Introduction
King Edward VIII’s reign as King of the United Kingdom was among the shortest and most controversial in British history. Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David was born on June 23, 1894, to George V and Mary of Teck. After the passing of his father, King George V, he assumed the throne on January 20, 1936. However, within less than one year, his decision to resign from his royal position created shockwaves throughout the nation and the Commonwealth. According to Bloch (2012), Edward’s abdication was driven by his desire to marry Wallis Simpson – an American socialite previously divorced – after falling deeply in love with her during his tenure as Prince of Wales. Their romantic tale blossomed in the mid-1930s but faced strong opposition from British authorities and the Church of England (Gimble, 2013). The Church’s firm resistance to Edward’s intention to wed Simpson, who had gone through two divorces, posed significant constitutional and religious dilemmas. The turmoil ensued was a clash of conflicting emotions, entangling personal wants, official obligations, and differing views on monarchy and parliamentary rule.
Edward’s relentless resolve to marry Wallis Simpson propelled him toward an unavoidable clash with the British government, the Church, and his family. In his speech of abdication, Edward formally conveyed that he stepped down from the throne because he could not effectively fulfill his royal duties without the support and presence of his partner. However, historians have engaged in extensive debates regarding the underlying motives behind this decision. Some scholars posit that his infatuation with Simpson was a façade for underlying political factors or even suspicions of Nazi sympathies due to previous accusations about his pro-German inclinations during his time as monarch. King Edward VIII’s decision to step down from the throne had profound consequences for the British monarchy, prompting inquiries into its adaptability in contemporary society, its significance within political structures, and its association with the Church of England. Additionally, it ignited conversations concerning the privacy and personal affairs of royal family members and their potential impact on the reputation and stability of the monarchy. This essay examines the changing historical interpretations of King Edward VIII by comparing past historians’ perceptions with new sources that have emerged in recent years.
Past Historian Perceptions of King Edward VIII
After King Edward VIII’s abdication, different historians have developed varied interpretations of King Edward VIII and his abdication. For instance, some historians viewed King Edward VIII as a romantic figure who sacrificed his throne for his love for Ms. Simpson. Other Revisionist historians viewed King Edward VIII as a selfish and irresponsible individual who shirked his duties as monarch. These varying perceptions were largely shaped by the limited sources available to historians.
External pressures and internal circumstances
In the autobiography in 1966 by Lord Beaverbrook, the extensive life of King Edward VIII was fully explained. Beaverbrook (1966) believed that King Edward VIII resulted from the complex and multifaceted story that Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin and Winston Churchill provided. Beaverbrook provides firsthand accounts of meetings and interactions between all three men. Beaverbrook (1966) stated, “He had been deprived by his birth of several freedoms which we all take for granted- freedom to choose one’s friends, one’s habits and pleasures; freedom to express oneself without fear of criticism or disapproval.” Therefore, Edward only wanted to enjoy freedom and live a free life without disturbance. However, this could not have happened under the watch of Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin and Winston Churchill. Prime Minister Stanley knew Edward’s plan to marry Wallis Simpson before King George V’s death, but he waited for the right time to strike. From Beaverbrook’s connection between King Edward VIII and Winston Churchill, he (Beaverbrook) indicated that Prime Minister Stanley disapproved of the marriage. Additionally, Beaverbrook indicated that the prime Minister doubted the leadership of King Edward VIII. This pressured Edward on whether to abdicate or separate from his love of life. According to the National Archives for the United Kingdom, there were numerous secret meetings between the King and Baldwin. Beaverbrook (1966) indicated that “Stanley Baldwin had been determined to avoid any action which might raise a storm of public disapproval at home or abroad.” Therefore, he had no choice but to use a less conventional way to access Buckingham Palace, entering through a window and a back entrance. The King then informed him of his plan to address the British people through a radio broadcast, expressing his wish to marry Simpson. However, the Cabinet opposed this idea, preventing it from fruition. Generally, Baldwin was portrayed as cold and uncooperative, creating external pressure on King Edward VIII.
Moreover, Beaverbrook believed King Edward VIII received pressure from the archbishop and the Church of England. According to Farran (1951), the Church of England set the Royal Marriage Act 1772 (Eng), which opposed any royal family member from marrying a catholic member. Again, the Church believed that marrying a divorced wife was a sin. Therefore, being a two-time divorcee, Miss Simpson was considered a disgrace to the royal family. Archbishop did not like King’s behavior which included increased absence in Church. Unlike other royal members, King Edward VIII enjoyed most of his time in clubs, which was contrary to tradition. The British monarch ruler was responsible for ruling the Church of England; therefore, any contrary behavior was deemed a threat. Since King Edward VIII was going against the Church of England’s teaching by not attending church services and desiring to marry a divorce, the Church entered pressure to abdicate.
Psychological aspect
Linda W. Rosenzweig’s A PsychoHistorical Explanation of the Abdication of King Edward VIII offers a unique insight into the life and abdication of King Edward VIII, examining his personal life and struggles in the context of psychoanalytic theory. Through her analysis, Rosenzweig provides an alternative explanation for Edward’s decision to abdicate. She suggests that his behavior was shaped by a “weak ego” and unresolved Oedipal conflicts which prevented him from accepting his role as King and led him to abdication. Rosenzweig states, “Edward’s behavior also illustrates weakness in the functioning of his ego, as well as considerable dominance by the id in his personality” (Rosenzweig, 1975). A person characterized by a healthy ego is always governed by impulsive behaviors and can control reality. It is true that from King Edward VIII’s actions, Oedipus’s complex issues are seen since he felt unable to meet the expectations associated with his role as King. This was supported by Lord Templewood’s view of Edward as “seemingly indifferent to the consequences of abdication.” The Templewood perception suggests that his weak ego played a crucial role in preventing him from understanding renunciation impacts (Rosenzweig, 1975).
Moreover, it is evidenced by his behavior at the actual signing of the abdication documents. Despite the fact that he must have known the severity of the decision, it was Lord Templewood who stated that King Edward VIII lacked emotion (Rosenzweig, 1975). This implies that his fragile self-esteem prevented him from understanding the consequences of his decision to give up his position. Additionally, Rosenzweig believed that King Edward VIII’s abdication was a result of unresolved Oedipal conflict. From Rosenzweig, it was ironic for Edward to think that he would get away with a morganatic marriage despite the fact that it was prohibited. Edward’s unresolved Oedipal conflict is evident in his refusal to consider a rational alternative to abdication. Moreover, she goes on to indicate that King George V’s death must have triggered unconscious guilt feelings and stopped him from replacing his father. Rosenzweig presents a convincing argument regarding how Edward’s personal problems played a significant role in his decision to abdicate (Hart, 1981). By addressing both Edward’s fragile sense of self and unfinished Oedipal conflicts, Rosenzweig sheds light on why he was unable to embrace his role as King and instead chose abdication (Hart, 1981). This analysis offers a fresh perspective on Edward’s life, suggesting that his internal struggles heavily influenced his decision. With her thorough explanation, Rosenzweig introduces an alternative interpretation of Edward’s life that recognizes the relevance of psychoanalytic theory when it comes to understanding historical events.
Modern Historian Perspective
George V’s neglect of his eldest son
Historian Jane Ridley provided a unique and clear perspective on Edward VIII’s abdication from the British monarchy in 1936. Unlike other current historians, Jane provided detailed information on King Edward VIII and his abdication through her book, George V: Never a Dull Moment. In the book, Professor Ridley examined the existing complex relationship between King VIII, Wallis Simpson, and George V. According to Howard (2022), Ridley believed that Edward was ready to take the throne and rule in a true and modern manner, but because of other factors other than the desire to marry Wallis triggered to his abdication. She noted that the King had a strained relationship with his father, George V, and this tension undoubtedly influenced his decision. From the analysis, it was established that the relationship between George and Edward deteriorated at an early age since George subjected Edward to a strict upbringing. For instance, Tanatarova (2023) indicated that King George VI was a no-nonsense father, and he would shout to Edward and his brothers and send them to their bedrooms for petty things such as coming later for dinner with 5 minutes (Aspectsofhistory.com). These actions made Edward feel that the traditional values made him look like he was in a cage, despite being an educated man with progressive ideas. From this perspective, Edward wanted to change and introduce modernity in the monocracy, but it was received with strong opposition from family and citizens. Generally, Edward’s family is believed to dislike change and progressiveness, which creates unease.
Professor Ridley believed that Edward VIII would have become an ideal leader for their monarchy because of his intelligence. However, “George made no attempt to prepare his son for being king. Being a king in a conventional fashion” (Ridley, 2021). For instance, Ridley indicated that George appointed Prince Albert, who later became George VI, as the Lord High Admiral. Again, he was invited to an official visit to the naval battleships, unlike Edward, who was left in school and did not attend any royal visits or political events. Again, King George V opted not to appoint Edward to any real power after becoming the Prince of Wales. This made Edward become a person who was never interested in authority and power. Instead, Edward VIII becomes passionate about the arts (music and opera) (Howard. 2022). He opted to help people living in poverty address the social issues and showed empathy for the people suffering and abled differently in hospitals. Generally, Ridley’s re-evaluation of Edward VIII and his abdication found that King Edward VIII was a more positive light and would become a great King.
Nazi Sympathizer
From the recent findings and evidence, such as the BBC documentary and FBI files, it can be established that there were hidden reasons and motives that pushed King Edward VIII’s abdication. For instance, historian Andrew Lownie believed that Edward was motivated by his personal interest and ambition to pursue a life of luxury and power. For instance, in the BBC documentary, it was established that Edward admired and closely followed Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, as evidenced by the secret meeting held in December 1936 when Duke paid a secret visit to Germany to meet Adolf. In the meeting, Edward expressed support for appeasement policies for Germany (Cbc.ca., 2022). Moreover, other evidence that Edward VIII and Hitler were meeting is the unheard documents found in German air force archives in Berlin and the national archives in Lisbon. These documents indicated that there was a secret partnership between Edward VIII and Hitler. For example, the top-secret capable on Germany’s side indicated that the Duke of Windsor believed that he was the only person capable of spreading peace, and if he was in through, the war would have been avoided (Nast, 2022). Further, the evidence exposes that Duke wanted England and, more specifically, his family to be bombed by Germany as it would make them ready for peace. Lownie believes that Edward VIII was quite prepared to go to those lengths in order to achieve his aims. It’s chilling and sinister. And it’s frankly very shocking.
Despite his involvement with the German government, the British government was away and the connection, but they tried to keep the information secret. For example, Pigeon (2015) indicated that when the Marburg Files were published in 1957, Her Majesty’s Stationery Office released a counter-argument that was aimed at distancing Duke’s involvement from Nazi Germany (Open.edu, 2019). Lastly, it was established that Duke received pressure from many quarters to remain in Europe since most Germans believed that it would help influence the Majesty’s policy. From Lownie, it is believed that Edward believed that he was the mediator between Britain and Germany to bring peace to Europe ((Lownie, 2021). Generally, the documentary evidence indicated that Winston Churchill colluded with Duke and others to “kill the story,”; thus, confirming the truth about the degree of complicity.
Contrast historian perceptions, highlighting their validity and inaccuracies.
Lord Beaverbrook’s perspective is basically from his autobiography. From his work, Beaverbrook is valid because it focuses on his personal views and firsthand information obtained from interactions and meetings between Edward, Baldwin, and Churchill. From the close relationship with Edward and direct involvement with political affairs during the time of abdication. Despite the firsthand information, it is believed that autobiographies are based on nature and can influence personal opinions and interpretations. Therefore, it increases the chances of biasedness’. For instance, a close relationship with Edward could have influenced the sympathetic portrayal of the King and the view of Baldwin and Churchill view.
Linda W. Rosenzweig’s Psychological Perspective is believed to be subjected to an analytic approach of variables, and it is highly subjective. Further, the analysis usually provides a detailed framework for understanding the potential psychological factors involved. This makes it easy to understand. Some inaccuracy involved is that it offers information based on indirect information. Relying on indirect evidence to make a psychological claim about Edward’s inner conflicts might be wrong and speculative.
Professor Jane Ridley’s perspective offers a unique explanation of strained relationships. The analysis is based on historical evidence, which includes primary sources and personal accounts to support her claims. This supports that the final conclusion is true. However, some inaccuracies in Ridley’s perspective is that it can be influenced by personal biases and limitations inherent in historical research.
Lastly, Andrew Lownie’s evidence was based on the uncovered documents, secret meetings, and alleged plans between Edward VIII and Nazi officials. On the side, inaccuracies involved include the interpretation of historical events using secrecy and limited documentation. This could provide a limited and biased view on supporting Edward’s alleged Nazi sympathies and his collaboration with Germany.
Conclusion
From the above analysis, it was established that King Edward VIII’s abdication was a controversial event. Since its occurrence in 1936, there are numerous historians who have vested their energy in determining the real cause of King Edward VIII’s giving up on his throne. Both the past and modern historians have different perceptions, which they believe that the true cause of abdication. For example, Beaverbrook believed that King Edward VIII’s abdication was a result of external pressure from Prime minister Stanley Baldwin and the Church of England. Marrying Ms. Simpson was against the royal family’s traditional values; therefore, the authorities had to do whatever they could to prevent such action from occurring. Contrary to this, Linda W. Rosenzweig carried out a psycho-historical analysis to determine the real cause. From the findings, it was established that unresolved Oedipal conflicts and a weak ego created an internal struggle that initiated the motive of quitting the throne. With the new evidence emerging, it can be established that new reasons are emerging. For instance, Professor Jane Ridley indicated that Edward VIII was an intelligent man, and his action demonstrated that he could be a great leader for the monarchy. However, this could not have happened because of his poor relationship which his father, George V. Generally, a strained relationship with his father, limitation from the traditional values, and wanting to introduce modernity into the monarchy pushed him to abdicate. Lastly, Andrew Lownie argued that Edward VIII had strong links with Nazi Germany and wanted to spread peace if he was given authority. From these perspectives, it is clear from the evidence emerging that there are multiple reasons why King Edward VIII abdicated. As such, historians will continue researching and piecing together the clues to uncover the true reasons for his abdication.
References
Aspectsofhistory.com. George V & Edward VIII. Retrieved from https://aspectsofhistory.com/george-v-edward-viii/
Beaverbrook, M. A., & Baron, T. (1966). The Abdication of King Edward VIII.
Bloch, M. (2012). The Reign and Abdication of Edward VIII. Hachette UK
Cbc.ca. (2022, November 10). Historians believe the Duke of Windsor actively collaborated with the Nazis during the Second World War. CBC. Retrieved July 14, 2023, from https://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/the-passionate-eye/historians-believe-the-duke-of-windsor-actively-collaborated-with-the-nazis-during-the-second-world-war-1.6635225
Farran, C. D. O. (1951). The Royal Marriages Act, 1772. Mod. L. Rev., pp. 14, 53.
Gimble, S. (2013). “The Woman I Love”: The Underlying Motives for King Edward VIII’s Abdication.
Hart, B. L. D. (1981). The abdication of Edward VIII.
Howard.H. (2022). How Edward VIII’s daddy issues led to his 1936 abdication: Historian Jane Ridley says George V’s neglect of his eldest son made him a ‘rebel’ who didn’t have the ‘self-discipline’ to be King. Retrieved from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10942677/Edward-VIIIs-daddy-issues-led-1936-abdication-historian-says.html
Lownie, A. (2021). The Mountbattens: The Lives and Loves of Dickie and Edwina Mountbatten. Simon and Schuster.
Nast, C. (2022, July 7). Inside the traitor King and the case that Edward VIII was a Nazi sympathizer. Vanity Fair. Retrieved July 14, 2023, from https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2022/07/traitor-king-edward-viii-interview
Open.edu. (2019). What is the evidence that King Edward VIII was a Nazi sympathizer? What is the evidence that King Edward VIII was a Nazi sympathizer?. Retrieved July 14, 2023, from https://www.open.edu/openlearn/history-the-arts/history/world-history/former-king-wanted-england-bombed-and-anglo-german-alliance-archives-reveal
Pigeon, R. (2015). Royal renunciation: Edward VIII and the problems of representation. Film & History: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 45(2), 13–23.
Ridley, J. (2021). George V: Never a Dull Moment. Random House.
Rosenzweig, L. W. (1975). The Abdication of Edward VIII: A Psycho-Historical Explanation. Journal of British Studies, 14(2), 102-119.
Tanatarova., E. (2023). Queen Elizabeth II ‘broke Edward VIII’s heart’ when she denied his ‘dying wish’ to grant Wallis Simpson HRH title, Duke of Windsor’s nurse claims. Retrieved from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-11957841/Queen-Elizabeth-II-broke-Edward-VIIIs-heart-denied-dying-wish.html
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