A new historical analysis delves into the tumultuous reign and abdication of King Edward VIII, focusing on his intense relationship with Wallis Simpson and the pivotal year of 1936. The book, by Sian Evans, portrays Edward VIII as an emotionally volatile and self-absorbed figure, whose obsession with the twice-divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson ultimately led him to relinquish the throne.
King George V died on January 20, 1936, initiating the "Year of Three Kings." His eldest son, Edward, then Prince of Wales, reacted with intense grief, described as "hysterically upset" and "frantic and unreasonable," despite a strained relationship with his father. George V and Queen Mary had notably excluded any mention of Edward's lover, Wallis Simpson, from their Christmas gathering at Sandringham, adhering to rigid Edwardian standards.
Evans' book, which chronicles the dramatic year month by month, characterizes Edward as quick to anger, petulant, and narcissistic, with an all-consuming focus on Simpson. Noel Coward famously remarked that Edward "had all the charm of the world... without anything to back it up."
The central conflict arose from Edward's desire to marry Simpson, a union that defied the Church of England's laws, which prohibited remarriage if a former spouse was still alive. Simpson's first ex-husband, Win Spencer, was living, and her second marriage to Ernest Simpson was also a point of contention.
Edward managed to engineer a divorce for Simpson from her second husband, Ernest. The "Simpson v Simpson" hearing took place in October, and the decree absolute was expected within six months, just in time for the planned Coronation in May 1937. This move, however, was fraught with the risk of accusations of collusion.
Throughout much of 1936, the British public remained unaware of the King's affair, with newspapers maintaining a voluntary silence despite knowing the truth. This period was also marked by significant political and social unrest, including the civil war in Spain, rising Nazi influence, and the Jarrow March from the depressed North of England.
Edward, who had been popular as the Prince of Wales, found the duties of kingship, which he called "kinging," tedious. He shunned Buckingham Palace for his retreat, Fort Belvedere, in Windsor Great Park. His sole focus remained his plan to marry Wallis, whom he affectionately called "WE" (for Wallis and Edward).
The narrative highlights the roles of the three main figures: Edward, Wallis, and Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin. Baldwin, portrayed as a shrewd politician, was determined to remove Edward from the throne for the sake of the monarchy's stability, believing Edward was an unreliable "Nazi sympathiser." He anticipated Edward's more amenable younger brother, "Bertie" (later George VI), would be a suitable successor, supported by his wife and two daughters.
Simpson, according to the book, experienced considerable stress and unhappiness due to Edward's obsession. By February, she was suffering from gastric ulcers, overwhelmed by Edward's persistent declarations of love. She expressed concerns about their union, writing to Edward, "I'm sure you and I would only create disaster together." He reportedly threatened self-harm if she left him.
Simpson's marriage to Ernest had been stable before Edward's intervention. In early December, while seeking refuge in France after news of the affair broke on December 3, Simpson wrote to her ex-husband Ernest, lamenting the loss of their simpler life and stating, "None of this is my making, it's the new 'Peter Pan plan'. I miss you and worry about you."