The Abdication Crisis

The Abdication Crisis

1. Death of George V, January 1936

   • Edward VIII became king at 41
     • Popular as the Prince of Wales
       • Man of the people
         • Thought he would modernise the monarchy
         • Soon after he became King he visited the depressed mining villages of South Wales
           • 'Something must be done'

2. Wallis Simpson

   • Unsuitable to become Queen
     • No aristocratic or royal connections
       • Had been married and divorced
         • In the process of a second divorce
   • Edward's announcement that he wanted to marry Wallis caused a constitutional crisis
     • Taking a divorced woman as his wife
       • Didn't correspond with his position of Head of the Church of England
         • Didn't recognise divorce
     • Opposition from Dominion Prime Ministers also

3. Baldwin

   • Maintained the view that the marriage would be unconstitutional
     • Baldwin refused Edward announcing his intent to marry Wallis Simpson on the radio
       • Said the King must only say what his ministers agree with
         • The cabinet backed Baldwin on this
   • Praised for his calm and unflustered handling of the crisis

4. Edward's Abdication

   • 11th December 1936
     • Gave a broadcast
       • Saying he chose to go abroad whilst his brother became king
   • Lived the rest of his life in exile as the Duke of Windsor