The Power of Love - the Story of Edward VIII

What would you think when somebody tells you that a king has abdicated because of love. Unbelievable? It may be unbelievable, but it's true. Here is the story.

In 1928 Edward (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David Windsor), the eldest son of King George V and uncle of Elizabeth II, met Mrs. Wallis Simpson. She had divorced her first husband in 1927 and subsequently married Ernest Simpson, an Anglo-American businessman. Mrs. Simpson and the Prince of Wales became lovers.

The King and Queen refused to receive Mrs Simpson at court, and his brother, Prince Albert, advised Edward to look for a more suitable wife. Edward, however, had now fallen in love with Wallis and the couple grew ever closer.

On January 20, 1936 King George V died and Edward ascended to the throne as King Edward VIII.

It was now becoming clear that the new King wished to marry Mrs Simpson, especially when divorce proceedings between Mr and Mrs Simpson were brought at Ipswich Crown Court. Powerful figures in the British government deemed marriage to Mrs Simpson impossible for Edward, even if Wallis obtained her second divorce, because he had become the Supreme Governor of the Church of England which prohibited remarriage after divorce.

On November 16, 1936, Edward met with Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin at Fort Belvedere and expressed his desire to marry Wallis Simpson when she became free to do so. The Prime Minister responded by presenting the King with three choices: he could give up the idea of marriage; marry Wallis against his ministers' wishes; or abdicate. It was clear that Edward was not prepared to give up Wallis. By marrying against the wishes of his ministers, it was likely that the government would resign, prompting a constitutional crisis. The Prime Ministers of the British dominions had also made clear their opposition to the King marrying a divorce; only the Irish Free State did not oppose the idea of marriage. Faced with this opposition, Edward chose to abdicate.

Edward duly signed an instrument of abdication at Fort Belvedere on December 10, 1936 in the presence of his three brothers, Prince George, Duke of York, Prince Henry Duke of Gloucester and Prince George, Duke of Kent. On December 11th, Prince Edward made a broadcast to the nation and explained his decision to abdicate. He famously said, "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."

Edward was succeeded by his brother Prince George (Albert Frederick Arthur George Windsor), Duke of York, who was then known as King George VI.