When Edward transitioned to his new life as the Duke of Windsor, his Nazi sympathies were revealed, so it was more than a good thing to have him depart the UK at the time that he did.
Salvation. The House of Lords KNEW about Edward's close friendship with Hitler, so they were looking for any pretext at all to bump him. Wallis Simpson was a covenient excuse. Had Germany won the Battle of Britain, Edward would have been re-installed as a puppet king. Reigning but not ruling. His brother Albert (who was crowned George VI but was known as "Bertie" to his friends and family throughout his reign - he respected Queen Victoria's dying wish that no future King be named Albert) was a better choice, having no close ties with any leaders of potentially hostile nations. Britain was not yet at war with Germany but intelligence indicated that it was merely a matter of time. Incidentally, had it been known that Albert would be King, it's highly unlikely that he'd have married Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, a commoner. Morganitic marriages were frowned on among royalty, indeed several heirs to the Russian throne were denied the sceptre of the Tsar for that reason.
Whoa Sbf! I sure hit the mother lode with this question. I had NO IDEA that Edward was cozy with Hitler. This response is extremely thoughtful, helpful and information rich for me. You know I sometimes ask questions out of the blue and where they come from and why I don't always know. It was a simple question that could have been ignored and I'd be just as ignorant about the subject after I asked as I was before. But now thanks to you I see that your answer elevated the question into something valuable. I had no idea what I was asking I guess. Thank you m'dear and Happy Tuesday to thee! Geez what other things should I know that I don't? It's scary as he** to think about it! :(
Please contrast your snarky reply above with the reply of Sbf Ele. Obviously I care or I wouldn't ask the question. You can choose to ignore questions about which YOU don't give a crap. Just showing up to tell me you don't care doesn't do anything for me. The reply I received from Sbf IS, on the other hand, very thoughtful, informative and responsive. Different strokes for different folks. Now YOU often patiently keep explaining things for me until I understand them. Others probably don't give a crap about that but I do and you do so I'm gonna cut you some slack on this one. Of course you can't give a crap about everything I ask. But I DO or I would not ask it. Thank you for your question. If you want to know who gives a crap just read the fine response from Sbf. I give a crap and so does he. There are at least two of us who do. SIGH.
This post was edited by RosieG at April 24, 2018 6:57 AM MDT
I don't really give a crap about royalty per se, but we Aussies get quite a lot if it shoved down our throats given the fact that our conservatives are craven toadies who would rather lick royal boots than grow the f**k up. However, studying the events in Europe immediately prior to WW2 was a required component of modern history when I was in high school. I used to get As in it, and haven't forgotten a lot of random factoids I picked up over 30 years ago. There's film footage of Edward as Prince of Wales, teaching his young nieces Elizabeth and Margaret to do a Nazi salute and "Heil Hitler".
This post was edited by Slartibartfast at April 24, 2018 6:56 AM MDT
OMG! "Suffer the little children". Good grief! Well for whatever reason(s) you remember it all so well I thank you for sharing it with me. Edward always seemed like an ineffectual hapless cipher wimp. His wife seemed like a viper. Odd couple for sure. I mean if she had looked like Elizabeth Taylor or some great beauty I would understand better why he was so besotted with her he would give up being King. But Wallis Simpson? There is no accounting for taste! Thank you for the further info m'dear and the sad graphic. He was small and slender and she was tall and rather large in comparison. At least that is the mental image I have for whatever reason. He was sad-eyed and walked hunched over. She was tall like a Redwood! I wonder if he ever had a joyful day in his life after he hooked up with her? Do I care one way or the other? Not really. No emotional investment/attachment. Just observing! :)
((hugs)) Why hugs you ask? I have ALWAYS thought of her as HORSE-FACED CAMILLA! Honest injun! So of course I hug you for your perceptive spot-on highly intelligent description! Sigh. No accounting for "eye of the beholder" is there? I wonder why? Thank you for your reply Sbf! :)
Benedict Arnold 