Edward VIII of Britain

Edward VIII (1894–1972) was King of the United Kingdom and the British dominions, and Emperor of India from 20 January 1936, following the death of his father, George V, until his abdication on 11 December 1936.

Only months into his reign, Edward caused a constitutional crisis by proposing marriage to the American divorcée Wallis Simpson. Although legally Edward could have married Mrs. Simpson and remained king, the prime ministers of the British Empire opposed the marriage, arguing that the people would never accept her as queen. Rather than give her up, Edward abdicated.

After his abdication, he reverted to the style of a son of the Sovereign, The Prince Edward, and was created Duke of Windsor. During World War II, he was at first stationed with the British Military Mission to France, but after private accusations that he held pro-Nazi sympathies, was moved to the Bahamas as Governor and Commander-in-Chief. After the war, he was never given another official appointment, and spent the remainder of his life in retirement.

Edward VIII in The War That Came Early
Edward VIII's abdication was fresh in the minds of British troops in 1939. Alastair Walsh wistfully referenced the abdication when King Leopold III of Belgium led his country to disaster in the war against Germany.

Edward VIII in Southern Victory
Edward VIII ascended the throne upon the death of his father. With Britain still angered over its defeat during the Great War, Edward allowed his country to move towards revanchism towards the Central Powers, Germany in particular.

In 1941, Edward VIII gladly brought his country into conflict with Germany. Although Britain and its allies made substantial gains, the tide had obviously turned by 1943.

With his Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, Edward escaped the destruction of London by a German superbomb in 1944. However, Churchill did not survive a vote of confidence. Horace Wilson succeeded Churchill, and sued for peace with Germany.

Edward VIII in The Two Georges
Edward VIII (1894-1972), was king-emperor of the British Empire in the middle 20th century. He was succeeded by Charles III.