“The King is dead. Long live the King.” Hoskins hoisted his nearly empty pint, looking hopefully around for somebody to notice this and offer to refill it.
“The king ain’t dead, you bloody sod,” said Smith. “He’s bleeding abdicating. To marry that American tart. The divorcée.”
“I seen her picture in the papers,” added Woodcock. “She’s a looker, but I can’t say as I’d give up the Crown to marry her.”
“Thin as a sodding skeleton,” spat Smith. “Probably bruises the Royal Balls on her bleedin’ hipbones.”
“Well,” said Hoskins, still holding aloft his now empty glass. “We ought to drink to him anyway. The next King, I mean. Prince Albert. In a can.” He got awkwardly to his feet and scowled at the men hunched over the greasy table. “Now one of you chaps stand me to another pint so’s we can do it proper.”
For those who don’t know, in 1936 King Edward VIII abdicated the Throne of Great Britain to marry an American socialite. It threw England into a constitutional crisis on the eve of WWII. Public opinion about the matter varied considerably.
Edward and Mrs Simpson.
I like this from a commoner’s point of view. Good story. I loved the “Probably bruises the royal balls” That did make me chuckle.
Great voice which is easily recognisable and adds so much flavour to the tale.
I love the humour here. We didn’t do too badly with Albert and his eldest daughter, Liz.
Really enjoyed this one :-)
Very interesting story here, and thank you for the history lesson :D!
Good story, and a bit funny! :)
Great piece on a historical event or historical ‘news.’ I enjoyed it.
Hehe, I love how you brought these, eh, charming characters to life. And thanks for the “For those who don’t know”. I didn’t. :-)