1689: 2 William & Mary c.6: An Act for the Exercise of the Government by her Majesty during his Majesty’s Absence
WHEREAS by an Act of Parliament made in the first year of their Majesties Reign Intituled An Act Declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject and Settling the Succession of the Crown It is amongst other things enacted established and declared That the Crown and regal Government of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging shall be and continue to their said Majesties and the Survivor of them during their Lives and the Life of the Survivor of them and that the entire perfect and full Exercise of the Regal Power and Government be only in and executed by his Majesty in the Names of both their Majesties during their joint Lives And whereas the King’s most excellent Majesty hath resolved to make a Royal Voyage and go in Person into Ireland for the speedy and effectual reducing of the Kingdom to its due Obedience to their Majesties and hath likewise declared his pleasure to leave the Administration of the Government in the Hands of the Queens most excellent Majesty during his Absence out of this Kingdom: Be it enacted by the King and Queens most excellent Majesties by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same That whensoever and as often as it shall happen that his said Majesty shall be absent or continue out of this Realm of England It shall and may be lawful for the Queens Majesty to exercise and administer the Regal Power and Government of the Kingdom of England Dominion of Wales and Town of Berwick upon Tweed and the Plantations and Territories thereunto belonging in the Names of both their Majesties for such time only during their joint Lives as his said Majesty shall be absent or continue out of this Realm of England any thing in the said Act to the contrary notwithstanding Provided always That nothing in this Act shall be taken or construed to exclude or debar his Majesty during such his absence out of this Realm from the Exercise or Administration of any Act or Acts of Regal Power or Government within this Realm the Kingdom of Ireland or any other their Majesties Dominions whatsoever But that all and every such Act and Acts shall be as good and effectual as if his Majesty was within this Realm and shall not be contradicted or controlled but by his Majesty only And that neither the passing of this Act nor his Majestys Royal Voyage or Absence out of this Realm shall be any way taken or construed to dissolve this present Parliament or avoid or determine any Commission or Commissions which have been or shall be granted by his or their Majesties Nor to avoid any other Act or Acts of Government executed or to be executed by his Majesty.
PROVIDED always That as often as his Majesty shall return into this Kingdom of England the sole Administration of the Regal Power and Government thereof and all the Dominions Territories and Plantations thereunto belonging or annexed shall be in his Majesty only as if this Act had never been made.
Source: Wikisource with spelling modernized.
Further reading: Wikipedia.