for supporting the cause of African nationalism, which brought him into conflict with the government of Ian Smith. Later he was appointed to
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council and was made a Knight Grand Cross of the
Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) by Queen
Elizabeth II. After independence in 1980 he decided to "stay on" and took up Zimbabwean citizenship. He stayed on his farm where he had been living since 1970 until 1983 when he moved to
Harare, where he lived until his death in 1990. Gibbs died in
Harare on 5 November 1990, with his funeral held at the
Cathedral of St Mary and All Saints, Harare. In 2004 a memorial to Gibbs by
Lettering and Sculpture Limited was unveiled in
St Paul's Cathedral in London. ==Marriage==