Edward VIII

Edward Albert Christian George Andreas Patrick David also known as Edward VIII. lived from 1892-1972. He was the King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and the Emperor of India from 20 January 1936 until 11 December 1936. His father was George, duke of York, who became later King George V. in 1910. He studied for a short period of time in Oxford and served later in the British Expeditionary Force in France during WWI. He wasn’t allowed to fight in any combats because he was the next in the succession line. After the war he visited several countries such as Australia, New Zealand, the USA, India, the Far East and South America. He had several sexual affairs with married women and one of these women introduced him to Wallis Simpson. His relationship with her was unknown in Britain because of an agreement between the Royal House and editors of Newspapers, but in the ruling circles it was well known. He wanted to marry her and this led to the constitutional crisis. After his abdication on 10 December 1936 he travelled with Wallis Simpson to France and his younger brother became King George VI. Edward, now “only” being the duke of Windsor married Wallis Simpson but she wasn’t allowed to call herself “Her Royal Highness”. Edward visited Adolf Hitler in 1937 and after the fall of France the couple fled to Spain, which was also under fascist rule. Winston Churchill, who was Prime Minister at that time, helped them to get to the Bahamas, where Edward became governor. In 1972 he died in Paris and was buried in the royal mausoleum at Frogmore.