Nonetheless, it seemed like a heartwarming act of love for his soulmate Wallis—but Edward’s scandalous history was just getting started. Who is a matter of pure speculation. But over the next few years he fell deeply in love with her, ultimately giving up the throne to marry her. Edward VIII (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David; 23 June 1894 – 28 May 1972) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Empire, and Emperor of India, from 20 January 1936 until his abdication in December of the same year. Complete text and audio of King Edward Abdication Speech . In 1936, a constitutional crisis in the British Empire arose when King-Emperor Edward VIII proposed to marry Wallis Simpson. The marriage was opposed by the governments of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth. In 2019, Anna Pasternak released a book titled "The Real Wallis Simpson" about the Duchess of Windsor, who married Edward VIII in 1937. The first is that Edward VIII did give up the woman he loved. With the passage of the Instrument of Abdication through all of the Parliaments of the Dominions the reign of King Edward VIII came to a close and no time was wasted in making arrangements for the proclamation of the new King, Edward VIII's brother and Duke of York, who took the title George VI. delivered 12 December 1936 [AUTHENTICITY CERTIFIED: Text version below transcribed directly from audio] At -- At long last I am able to say a few words of my own. King Edward VIII’s last act in his 326-day reign was signing his own abdication. Edward VIII: Abdication timeline. No marriage to Mrs Simpson would leave him free to wed someone else. Abdication Address. King Edward VIII. The former king famously abdicated the … The abdication of King Edward VIII was a crisis for the British Empire that stemmed from his desire to marry American socialite and divorcee Wallis Simpson. When Edward, then Prince of Wales, first met American divorcee Wallis Simpson, she did not make much of an impression on him. Edward VIII giving his abdication broadcast to the nation on December 11, 1936. About Abdication of Edward VIII in brief. Unused / unissued material - no paperwork - dates unclear or unknown. Many have drawn comparisons between the couples’ so-called "declaration of independence" and the Queen’s uncle, King Edward VIII, who decided to abdicate before his coronation in … Against all odds, Edward gave up his crown, officially signing the abdication papers on December 10, 1936. Edward … Photo: The Print Collector/Getty Images Edward enjoyed life as a prince but dreaded becoming king So just like his father King George V had predicted, Edward VIII hadn’t even made it a year as king. He was stripped of “His Royal Highness” status, and demoted to the Duke of Windsor. The couple were together until Edward's death in 1972.