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Quick Facts
- NAME: Edward VIII
- OCCUPATION: Duke, King
- BIRTH DATE: June 23, 1894
- DEATH DATE: May 28, 1972
- EDUCATION: University of Oxford, Magdalen College, Osborne Naval College, Royal Naval College at Dartmouth
- PLACE OF BIRTH: Richmond, London, England, United Kingdom
- PLACE OF DEATH: Paris, France
- AKA: Edward VIII
- Full Name: Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David
- AKA: Duke of Windsor
- AKA: Prince Edward
- AKA: King Edward VIII
- AKA: Edward, Duke of Windsor
- AKA: Prince of Wales
- AKA: Edward, Prince of Wales
Best Known For
Edward VIII became king of the United Kingdom following the death of his father, George V, but ruled for less than a year. He abdicated the throne in order to marry his lover, Wallis Simpson, thereafter taking the title Duke of Windsor.
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Edward VIII - Wallis Simpson (1:02)
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Edward VIII - Becoming King (1:32)
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Edward VIII - Wallis Simpson
Edward VIII's affair with Wallis Simpson was the cause of much scandal in England and would later be known as the Abdication Crisis when the Prince renounced the throne to marry Wallis.
Edward VIII - A New Kind of King
When Edward VIII became King, many people in England were excited due to his Populist nature. But Edward did not have the drive and dedication to be King the way his father King George V did.
Edward VIII - Becoming King
As the health of King George V declined, Prince Edward, then Prince of Wales, was next in line for the throne. This worried the King due to Edward's rebellious nature and lack of interest in marriage.
Wallis Simpson - Rule Over Prince Edward VIII
To many, Prince Edward VIII was under the thumb of Wallis Simpson and gave orders to many people in Prince Edward's life.
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Play NowEdward VIII. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 07:41, May 24, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/edward-viii-9542031.
Edward VIII. [Internet]. 2013. The Biography Channel website. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/edward-viii-9542031 [Accessed 24 May 2013].
"Edward VIII." 2013. The Biography Channel website. May 24 2013, 07:41 http://www.biography.com/people/edward-viii-9542031.
"Edward VIII," The Biography Channel website, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/edward-viii-9542031 [accessed May 24, 2013].
"Edward VIII," The Biography Channel website, http://www.biography.com/people/edward-viii-9542031 (accessed May 24, 2013).
Edward VIII [Internet]. The Biography Channel website; 2013 [cited 2013 May 24] Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/edward-viii-9542031.
Edward VIII, http://www.biography.com/people/edward-viii-9542031 (last visited May 24, 2013).
Edward VIII. The Biography Channel website. 2013. Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/edward-viii-9542031. Accessed May 24, 2013.
Although the post was considered a relatively unimportant job for a member of the royal family, the duke and duchess were pleased. The London Daily Express eventually said of the former king's five-year post in the Bahamas, "He has faithfully upheld the British cause in his lonely outpost & shown wisdom in his decisions and great dignity in his bearing."
He and Simpson then returned to Paris, France, where Edward, Duke of Windsor, died on May 28, 1972. He was buried at Windsor Castle,
Contents
and 14 years later, Simpson was buried beside him. Their undying romance in the face of opposition is still regarded today as one of the greatest love stories of our time.
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The British Royal Family
View groupThey rule the Royal House of Windsor, and they can trace their bloodlines back through thousands of years of monarchy and leadership. The British Royal Family, with Queen Elizabeth II at the head of the throne, lead Britain's constitutional monarchy. As the Queen celebrates her Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and is honored for 60 years on the throne, the Royal Family has never been more popular. They go by the terms "His and Her Royal Highness," yet they are admired for their style, down-to-earth personalities, media savvy, and their devotion to humanitarian causes. All eyes are on Princes William and Harry as they carry on their family legacy into the 21st century.
The British Royal Family 22 people in this group
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- Wallis Simpson
- Edward VIII
Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson
View groupIn 1936, King Edward VIII unexpectedly abdicated the throne to marry the love of his life, American divorcée Wallis Simpson, proclaiming, "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's behavior prior to his decision to abdicate—including courting Wallis while she was still married to her second husband—garnered outrage from the British Royal Family, most notably from Queen Mary of Teck and King George V, and led to the "abdication crisis" in Britain. In 1937, the happy couple married and embarked on a jet-setting life in Paris, meanwhile referring to themselves as "W.E."—their initials, but also a dig at the royal "we," or the majestic plural. Subversive and playful, their nickname continues to serve as a testament to their lasting adoration for one another.
Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson 2 people in this group
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Famous Cancerians 556 people in this group
