Edward VIII and Wallace Simpson. Why did he have to Abdicate?

Question

I know he'd married a divorcee, but so has Prince Charles, in marrying Camilla Parker-Bowles. Yet, he will still be next in line for the throne. Why is this? Have I missed something? Can anyone tell me why Edward VIII had to abdicate and why Charles will still get a crack at the job? Will Camilla be Queen?????? omg.

Answer 1

The main reason was that she was a Catholic and would not change her religion. As King, Edward was also the head of the Church of England. Mrs Simpson also had and affair with a Nazi and it was thought that she was passing on information.

Answer 2

A few howlers for answers! I have never heard of Wallis Simpson being Roman Catholic - she couldn't have been a practising Roman Catholic as she was divorced twice. The second divorce went through the law courts and is recorded as being a total farce - witnesses lied simply to get Simpson her divorce. Edward VIII, although an excellent Prince of Wales, was not a diligent King. It was because of his refusal to ever attend Church (and this, the Defender of the Faith), that the then Archbishop of Canterbury "blew the whistle" and openly criticised the King in The British Press. When the King continued to demand that he be allowed to marry Simpson and remain King, the Government of the day informed Him that they would immediately resign and cause a Constitutional Crisis. The King did the honourable thing and abdicated his Kingship which allowed His younger Brother to become Monarch. Interestinglly, the old King, George V on his deathbed was reported to have said "within 12 months David (Edward VIII) will have disgraced Himself. I hope nothing happens to stop Bertie (George VI) and Lilibet (Our Present Beloved Queen) from coming to the Throne". As we know, His words came true.

Answer 3

I live in Wallis (not Wallace) Simpson's home town, and I never heard until this moment that she was a Catholic! Her first marriage (to, somewhat ironically, a Mr. Spencer) took place at an Episcopal (i. e. Anglican) church. After all, before she married the former Edward VIII, she had been divorced not once but TWICE. In addition, she is reported to have had numerous affiars before her marriage to Edward, the last of which was going on even while she was involved with him. In short, Wallis Simpson had a far more unsavory past than has Camilla. The real problem, however, and the difference between their situation and that of Prince Charles and his wife, was that in the 1930s the Church of England did not permit remarriage after divorce, and today it does.

Answer 4

Times are diffferent now. The Wallace-Simpson affair was more then 70 years ago. However she was a Catholic and a foreign national. Also she had been divorced more than once and came from an circle of friends and associates who were considered unacceptable for most of society, never mind entrance to our Royal family. Remember this Camilla has married Charles, but it is by no means certain that he will be crowned King and if he is her position and title is not straight forward.

Answer 5

The rules of the game have changed dramatically in the years since Edward VIII and Wallace Simpson.



Back then there were far more strict rules concerning the marriage of the Monarch, or in the case of Edward VIII, the Prince of Wales.



Winston Churchill supported the proposed marriage between Edward and Wallace Simpson. He wanted there to be a morganatic marriage.



morganatic marriage -- Britannica Online EncyclopediaBritannica online encyclopedia article on morganatic marriage: legally valid marriage between a male member of a sovereign, princely, or noble house and a ...

http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9053733/morganatic-marriage



Edward VIII

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuYO9sSsmhs

Answer 6

Times have changed; divorce was not a common practice as it is today. Wallis Simpson was also a two-time divorcee. There were also questions about Edward's willingness to work with the government,instead of doing his own thing.The government felt justified when Edward made his famous trip to Hitler's Germany;many felt that he condoned Hitler's actions.

And to correct two very wrong replies:Wallis Simpson and Camilla Parker Bowles WERE NOT Catholics! Wallis Simpson was Episcopalian and Camilla was MARRIED to a Catholic,while she herself was Protestant.

Wallis Smpson's being an American was not a problem.It was solely the fact that she was a two-time divorcee!

Answer 7

She was an American, also catholic and a divorcee. In their time it would have taken an act of parliament to make her queen and Edward did not want to be King if he could not have the woman he loved by his side so it was much easier to abdicate. Unlike to day the times have changed Charles can still be King b ut who would want Camilla as queen (I wouldn't) but how many of the Royals are now divorced.....Funny how things have changed.

Answer 8

ok wallis simpson was a divorcee and at that time it wasn't seen as fit for a future king to marry someone who was not chaste.(Diana was checked to make sure she was virgo intactus)...............also there was the fact that both edward and wallis had sympathies to the fascist parties both in germany and the uk in mosley (father of max who's also just hit the news for his private life in the motor sport world!!).................if he had become king and not abdicated our present queen would still have become queen as they had no issue anyhow ....................and charles married a divorcee after he produced his heir's life and times move...................just as now many people do not stay in marriages that do not work out ............. we still expect the royals to be stuffy and carry on some traditions in marriage then berated them for nor moving with the times in other things

Answer 9

Whatever we think of Camilla, Prince Charles loves her and always has. He only married Diana out of the need to produce an heir. Out of respect for our future King let him have his Queen.

Answer 10

Wallace Simpson would have been divorced twice,and she was of a different religion than "David".

Answer 11

Wallace Simpson was a Catholic.



The brits made it illegal to for the Royals to marry Catholics to prevent another power grab by the Vatican.

Answer 12

I believe it is because Wallace Simpson was a commoner.

Answer 13

A sign of the times

Answer 14

He was also sympathetic towards the Nazi regime.



To the people who gave me a thumbs down-Do more research!

Answer 15

70 years ago he king was not allowed to marry a divorced slapper, now its doesn't seem to matter