Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are the royals most closely associated with abandoning the monarchy and Britain. However, long before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were even a blip on the radar, there was King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson.
Edward’s Brother, George, Was Made King Upon Edward’s Abdication
When Edward was made the Prince of Wales on his sixteenth birthday, he enjoyed the life of a playboy and had numerous dalliances, sometimes with married women. His lack of interest in settling down became a source of stress for his father. Everything changed when he met Wallis.
On December 11, 1936, King Edward abdicated the British throne to marry an American socialite and divorcee, whom no one in his family approved of.
Edward’s decision left the UK in a state of shock, and, like Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, it created a significant rift in the royal family. Edward’s reign lasted from January 20, 1936, to December 11, 1936, not even an entire year, and it was the shortest reign in British history.
Upon Edward’s abdication, Queen Elizabeth II’s father, King George VI, was crowned sovereign. It’s why they say Princess Elizabeth was never meant to be Queen, but her father honored his royal duties when his brother failed the family, the Commonwealth, and the nation.
The comparison between Edward and King George and Prince Harry and Prince William’s brotherly relationships is staggering.
Both sets of brothers were never the same after they married their respective American divorcees. Harry and Meghan stepped down as working royals in January 2020 and moved to the US to escape the British press and the constraints of the royal family.
Edward And Wallis Were Exiled To France
Edward and Wallis were exiled to France, and while Edward left everything behind for the woman he loved, Wallis had several secret affairs, talked over him constantly, and bullied him publicly. It sounds a lot like the Sussexes, except for the affairs (as far as we know), which are spot-on.
Evidence of Wallis’s affection for her husband was practically non-existent. Before they married, others could see the disdain Wallis had for him. Socialite Lady Diana Cooper penned in her diary, “The truth is she’s bored stiff with him,” she said. “And her picking on him and her coldness towards him are irritation and boredom.”
Wallis was constantly criticized as public fury concerning her influence over Edward was ever apparent. Royal author Alexander Larman said,
“The levels of loathing some people now feel for Meghan Markle was not dissimilar to the anger that many felt towards Wallis.”
Trouble existed throughout their marriage, but it didn’t start when they became husband and wife. As soon as Edward abdicated, she released her venom, which was directed against his family.
Edward’s “Unrequited Love” For Wallis Lasted Until His Dying Day
The Duchess of Windsor was often described as mean-spirited, cold, a bully, and a sadist. Some other frank descriptions of her that come to mind are rude, dominating, and harsh.
There were stories that Wallis and Edward had a colorful sex life. He would wear diapers, behave submissively, and was often “punished when naughty” by Wallis.
It was said the couple never had intercourse in the “conventional” way. Edward may have loved Wallis, but he was also frightened and intimidated by her.
Wallis somehow foolishly believed Edward’s promise that he would make her Queen. She was terribly resentful that he lost the throne while fighting for their relationship.
Edward’s unrequited love for Wallis lasted until his dying day. The night nurse, who cared for Edward at his guesthouse until he passed, claimed that Wallis never came to see him, not once, nor did she ask if he was okay. Edward would cry for Wallis, which was pitiful.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip visited Edward before he died in May 1972. The abdication remains one of the most harrowing occurrences in Britain’s history. It was the “Megxit” of its time.
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