Edward VIII, King of Great Britain and Ireland

Edward, the son of George V and Victoria Mary of Teck, was born June 23 1894 in the White Lodge, Richmond Park, London.
He married Bessie, daughter of Teackle Warfield of Baltimore, June 3 1937 at Chateau de Cande Monts, France.

Edward VIII, photographed
when Prince of Wales.

Prince Edward was baptised, Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David, and known to his family by his last name, David. He was educated at the Royal Naval College and regarded as having good looks combined with a boyish charm. He was wilful, perhaps irresponsible and enjoyed worldly pleasures. He disliked royal ceremonies and protocol and considered royal regalia as fancy dress.

Prince Edward became infatuated with Mrs Ernest Simpson, an American lady who resided in London with her businessman husband. Prince Edward believed he and Mrs Simpson could marry and that if she divorced her husband, she would become queen.

When Edward succeeded to the throne on the death of his father, George V, in January 1936, a government crisis was created. The rules did not allow for a sovereign, as head of the Church of England, to marry a divorced woman.

Under pressure from politicians and his family, Edward VIII abdicated in December 1936 in order to marry Mrs Wallis Simpson. He was created Duke of Windsor in March the following year by his brother who succeeded as George VI.

The Simpsons were divorced in June 1937 allowing the Duke of Windsor and Mrs Simpson to marry. Between 1940 and 1945, the Duke held the post Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Bahamas. From there they moved to France where they spent the rest of their lives in self-imposed exile.

The Duke of York died of cancer at Bois de Boulogne on May 28th 1972. His body was flown back to Britain and lay in state in St George's Chapel, Windsor before being buried at Frogmore.

His widow died in Paris on 24th April 1986 and was buried at Frogmore beside her husband.