Interestingly, Edward VIII. after the death of his father he became not only king of Great Britain, but also emperor of India and ruler of many Commonwealth countries. He renounced all those thrones so that he could marry the American Wallis Simpson.
Edward VIII, the British king who abdicated for the sake of the American Wallis Simpson, was born on June 23, 1894. Interestingly, Edward VIII. he was born at a time when his great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, was alive. His grandfather Edward VII. he was then only the Prince of Wales, and his father – George V. – was at that time Duke of York. There is even a photograph of Queen Victoria holding the newborn Edward VIII in her arms, with Edward VII standing next to her. and George V. (Victoria’s son and grandson). This photograph is particularly interesting because it shows as many as four generations of British monarchs (Victoria was succeeded by all the men in that photograph, one after the other).
Edward VIII. he was born in White Lodge, in the famous Richmond Park near London. At his baptism he was given as many as seven names: Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David, and interestingly, his close relatives always reportedly addressed him as David. However, when he ascended the throne, he chose the first name Edward (similarly, his grandfather was best known as Albert until he ascended the throne, and then he chose the royal name Edward).
Interestingly, Edward VIII. after the death of his father he became not only king of Great Britain, but also emperor of India and ruler of many Commonwealth countries. He renounced all those thrones so that he could marry the American Wallis Simpson. After his abdication, he received the title of Duke of Windsor, which was then used for the first time (and for now the only time in history). He lived with this title until his death in 1972, and died near Paris at the age of 78. Until his death, he lived married to Wallis Simpson, who outlived him by about 14 years (she died in her rather high 90s).
