New Delhi: The Abdication Crisis took place in early December 1936. At that time, a constitutional crisis grappled the British Empire when King Edward VIII decided to marry Wallis Simpson, an American woman who had divorced twice in her life. It was a great crisis in the Great Britain, especially in England as its Royal Family got embroiled in an unprecedented scandal.
Edward and Wallis Simpson: The growth of love
Edward met Wallis Simpson, an American on 10 January 1931. At that time, she was still married to Ernest Simpson, her second husband and she had divorced her first husband in 1927. In 1934, Edward and Wallis Simpson possibly became lovers. However, Edward told King George V, his father that there was no physical relation at that time between him and Simpson and she was not his mistress.
This affair of Edward further weakened his already strained relationship with his parents. In 1935, at Buckingham Palace, King George V and Queen Mary met Simpson but they refused to receive her later. Wallis was even followed by members of the Metropolitan Police Special Branch. The government and notable figures in the establishment became greatly concerned that an American divorcée had such control over the heir apparent.
The blowing up of the controversy
Edward VIII became the king on January 20, 1936, and Wallis became almost his constant companion in every function while her husband was absent. The British press remained silent on the subject but that silence would soon be broken. In the meantime, Wallis filed for divorce and Edward told Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin about his intention to marry Simpson. On December 1, Alfred Blunt, Bishop of Bradford, gave a speech to his diocesan conference alluding to the King’s need of divine grace. It broke the silence of the British press and the entire incident created a storm of controversy in England as the Royal Family was pushed to the backfoot heavily.
The abdication of Edward
The UK governments and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth opposed the marriage. There were legal, political, moral and religious objections. Edward, as the King of Britain, was the Church of England’s nominal head. At that time, the Church did not allow divorce people to marry again in church if their former spouses were alive.
Edward faced opposition from all fronts as Simpson was a twice-divorced woman and was seen to be politically, socially and morally unsuitable to become the queen consort. Edward, despite facing immense opposition, declared his love for Simpson and said that he wanted to marry her as soon as her second divorce was finalised.
No one was willing to accept the marriage and to Edward, there was only one option left: Abdication. On December 10, he signed his written abdication notices and on December 11, it was given effect by Act of Parliament: His Majesty’s Declaration of Abdication Act 1936. The duration of the reign of Edward was 327 days, the shortest of any monarch in Britain since Lady Jane Grey’s reign over 380 years ago. Edward’s brother Albert succeeded him as the king and became George VI. Edward married Simpson the following year and they remained married until his death 35 years later.
The 1936 abdication crisis saw King Edward VIII abdicate the throne to marry Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American socialite. This decision sparked a constitutional crisis due to strong opposition from the government, the Church of England, and the British public. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
