King George VI: Hitler’s Reluctant Royal & UK History

Edward VIII, who briefly reigned as King of the United Kingdom in 1936, abdicated the throne after just 326 days, in part due to controversy surrounding his desire to marry Wallis Simpson, a US divorcee, and later faced scrutiny over alleged Nazi sympathies.

Early Life and Reign

Edward, the eldest child of George V, was a World War I veteran known for his charm and fashion sense, which contributed to his popularity with the public. He acceded to the throne on January 20, 1936.

Controversy and Abdication

Edward’s determination to marry Wallis Simpson sparked significant controversy. Prime ministers of the UK’s dominions – which later became the Commonwealth of Nations – objected to the match, and Edward faced the possibility of the UK government’s resignation. Ultimately, he relinquished his crown for love.

Following his abdication, Edward and Simpson were appointed Duke and Duchess of Windsor under the reign of his younger brother, George VI.

Allegations of Nazi Sympathies

In 1937, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor toured Nazi Germany, where they were treated with respect and Edward performed Nazi salutes. He expressed support for the policy of appeasement toward Adolf Hitler, stating he wished to avoid another large-scale conflict following World War I.

Some within the UK government, including future Prime Minister Winston Churchill, were suspicious of Edward’s sympathies. Hitler himself reportedly lamented Edward’s abdication, suggesting that had he remained king, conflict between the UK and Germany might have been avoided.

During World War II, Edward denied leaking plans for the Allied defence of Belgium to the Nazis, a claim made by a German ambassador. Historians suspect his appointment as Governor of the Bahamas in 1940 was a strategic move to keep him away from Germany, fearing the Nazis might install him as a puppet king in a conquered England.

Later Life and Legacy

After the war, Edward admitted to admiring the German people but denied being a Nazi sympathiser, describing Hitler as “ridiculous” in his memoirs. However, reports continued to circulate suggesting his private views differed. He died in Paris in 1977.