Year 1936 - Earth Site Education

Date	Type	Event
1936-12-11		In 1936 King Edward VIII abdicated the throne of the United Kingdom King Edward VIII made history by becoming the first British monarch to voluntarily abdicate the throne, a decision that sent shockwaves through the nation and the British Empire. His abdication stemmed from his desire to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcée whose previous marriages and divorces were deemed incompatible with Edward's role as head of the Church of England, which at the time disapproved of remarriage after divorce. Edward faced intense opposition from the government, the Church, and the royal family, leaving him with the choice to renounce either Wallis or the crown. Choosing love over duty, Edward relinquished the throne, stating in a heartfelt radio address, "I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility... without the help and support of the woman I love." Following his abdication, his younger brother, Albert, ascended to the throne as King George VI, while Edward assumed the title of the Duke of Windsor and lived much of his life in exile. This dramatic event had lasting repercussions for the monarchy, reshaping public perceptions of royal duty and personal freedom.
1936-12-12		In 1936 after his abdication the previous day former King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom became the Duke of Windsor On the 20^th of January 1936, King George V died leaving his eldest son Edward to take the throne as King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom. This was a role Edward neither wanted nor was fit for. He was a brave soldier; joining the Grenadier Guards in June of 1914 he was keen to serve his country in the First World War and wanted to fight on the front lines. But as the heir to the throne, Field Marshall Lord Kitchener would never allow it. Despite Kitchener’s fears that he could be captured by the enemy, Edward made several trips to the front lines, which made him very popular with his comrades. After the War Edward travelled the world meeting women and enjoying the life of a bachelor much to the disappointment of his father King George V. King George made a prediction about his eldest son as king saying, "The boy will ruin himself in 12 months [of being King]". Upon the Death of King George V on the 20^th of January 1936 Edward Prince of Wales became King Edward VIII. On the 11^th of December 1936 King Edward VIII abdicated the throne of the United Kingdom freeing him to marry American Divorcee Wallis Simpson and live the normal life he’d longed for. Up on his abdication his brother and heir to the throne, Prince Albert, became King George VI and his consort, Lady Elizabeth became King and Queen of the United Kingdom. Edward became Duke of Windsor on the 12^th of December and he married American Wallis Simpson on the 3^rd of June 1937. Later that year the couple visited Hitler in his home which was publicised greatly by the Nazis. Hitler had even commented on how he believed they were friends and Anglo-German relations may well have been different had Edward remained King. It was believed that the Duke may have had sympathies towards fascist Germany and this was the reason he and his wife were moved to the Bahamas, away from any influence. On the 28^th of May 1972 Edward, the Duke of Windsor died aged 77 and was buried on the 5^th of June 1972 at the royal burial ground near Windsor Castle.

Date

Type

Event

1936-12-11

In 1936 King Edward VIII abdicated the throne of the United Kingdom King Edward VIII made history by becoming the first British monarch to voluntarily abdicate the throne, a decision that sent shockwaves through the nation and the British Empire. His abdication stemmed from his desire to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcée whose previous marriages and divorces were deemed incompatible with Edward's role as head of the Church of England, which at the time disapproved of remarriage after divorce. Edward faced intense opposition from the government, the Church, and the royal family, leaving him with the choice to renounce either Wallis or the crown. Choosing love over duty, Edward relinquished the throne, stating in a heartfelt radio address, "I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility... without the help and support of the woman I love." Following his abdication, his younger brother, Albert, ascended to the throne as King George VI, while Edward assumed the title of the Duke of Windsor and lived much of his life in exile. This dramatic event had lasting repercussions for the monarchy, reshaping public perceptions of royal duty and personal freedom.

1936-12-12

In 1936 after his abdication the previous day former King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom became the Duke of Windsor

On the 20^th of January 1936, King George V died leaving his eldest son Edward to take the throne as King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom. This was a role Edward neither wanted nor was fit for.

He was a brave soldier; joining the Grenadier Guards in June of 1914 he was keen to serve his country in the First World War and wanted to fight on the front lines. But as the heir to the throne, Field Marshall Lord Kitchener would never allow it. Despite Kitchener’s fears that he could be captured by the enemy, Edward made several trips to the front lines, which made him very popular with his comrades.

After the War Edward travelled the world meeting women and enjoying the life of a bachelor much to the disappointment of his father King George V. King George made a prediction about his eldest son as king saying, "The boy will ruin himself in 12 months [of being King]".

Upon the Death of King George V on the 20^th of January 1936 Edward Prince of Wales became King Edward VIII.

On the 11^th of December 1936 King Edward VIII abdicated the throne of the United Kingdom freeing him to marry American Divorcee Wallis Simpson and live the normal life he’d longed for. Up on his abdication his brother and heir to the throne, Prince Albert, became King George VI and his consort, Lady Elizabeth became King and Queen of the United Kingdom.

Edward became Duke of Windsor on the 12^th of December and he married American Wallis Simpson on the 3^rd of June 1937. Later that year the couple visited Hitler in his home which was publicised greatly by the Nazis. Hitler had even commented on how he believed they were friends and Anglo-German relations may well have been different had Edward remained King. It was believed that the Duke may have had sympathies towards fascist Germany and this was the reason he and his wife were moved to the Bahamas, away from any influence.

On the 28^th of May 1972 Edward, the Duke of Windsor died aged 77 and was buried on the 5^th of June 1972 at the royal burial ground near Windsor Castle.

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