Edward, Duke of Windsor (Edward VIII)
Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David was born on the 23rd June 1894 at White Lodge, Richmond, Surrey. As the eldest son of George V and Queen Mary, he was destined to be King. Edward was raised by nannies and was severely disciplined by his father while his mother showed a frolicsome side. When his parents went on tour, he stayed with his grandparents, Edward VII and Queen Alexandra who showered him with affection. When he was young a nanny would pinch him when he was presented to his parents and he was sent away with the nanny. He was educated by tutors and at Osbourne Naval College, the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, and Magdalen College, Oxford.
When his father succeeded to the throne as George V, Edward automatically became Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay and on his 16th birthday (23rd June 1910) he was created Prince of Wales. He was invested at Caernarvon Castle on the 13th July 1911 using his fathers coronet.
He served in the Army during World War I but was forbidden to go to the front line. Yet he still visited the frontline and experienced trench warfare. In 1916 he was awarded the Military Cross for his service. After the war, Edward began to do more duties on behalf of his father and traveled the Empire 16 times from 1919-1935. Edward was a good socializer but had many opinions that if said could have harmed the cohesion of the British Empire.
Edward was a womanizer and had many different romances. At Fort Belvedere, Windsor Great Park, Edward would entertain many different married women such as Freda Dudley Ward and Thelma, Lady Furness. His father was disappointed Edward's unwillingness to settle down. Edward's brother Albert was favoured by their father and George V believed that "after I'm dead, the boy will ruin himself in 12 months". Edward then began an affair with American socialite Wallis Simpson. Wallis was already divorced and was about to be granted a second divorce.
He became King Edward VIII in January 1936 on the death of his father George V. In November 1936 a constitutional crisis arose when Edward wished to marry Wallis Simpson. It was felt that, as a she had already divorced her first husband and at the time Edward and Wallis had met she was still married to her second husband, she was pursuing the King because of his wealth and position and would be unacceptable as queen. On 11 December Edward abdicated and left for France, where the couple were married in 1937. No member of the Royal Family attended their wedding and while Edward was a HRH (His Royal Highness), Wallis was not granted the style. He was succeeded by his brother Albert as George VI who was coronated around a month before his wedding.
Edward and Wallis became The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, but were ostracised by his family who felt he had let them down and not done his duty. His views of appeasement on the rise of fascism in Germany and Italy and meeting with Adolf Hitler in 1937 led him to be given the role during World War II of Governor of the Bahamas out of the way of the war effort amid concerns of German plots to kidnap and use him. Edward and Wallis hated the Bahamas as it was so far from the society they knew. Even though both of them did their role and supported the Islands, both of them resented Nassau and referred to it as their St. Helena (Napoleon's place of exile).
After the war they became mild celebrities in Europe and America but lived mostly in Paris where the French Government gave them a house to live in. They also owned a house in the French countryside referred to as "The Mill". He lived near Oswald and Dianna Mosley who shared many of the same fascist views of Edward. Edward returned to London in 1952 for the funeral of his brother, George VI and then to London again in 1965 for surgery on a detached retina and again to visit Elizabeth II, Princess Marina and Princess Mary, Princess Royal. Princess Mary died and he stayed for the memorial service. He visited again in 1967 for the centenary of his mother, Queen Mary. In 1972, Elizabeth II visited Edward and Wallis while on a tour of France but the frail Edward didn't appear for the press.
Edward died on the 28th May 1972 at his Parisian home. Edward's body was returned to Britain where his body lay-in-state at St George's Chapel, Windsor. His funeral took place there on June 5th and then he was interred at the Royal Burial Ground. The Duchess died 14 years later due to frailty and severe dementia.
Edward is still remembered as the King who nearly destroyed the monarchy and whom betrayed his country for love. Many still respect Edward's decision and are mad at the Establishment for not allowing the marriage, while majority of the people see Edward as the King who didn't care about his duties to the British Empire.
When his father succeeded to the throne as George V, Edward automatically became Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay and on his 16th birthday (23rd June 1910) he was created Prince of Wales. He was invested at Caernarvon Castle on the 13th July 1911 using his fathers coronet.
He served in the Army during World War I but was forbidden to go to the front line. Yet he still visited the frontline and experienced trench warfare. In 1916 he was awarded the Military Cross for his service. After the war, Edward began to do more duties on behalf of his father and traveled the Empire 16 times from 1919-1935. Edward was a good socializer but had many opinions that if said could have harmed the cohesion of the British Empire.
Edward was a womanizer and had many different romances. At Fort Belvedere, Windsor Great Park, Edward would entertain many different married women such as Freda Dudley Ward and Thelma, Lady Furness. His father was disappointed Edward's unwillingness to settle down. Edward's brother Albert was favoured by their father and George V believed that "after I'm dead, the boy will ruin himself in 12 months". Edward then began an affair with American socialite Wallis Simpson. Wallis was already divorced and was about to be granted a second divorce.
He became King Edward VIII in January 1936 on the death of his father George V. In November 1936 a constitutional crisis arose when Edward wished to marry Wallis Simpson. It was felt that, as a she had already divorced her first husband and at the time Edward and Wallis had met she was still married to her second husband, she was pursuing the King because of his wealth and position and would be unacceptable as queen. On 11 December Edward abdicated and left for France, where the couple were married in 1937. No member of the Royal Family attended their wedding and while Edward was a HRH (His Royal Highness), Wallis was not granted the style. He was succeeded by his brother Albert as George VI who was coronated around a month before his wedding.
Edward and Wallis became The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, but were ostracised by his family who felt he had let them down and not done his duty. His views of appeasement on the rise of fascism in Germany and Italy and meeting with Adolf Hitler in 1937 led him to be given the role during World War II of Governor of the Bahamas out of the way of the war effort amid concerns of German plots to kidnap and use him. Edward and Wallis hated the Bahamas as it was so far from the society they knew. Even though both of them did their role and supported the Islands, both of them resented Nassau and referred to it as their St. Helena (Napoleon's place of exile).
After the war they became mild celebrities in Europe and America but lived mostly in Paris where the French Government gave them a house to live in. They also owned a house in the French countryside referred to as "The Mill". He lived near Oswald and Dianna Mosley who shared many of the same fascist views of Edward. Edward returned to London in 1952 for the funeral of his brother, George VI and then to London again in 1965 for surgery on a detached retina and again to visit Elizabeth II, Princess Marina and Princess Mary, Princess Royal. Princess Mary died and he stayed for the memorial service. He visited again in 1967 for the centenary of his mother, Queen Mary. In 1972, Elizabeth II visited Edward and Wallis while on a tour of France but the frail Edward didn't appear for the press.
Edward died on the 28th May 1972 at his Parisian home. Edward's body was returned to Britain where his body lay-in-state at St George's Chapel, Windsor. His funeral took place there on June 5th and then he was interred at the Royal Burial Ground. The Duchess died 14 years later due to frailty and severe dementia.
Edward is still remembered as the King who nearly destroyed the monarchy and whom betrayed his country for love. Many still respect Edward's decision and are mad at the Establishment for not allowing the marriage, while majority of the people see Edward as the King who didn't care about his duties to the British Empire.
Titles and Styles
- 23 June 1894 – 28 May 1898: His Highness Prince Edward of York
- 28 May 1898 – 22 January 1901: His Royal Highness Prince Edward of York
- 22 January 1901 – 9 November 1901: His Royal Highness Prince Edward of Cornwall and York
- 9 November 1901 – 6 May 1910: His Royal Highness Prince Edward of Wales
- 6 May 1910 – 23 June 1910: His Royal Highness The Duke of Cornwall
- 23 June 1910 – 20 January 1936: His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales
- in Scotland: 1910–1936: His Royal Highness The Prince Edward, Duke of Rothesay
- 20 January 1936 – 11 December 1936: His Majesty The King
- and, occasionally, outside the United Kingdom, and with regard to India: His Imperial Majesty The King-Emperor
- 11 December 1936 – 8 March 1937: His Royal Highness The Prince Edward
- 8 March 1937 – 28 May 1972: His Royal Highness The Duke of Windsor
- Edward began use of the title immediately upon abdication, in accordance with George VI's declaration to his Accession Council, but several months passed before the title was formalised by Letters Patent.