Attitude To The Abdication Crisis

Question 1

December 1936

Answer 1

Abdication of King Edward V111. Baldwin’s Conservative Government had already had reservations about Edward’s fitness to rule and their solution to the crisis was that if Edward chose to marry the divorced Wallis Simpson that it would be a morganatic marriage as Queen Consort but this was not popular with the Empire nor with the Church of England.

Question 2

October 1936

Answer 2

The British public started to hear rumours of Edward V111 relationship with Wallis Simpson and became widely debated in December 1936.

Question 3

7 December 1936

Answer 3

Churchill publicly supported King Edward V111’s and made a speech in parliament on 7 December 1936 where he was shouted down. This support was widely unpopular and seen as poor judgement, further damaging his political standing and isolating him from his party. Edward V111 abdicated on 10 December 1936.