On December 28, 1926, Emperor Showa, who had just been enthroned, issued an ordinance to Saionji in particular ('Ordinance given to the Supreme Order Prince Kinmochi SAIONJI'), and by this, it became institutionally certain for Saionji to be 'the last Genro' and to continue serving as an advisor regarding the appointment of the Prime Minister, and he continued in one way or another to be involved in the recommendations of the Cabinet Chiefs until the Yonai Cabinet was formed in January, 1940 (he declined to give recommendations to the Second Konoe cabinet).
昭和元年（1926年）12月28日、践祚直後の昭和天皇は西園寺に対し特に勅語を与え（「大勲位公爵西園寺公望ニ賜ヒタル勅語」）、これにより、西園寺は「最後の元老」として引き続き内閣総理大臣奏薦の任に当たることが制度上確定、昭和15年（1940年）1月の米内内閣までは何らかの形で首班推奏に関与し続けることになる（第二次近衛内閣については奏薦を謝絶している）。