On this date in 1936, a man made a decision that not only changed the course of his own life and his family’s, but altered the history of his country — and, indeed, the world — for the next 88 years, and beyond.

That man was King Edward VIII of Great Britain; the decision he announced that day was his abdication of the throne in favor of the love of his life, American divorcee Wallis Warfield Simpson.

When the people of Great Britain, the British government, and the Church of England all condemned his decision to marry the woman they considered unsuitable to sit on the throne next to their monarch, Edward — who had been carrying on a very public affair with the notorious Mrs. Simpson for some time — chose love over duty, and became the first British monarch to voluntarily relinquish the Crown.

On December 10, 1936, after only eleven months on the throne and not yet having celebrated his coronation, Edward VIII signed the two-page document that memorialized his decision. And the next evening, December 11th, he made the following radio announcement to the people of his nation:

“I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties of king, as I would wish to do, without the help and support of the woman I love.” [HISTORY.com, December 11, 2024.]

And in so doing, he left his indelible mark on history.

Edward VIII had never been married, and left no children. According to the British order of succession, the next heir to the throne was Edward’s younger brother, the Duke of York. Known to family and friends as Bertie, he was shy, spoke with a pronounced stutter, and was totally unprepared for the burden that would fall upon his shoulders. But on December 12, 1936, just two days before his 41st birthday, he was proclaimed King George VI of the United Kingdom.

George VI served his country well, guiding Britain through the dark days of World War II. He and his wife, the former Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, had two daughters: Elizabeth (nicknamed Lilibet) and Margaret.

A heavy smoker, George died at the age of 56 on February 6, 1952, of lung cancer.

And on that day — while in Africa with her husband Philip — 25-year-old Princess Elizabeth received word that she had become Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

And she sat firmly on that throne for the next 70 years.

All because of the love of a king for a foreign, divorced commoner. One decision, made for his sake and his sake alone. And if he had chosen differently, the world might never have known . . .

. . . or . . .

. . . or . . .

So, for those of you who say you don’t give a rat’s ass about the personal lives of the British monarchy, give it a thought. And then — even more importantly — think very carefully before making any life-altering decisions of your own.

Most of us will never inherit a throne. But we’re all connected; and somewhere down the line — perhaps many generations from now — what we do today will affect others.

Now, there’s a scary thought!

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
12/11/24