Known first and foremost for abdicating the throne to marry his love, Wallis Simpson, King Edward VIII had one of the most notorious reigns of the last two hundred years for that reason. He also had one of the shortest reigns in British history because of it, lasting for nearly 11 months before he handed power over to his brother Albert, who became King George VI. Of course, there’s more to his life and reign than his abdication, and he continued to have a presence in the years afterward. We have ten interesting facts about King Edward VIII to share with you, so read on and enjoy.
Nickname
King Edward VIII was born Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David, but as with most royals, he was referred to by only one of these names—David. Edward was actually named for his late uncle, Prince Albert Victor, who was known within the family as “Eddy,” who had died only two years before the young Edward was born. Naturally, when he ascended the throne on the death of his father, King George V, he was styled as Edward VIII.
Lousy Birthday Present
After George V became king in 1910, Edward received the title “Prince of Wales” as well as the designation Duke of Chester.
Oxford the Party School
Well, it was for Edward, at least. While the young prince had wanted to go into the Royal Navy, his father becoming king meant Edward had to start preparing for the day when he would sit on the throne himself. His parents required him to attend university, and he enrolled in Magdalene College at Oxford University. However, Edward quickly developed a reputation as a party animal, and he left the college after only eight terms with no formal academic qualifications.
A Troubling Relationship
Wallis Simpson was not the first problematic relationship for Edward. During World War I, Edward served in the British Army, but Parliament mostly kept him away from the front lines. When he had leave, Edward would run off to Paris with his fellow soldiers. There, he was introduced to a famous prostitute, Marguerite Alibert, and the two carried on a relationship until Edward got more serious about his princely duties. In 1923, Marguerite fatally shot her husband, and Buckingham Palace went into action to make sure the prince’s name was not brought up in court.
Prophetic Words
King George V certainly had his concerns about his son’s wild ways. George once said, “After I am dead, that boy will ruin himself in twelve months”.
Shiny Objects
Edward’s interest in women was often fleeting until he met Wallis Simpson. In fact, Edward had been carrying on an affair with Thema Furness, Viscountess Furness, when he started seeing Wallis. In fact, they first hooked up when Furness was out of the country. Edward was ultimately attracted to Wallis’s brazen attitude and disregard for his royal status, and the two became official within a couple of years of dating behind everyone’s backs. At least while the relationship ended his reign, the pair did eventually marry and were together until Edward’s death in 1972.
I Always Feel like Somebody’s Watching Me
In Edward’s case, it was true. The Metropolitan Special Branch kept watch over Edward and Wallis’s relationship, noting with some alarm the influence that she had over him. As king, Edward’s ministers would keep certain documents from him out of concern that Wallis or her friends would see them and spill government secrets. Later during World War II, he was suspected of having Nazi sympathies and was given the governorship of the Bahamas to keep him away from the war.
First in Flight
When Edward heard of his father’s death in 1936, he flew a plane from Sandringham to London, becoming the first royal to use air travel.
A Small Club
Only Edward, Lady Jane Gray, and King Edward V were the only monarchs to never be crowned.
Stamp of Approval
King Edward VIII had stamps issued bearing his likeness but wasn’t king long enough to have coins minted. In 1970, the Royal Mint found a sealed box with 59 coins with Edward’s relief on them that were designed as pattern pieces.
A useful summary. Just one small, though important correction: Eadgar the Aetheling was also proclaimed, but not crowned at the end of October 1066, but was deposed by William of Normandy two months later. He later attempted to regain the throne with the help of Anglo-Danish thegns and his brother-in-law, Malcolm Canmore, King of Scotland. He and his family, the House of Wessex, played an important role in the succession of the crowns of both England and Scotland, and therefore in the ascension of the current House of Windsor, including Edward VIII.
So Edward VIII had to abdicate to marry a divorcee,,,,when was the change made to accomodate the current King marrying a divorcee?
When the Queen decided to let him marry one. Times change. Divorce was rare in the 1930s.