Abdication crisis - Churchill's attitude

Question 1

What are the expectations of a monarchy?

Answer 1

• Respectability with middle class England
• Naval ‘esque’ approach
• Political neutrality

Question 2

What is the reputation of Edward VIII?

Answer 2

• Playboy reputation meeting models in Parisian mansions
• Edward was seen as an admirer of the Nazi regime
• Tendency to make off the cuff remarks and disregard the political neutrality

Question 3

Relationship with Wallis Simpson?

Answer 3

Wallis Simpson was an American who had been divorced 2 times and Edward was determined to marry her

Question 4

What was the issue of Edward marrying Simpson?

Answer 4

Edward was king and now the head of the Church of England which meant he was committed to upholding its values (including opposition to divorce) but how could he achieve this by marrying her? He couldn’t.

Question 5

What was Baldwin’s reaction to the crisis?

Answer 5

In November 1936, Baldwin told the king that public opinion would not accept Simpson as Queen neither would the cabinet.

Question 6

What was the outcome of the crisis of 1936?

Answer 6

In December 1936, Edward broadcast his speech of abdication.

Question 7

What was Churchill’s reaction to the crisis?

Answer 7

• Churchill was a member of the informal group called the ‘The King’s Friends’ who vowed to support the monarch for personal loyalty.
• He made a speech in the Commons in which he supported the King but was shouted down
• Bulk of parliament disagreed with Churchill and put him in the wilderness even further