Influence of a King

CHAPTER 8

It only took a few days for Chad to fully comprehend why his father had been so apprehensive about the state of his marriage.

With the current crisis erupting from King Edward's liaisons with a married American socialite, Chad was rethinking his opinion. The whole nation was aghast. Though no one dared to speak out against the king, all silently agreed that on moral, religious, and legal grounds, King Edward VIII should cut off his relationship with the socialite.

With great disbelief, Chad joined the others in the college lounge to watch the king's recorded abdication speech on TV. As they sat for- ward in their seats, the question ran through his mind, "What would you give up for true love?"

The king's handsome face was defiant and resolute as he told the nation of his decision.

"I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as king as I would not wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love," the king said.

"I, Edward the Eighth, of Great Britain, Ireland, and the British Dominions beyond the seas, king, emperor of India, do hereby declare my irrevocable determination to renounce the throne for myself and for my descendants, and my desire that effect should be given to this Instrument of Abdication immediately.

"In token whereof I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of December, nineteen hundred and thirty-six, in the presence of the wit- nesses whose signatures are subscribed."

After the announcement, Chad rushed out to find a newspaper to give him more of the story.

"Today, on the tenth day of December, 1936, the 42-year-old Edward, who had taken the throne just 11 months earlier after the death of his father King George V, is now the first sovereign in history to voluntarily abdicate.

"The instrument of abdication was also confirmed and signed by his brothers: Albert, Henry and George."

Chad knew England would never be the same. All through the remainder of the day, he was distraught about the state of leadership in the kingdom.

Even the next morning, Chad still felt uneasy and restless about the decision of the former king. With Hitler on the rise, this was not the best time for such a monumental decision. It left the country weak and vulnerable.

He made his way to the administrative complex, saluting his superiors along the way.

His naval uniform of short-sleeved white shirt, deep blue trousers, and white rounded cap served to remind him that he had a call to duty, no matter what.

He sauntered into the war room, where their daily briefing was scheduled to commence, and took a seat among the other officers. The war room was paneled with oak, bare of any other details except the large wall they were facing, which bore several maps of the world and pins indicating areas of strategic interest.

The commodore walked into the room. Chad and the others swiftly rose to their feet to salute. Then they took their seats. Chad looked for- ward to the information that would be handed to them today.

"May I formally read to you the king's abdication statement and also inform you on the planned announcement of a new king later today," the commodore said. "It is important that all military person- nel know firsthand under whose reign we are serving."

Copies of the abdication statement were passed around as the commodore read the contents. Another document revealed that

Prince Albert, the next in line to the throne, would be crowned king today.

Assignments were handed out, and Chad was pleased to find him- self in the guard of honor for the new king.

Later that day as Chad stood in the Buckingham Palace quadrangle dressed in his ceremonial uniform in the guard of honor, he took up his first service to the new king.

Having been crowned at Westminster Abbey, the new king was escorted by a grand entourage of the royal family and senior officials of the parliament. The ceremonial carriages, horses, and pallbearers added weight to the occasion. The king stepped down from his golden carriage and made his way to where Chad stood. Even from a meter away, Chad could sense the unease in the new king.

As the new monarch drew near and inspected the guard of honor, Chad maintained his rigid pose and tight clench of his gun. He felt as though he had stepped into the stream of history. England, nor he, would ever be the same.