You can unsubscribe at any time. More info. However, while he stayed in court for nearly a year, he never took to the throne or wore the crown. The particulars surrounding the appointment of a new monarch are well-established but often confusing. While many people believe someone cannot become King or Queen until their coronation, the process is actually automatic. During his reign, the King sparked controversy by changing coinage practices and appearing to try and influence British politics.
He abdicated in December to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson, after Commonwealth governments rejected an alternative proposal for the couple to marry but without Mrs Simpson gaining the Queen Consort title. His coronation was due to take place the following year on May 12 and would have seen him don the crown for the first time.
Before he could discuss this intention with his father, George V died, in January , and Edward was proclaimed king. The new king proved popular with his subjects, and his coronation was scheduled for May His affair with Mrs.
On October 27, , Mrs. Simpson obtained a preliminary decree of divorce, presumably with the intent of marrying the king, which precipitated a major scandal. To the Church of England and most British politicians, an American woman twice divorced was unacceptable as a prospective British queen. Winston Churchill, then a Conservative backbencher, was the only notable politician to support Edward.
Despite the seemingly united front against him, Edward could not be dissuaded. He proposed a morganatic marriage, in which Wallis would be granted no rights of rank or property, but on December 2, Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin rejected the suggestion as impractical.
The next day, the scandal broke on the front pages of British newspapers and was discussed openly in Parliament. With no resolution possible, the king renounced the throne on December The new king, George VI, made his older brother the duke of Windsor.
For the next two years, the duke and duchess lived primarily in France but visited other European countries, including Germany, where the duke was honored by Nazi officials in October and met with Adolf Hitler. After the outbreak of World War II , the duke accepted a position as liaison officer with the French.
During this period, the Nazis concocted a scheme to kidnap Edward with the intention of returning him to the British throne as a puppet king. The duke and duchess set sail from Lisbon on August 1, , narrowly escaping a Nazi SS team sent to seize them.
In , the duke resigned his post, and the couple moved back to France. It was not until that the duke and duchess were invited by the royal family to attend an official public ceremony, the unveiling of a plaque dedicated to Queen Mary.
She immediately captured the king's interest and later captured his heart. By , the two had undoubtedly become lovers. The monarchy was not pleased with the pairing, however, and refused to allow a marriage between the future king and an American divorcee. He was a popular king, although those who worked around him found him irresponsible in regard to his official papers. On December 11, , he abdicated the throne in the face of opposition to his proposed marriage to Simpson, proclaiming to the public, "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.
The couple lived in Paris, and spent most of their time shopping and partying with the international jet set. The duke made a couple of attempts to revive his political career, including a trip to Nazi Germany in October , which only served to worsen his reputation as a supporter of Adolf Hitler. Although the post was considered a relatively unimportant job for a member of the royal family, the duke and duchess were pleased.
He was buried at Windsor Castle, and 14 years later, Simpson was buried beside him. Their undying romance in the face of opposition is still regarded today as one of the greatest love stories of our time. We strive for accuracy and fairness.
0コメント