A happier moment recalled

[reader]

King Bhumibol Adulyadej welcomes Queen Elizabeth to the Kingdom in 1996. Two of the longest serving monarchs in history will be long

remembered for service to country above self.                                                  (Photo from The Nation)

[PeterRS]

Interesting that both reigned for 70 years, although Elizabeth for about 120 days longer. Interesting, too, I suggest that neither was destined to become monarch at their birth. Accidents of history resulted in the crowns being passed to them.

[vinapu]

13 hours ago, PeterRS said:

Interesting that both reigned for 70 years, although Elizabeth for about 120 days longer. Interesting, too, I suggest that neither was destined to become monarch at their birth. Accidents of history resulted in the crowns being passed to them.

sharp attention to detail, you right indeed. In Her case at least we can  mention that fateful accident in history openly.

I heard somewhere in Kenya there's  tree on which they  say She as a child climbed as princess and descended as the  Queen (  she was there when  her uncle abdicated eventually  clearing way for Her to become a Queen)

[PeterRS]

10 hours ago, vinapu said:

I heard somewhere in Kenya there's  tree on which they  say She as a child climbed as princess and descended as the  Queen (  she was there when  her uncle abdicated eventually  clearing way for Her to become a Queen)

Merely for the sake of accuracy, her father King George VI was the second son of King George V. His older brother was the philadering but hugely popular Prince Edward. He had had several affairs, usually with older married women. His father despaired of him and was disgusted by his affairs. In 1931 one of his romantic relationships introduced him to Mrs. Wallis Simpson, an American who had divorced her first husband.  Edward fell head over heels in love with her. By 1934 she was his mistress. None of the establishment expected the affair to last much longer than the others. It did. As George V became ill, the royal court and the government became alarmed. The British Secret Service had her investigated. One report claimed she had spent time in Shanghai (true) where she learned some special sexual techniques (uncertain). One story, true or not, was that she perfected what is termed the "Shanghai Squeeze" or the "Singapore Grip". This being a respectably gay forum, I will not go into detail! She certainly exercised a very strong influence over Edward. 

When George V died, there was concern in the government. Wallis announced that she would divorce for the second time and a mock adultery by her husband was arranged. As King, Edward announced he would marry Wallis once the divorce was final. Now the government went into panic mode. The monarch of the UK is also head of the Anglican Church which in those days did not permit marriage to a divorcee if the divorced spouse was still alive. There was also fear that Edward would interfere in the business of government (not permitted in the UK) and would share state secrets with the domineering Wallis. The government gave the King an ultimatum - get rid of Wallis or abdicate.

By all accounts, his brother who became King George VI was a diligent, hard working and much loved monarch. But he was a heavy smoker and suffered from cancer. Unknown to most he had had a lung removed. The then Princess Elizabeth stood in for him many times, especially on planned overseas trips. In 1952 she and her husband were in Kenya at the start of a long trip that was to take them onwards to Australia and New Zealand. They had just spent a night at the Treetops hotel when she learned that her father had died. Elizabeth was now Queen. The couple then flew immediately back to London.