Shortly before the outbreak of World War II, the world community was stunned by the news of the abdication of King Edward VIII. The love story of a monarch and a married woman, thundered in all corners of the earth, is still savored among the English people. So who is Prince Edward of Wales really?
Short description
The ruler of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland gave up the throne for the love of an ordinary woman. He is also known for his connections with the Nazis during World War II. He was exiled to the Bahamas, then returned to France, where he spent the rest of his life.
Pedigree
Prince Edward was born on June 23, 1894, in the English county of Surrey. And already from birth he had the title of His Highness, as he was the eldest great-grandson of Queen Victoria. At the time of his birth, his father was Duke of York and his mother was Princess Victoria. When the Duke became King George V in 1920, his wife became Queen Mary.
The prince also had a younger brotherGeorge, who soon became King George VI of Great Britain. In total, the royal couple had five children: Edward, Mary, Heinrich, George and John, who died of epilepsy at the age of 14.
The Crown Prince's father valued discipline very much. Therefore, the boy was brought up in strictness, as evidenced by the lines from his memoirs, where he admits that he was a very lonely child.
Heir to the Throne
The boy received his education at Oxford (at Magdalen College) and at Dartmoor, where he graduated from the British Royal Naval College.
After the death of his grandfather, King Edward VII, the prince unwittingly became the heir to the British throne. In the summer of the same 1910, he received the title of Prince of Wales from his father. The investiture took place at Caernarvon Castle, which is located in Wales.
As Prince of Wales, he fought in the First World War. He often went to the front, of course, without participating in battles in the forefront. Traveled to places hit by the Great Depression.
However, it wasn't until 1936, when his father George V died, that Edward became king at the age of 42. But he reigned less than a year. Soon he abdicates the throne because of his love for a woman who was not accepted by the royal family.
Private life
Prince Edward was significantly different from other heirs. All-round development, he loved tennis, horse racing, theater, airplanes, football and golf.
Besides sports, he also liked jazz and women, especially married ones. Withsome of them he had connections that relatives did not welcome, but this did not stop the prince. Among his ladies of the heart were Freda Dudley-Ward and Thelma Furness. It was the latter who introduced the prince to the one who in the future became the reason for his refusal from the throne. It was the married Wallis Simpson, a woman whose name is still resented by many members of the royal court.
Prince Edward and Wallis Simpson
She was not a beauty, but that did not stop her from winning men's hearts. An amazing sense of style, flexible mind, firmness of character conquered many men. Before King Edward, she was married 3 times. Wally divorced her third husband when Edward ascended the throne.
None of the prince's relatives supported this connection. The family condemned Edward's desire to give expensive gifts to an American.
The couple met almost openly. They went on trips, appeared together in public.
Prince Edward and Wallis Simpson are pictured.
In 1936, the prince's father dies, and he automatically inherits the throne. Wallis Simpson's divorce process is speeding up at this time.
Declaring his desire to marry the woman he loves, the prince receives a categorical refusal from his relatives and parliament. This forces him to make a decision that entails significant changes in the country's domestic politics.
Abdication
When Prince Edward realized that he had fallen in love completely and irrevocably, he decided to marry Wallis, as reported by Stanley Baldwin. However, the prime minister replied thatthis marriage is impossible. Otherwise, the entire parliament would resign, which threatened England with a crisis.
Then Edward announced an ultimatum, saying that the coronation would not take place if Wallis was not nearby as his wife. He even agreed to a morganatic marriage, which meant that neither the wife nor their common children would have the right to inherit the throne. But this option did not suit the government. And the king was denied marriage to an American who had already been divorced several times. For England, with its conservative views, this was unacceptable.
Because of rumors and gossip, Wallis leaves for Cannes. And Edward officially abdicates the throne, informing his subjects:
"You must understand me when I tell you that it has proved impossible for me to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and fulfill the duties of a king without the help and support of the woman I love."
This text was prepared for him by the notorious Winston Churchill. But it was he who advised the king not to renounce, but simply to wait. Then, after the coronation, no one could forbid him to marry. The people loved the prince very much and would have forgiven him everything. And the parliament and the cabinet did not have the right to interfere in the personal life of the monarch.
Immediately after the self-denial, Prince Edward leaves after his beloved woman in Cannes, where after 6 months they legalized their relationship. There were no relatives at the ceremony. But the people of Great Britain admired the photos of the newlyweds with rapture.
Eduard leftthe title of prince, but was not allowed to return to his homeland. George VI, who became king after Edward, forbade calling "this American" Her Highness.
On a small allowance given to them by the royal court, they lived in France. After Edward sold some property. They also began to write memoirs, which also gave some income.
The Duke of Windsor
When Prince George's younger brother ascended the throne, he proclaimed his brother the Duke of Windsor and gave him back the Order of the Garter. The title was invented by him specifically for his brother on the basis of the surname of the royal dynasty - Windsor.
In 1937, the couple came to Germany to meet with the Fuhrer Adolf Hitler. This visit was covered by German newspapers. The Nazis had high hopes for him.
The British press also gave space to this meeting, where it was also said that the prince saluted the people from the balcony with a raised hand in a fascist manner.
In 1940, the couple leaves occupied France for Portugal. But he continues to communicate with people from the German circle. When it was suspected in Britain that the prince might seek help from Hitler to return to the throne, he was exiled to the Bahamas as governor.
To Edward's credit, it must be said that he did well, and his fight against poverty in the colony had excellent results.
After the end of the Second World War, he was allowed to return to France, where he and his wife lived the rest of their lives, by the way, very comfortable.
Princerepeatedly came to his homeland and saw Elizabeth ∥, who was his niece. It was even rumored that Elizabeth's son Prince Edward was named after him. He made his first visits alone. And only later began to bring his wife with him. But they could not fully establish relations with the family.
Awards and titles
Prince Edward was awarded many military ranks:
- major general;
- Marshal of the Royal Air Force;
- Admiral of the British Navy;
- British Field Marshal.
In other countries, he became a general and an admiral.
He also had a huge number of awards and honorary titles:
- Order of the Garter;
- Military Cross;
- Companion of the Order of the Imperial Service;
- Knight of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem;
- Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India;
- Knight of the Order of Saint Patrick;
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.
The prince had many awards from other states. So in Russia he was awarded the Order of St. George. In France, he received a military cross and became a Chevalier Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor. In Romania, he was awarded the Order of Michael the Brave and the chain of the Order of Carol I. In Italy, he received the Order of the Annunziata.
Captured History
Prince Edward has become the protagonist of films and books. Novels were written about the famous story of great love, films were made.
In 1972, the year of the prince's death, the film "The Woman WhoI love." Starring Richard Chamberlain, Patrick Macnee, Faye Dunaway and more.
In 1988, the audience saw on the blue screens the film "The Woman He Loved". Cast: Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour, Olivia de Havilland and others
In 2005, the picture "Wallis and Edward" was released. Cast: Joely Richardson, David Westhead, Lisa Kay, Helena Michell et al
In 2010, the world saw a wonderful game of actors in the film "The King's Speech". Starring Colin Firth, who played the Prince's brother, the future King George VI.
In 2011, the film "WE. We believe in love" is released. Starring James D'Arcy, Abbie Cornish, Andrea Riseborough and more
Full biography of King Edward VIII is described in books:
A. A. Polyakova "Past without future".
N. Nadezhdin "King of Great Britain Edward VIII: "What can kings"".
A. R. Sardaryan "100 Great Love Stories" also dedicates one chapter to this romantic story.
In the 50s, the couple published their memoirs, which describe their life.
Wallis Simpson outlived her husband by 14 years. They are both buried at the Frogmore residence near Windsor, they had no children.
