For a little over a year in 1936, Edward VIII, officially known as the Duke of Windsor, served as King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Empire and Emperor of India. Famously, he gave up the crown so that he could wed Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American socialite.
It was reported by the BBC that both the British public and government saw Edward’s relationship with Simpson as scandalous, with the latter expressing alarm over the effects on the monarchy and the Church of England. In a radio broadcast in December 1936, Edward announced his abdication from the throne rather than abandon his plans to marry Wallis Simpson, saying, “I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as King as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.”
Many people saw this as Edward prioritising his own wants and needs over those of the crown and the country. George VI, his younger brother, became King after him. Edward and Simpson tied the knot the next year, and spent the most of their life in exile in France.
Edward was always a fascinating and mysterious man, and not just because of the drama surrounding his abdication. He was well-liked for his magnetic personality, his enthusiasm for exploring the world, and his friendships with powerful people like Winston Churchill and Adolf Hitler.
The iconic moment in British history when King Edward VIII abdicated in favour of his mistress Wallis Simpson remains a hot topic of discussion and conjecture to this day.
