Prince Richard renounced the throne. Edward VIII: The man who proved that a woman is worth more than a horse

King Edward VIII, who occupied the throne of Great Britain in 1936 from late January to December, is remembered today only for the fact that he abdicated the throne for love. Elizabeth II's uncle, the eldest son of her grandfather George V, made a decision in 1936 that he never, as he said, regretted: he left the throne for the opportunity to marry his long-time lover, the American Wallis Simpson, who had been married twice before. At the time of the wedding he was 42 years old - and before that he had never thought about getting married.

The eldest son of King George V was always loved in Britain: charming, democratic, he was the star of parties, danced beautifully, played tennis and golf. He was not allowed to fight in the First World War for fear that he would be wounded or, even worse, captured. For a similar reason, he was not allowed to engage in other risky activities, such as participating in horse racing or learning to fly. This saddened him - and he himself upset his father because he, the heir to the throne, did not want to settle down and finally get married.

Adding to the sadness were rumors that Prince Edward was having an affair with married woman, American Wallis Simpson.

I introduced them to home party Lady Furness, reputedly then a member of intimate relationships with Edward, Prince of Wales. Wallis Simpson was invited there along with her husband, Ernest Simpson, a native of New York. The couple lived in Britain, but Wallis Simpson, with her thick Baltimore accent (she came from an influential New England family) and American straightforwardness, stood out clearly from her British surroundings. Beautiful, elegant, witty, the prince, of course, liked her.

A fleeting acquaintance with a couple of Americans quickly grew into friendship - and now they began to be regularly invited to events. But when one day King George V, once again expressing regret that Edward would not marry, accused him of having a close relationship with a married American, the Prince of Wales responded indignantly that there was no “immoral” relationship between them. Even after the wedding that followed a few years later, he continued to claim that Wallis Simpson was not his mistress before marriage. Despite the rumors.

AP Governor of the Bahamas, Duke of Windsor with Duchess Wallis Simpson in official residence in Nassau, August 1940

On the evening of 16 January 1936, the Prince of Wales was practicing shooting in Windsor Great Park when he received a note from his mother, Queen Mary, saying that the royal physician was “dissatisfied with the condition of the Pope in this moment"and that he should come to Sandringham Palace, only somehow unobtrusively, so as not to create unnecessary tension. The next morning he flew to the palace by airplane. On January 20, George V died and the throne passed to Edward. Wallis Simpson was one of the first to know about this.

The new king's relationship with his brothers quickly soured - especially the Duke of York, the future King George VI - who were irritated that Edward VIII was openly neglecting Wallis Simpson expensive gifts and generally supports this outrageous connection.

In October 1936, the British Press Association informed Edward VIII's private secretary that Wallis Simpson had filed for divorce, with the matter due to be heard on 27 October. He discussed this with Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin, who decided to talk to the king about the scandal that this “friendship” of his with the said lady was causing in society and ask him to prevent the divorce.

The king refused to do this. It was clear that he planned to marry an American - this was known to everyone, despite the fact that the newspapers came to a gentleman's agreement not to name Wallis Simpson. On November 10, this name, however, was first heard at a meeting of the House of Commons from the lips of a Labor MP from Glasgow during a discussion of the future coronation of the king. More precisely, that there may not be a coronation.

It became clear that abdication of the throne was no longer an opportunity for Edward, but a necessity.

London was filled with rumors. Even the king's friends understood that if he married Wallis Simpson, he would have to immediately abdicate the throne - otherwise, this would lead to a constitutional crisis, general elections, the rise of leftist sentiment - all against the backdrop of unemployment, recession and foreign policy problems (remember , it was 1936).

On November 16, the king informed Stanley Baldwin that he would marry Wallis Simpson in the very near future, whether his ministers approved it or not. If not, he will abdicate the throne. Later in the evening. He said the same thing to his mother and sister. Of course they were shocked.

Of course, they insisted that it was his duty to be king, and he must refuse this woman. To which he replied that he could not be king without her, which means that his real duty was to leave the throne. On December 10, 1936, in the presence of his four brothers, Edward VIII ceased to be king. For the first time in British history, a monarch voluntarily abdicated the throne.

AP The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Prince Edward and Wallis Simpson, at the Château de la Croe on the Cote d'Azur, June 1968

They married on June 3, 1937 in France - the former king of Great Britain, now the Duke of Windsor, and the twice-divorced daughter of an American businessman from Baltimore who made his fortune in the flour trade. The modest wedding took place at the Chateau de Cand, in Monte.

Members of the former British monarch's family were not present. Although British press It was forbidden to be there, Time magazine conducted a detailed report from the scene, not forgetting to mention that Edward did not take his eyes off the bride.

Wallis Simpson wore a light blue crepe dress and a hat with a brim that surrounded her head like a halo, and a large brooch adorned her neck. “Only two incidents interrupted the ceremony,” Time reported. - When Vicar Jardin asked: “Will you love her, care for her, respect and protect her?”, the excited Edward shouted: “Yes!” in a shrill voice, more like a scream. When he put a simple ring of Welsh gold, traditional in the British royal family, on her finger, the trembling in his hands was visible even to the most distant observers.”

The couple remained married until Edward's death in 1972. Wallis Simpson survived him by 14 years.

Edward was warned more than once that his infatuation with Mrs. Simpson would lead nowhere and that he might even have to sacrifice his crown, but the king was ready to abdicate the throne rather than part with his beloved.

Edward VIII - heir to the throne

The Prince of Wales, the future Edward VIII, as is typical of rich heirs, led a carefree lifestyle, traveled a lot, fell in love, but serious relationship I didn't even think about it. He liked to joke about this, saying that he would never marry, since only theater and sports lived in his heart.

However, the prince did not avoid society beautiful women. Once he fell in love so much that he proposed marriage, but was decisively refused. Frida Birkin, as a true intellectual, and also experienced in matters of seduction, knew very well that the king would never give his son permission to marry a divorced woman. The prince's new flame, Thelma Furness, was the complete opposite of Frieda. She was stunningly beautiful, but at the same time hopelessly naive and stupid, so this romance did not last long.

Wallis Simpson suddenly turned all the prince's ideas about love upside down. This woman has already been married twice. She met her current, third, husband in New York, and when after the wedding the newlyweds moved to London, it would seem that Wallis should have calmed down and started a quiet family life, but her violent temperament did not give her peace.

Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson - fateful meeting

In November 1930, she found herself at an evening to which the Prince of Wales was invited. Wallis felt absolutely calm when she was introduced to the prince, and she curtsied before him. Quite quickly, the meaningless flirtation turned into a strong passion.

There were reports in the press that the prince had completely lost his head. Wallis could hardly be called beautiful, but rather attractive. In addition, she had what is called sexuality in abundance. Soon the prince's new romance was talked about throughout the British Empire. The scandal also leaked onto the pages of foreign newspapers.

The king was shocked and prayed to God that this relationship would turn out to be another easy affair for his son. However, he did not wait for its completion.

In January 1936, George V died. After Edward was crowned, a lot of important missions appeared in his life, so at first the lovers almost never met.

Mrs. Simpson began to worry that the prince had already forgotten them, when suddenly at one of the parties he started talking to her about marriage. But for Wallis, marriage with her beloved seemed something unrealistic, since the king of England did not belong to himself and had no power to control his life.

After the lovers began to meet openly, Wallis found herself in an ambiguous position, because there was also Mr. Simpson, who, by the way, loved his wife very much. In the end, Edward himself came to Mr. Simpson and directly stated that he did not intend to be crowned without his beloved. Mr. Simpson left the choice to Wallis.

Many may think that she saw only benefits in an alliance with the king, but in fact Wallis sincerely loved the king, and they were connected not only by physical attraction, but also by intellectual partnership and spiritual intimacy.

Wallis' divorce hearing from Mr Simpson lasted just 19 minutes. On the same day, the newspapers were full of headlines: “The King marries Wallis”, “Another morganatic marriage”, etc. It should be noted that Edward VIII was far from the first who decided on a marriage of this kind. Just remember Louis XIV, who married Madame de Maintenon.

Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson. Marry for love

The marriage of members of the royal families of Europe has long been a matter of political expediency, and it is extremely rare dynastic marriages were concluded for love. If the heir to the throne did not want to give up the chosen one of his heart for any reason, a morganatic marriage was concluded, that is, the wife did not have the right to the title, coat of arms and fortune of her husband.

However, when Edward VIII announced his intention to enter into such a marriage, many guardians of the norms of royal power vehemently opposed it, especially Prime Minister Baldwin. But Edward VIII decided to stop at nothing and at the end of December 1936 signed an act of abdication. Three brothers of the king arrived to attend the signing ceremony of this act.

During the signing of the document that was decisive in the lives of lovers, Wallis was in Cannes. When Edward called with the news, she burst into tears, and some of the servants later said that she called the former king a brainless fool. Thus, Edward VIII reigned for 325 days, 13 hours and 57 minutes. With his abdication, he received the title Duke of Windsor. Having said goodbye to his brother, the new King George VI, he voluntarily left his homeland, without feeling any regret.

According to ancient custom, the duke's wife received his rank and the corresponding privileges. In addition, she was to be addressed as “Your Royal Highness” and men were to bow before her. Many people clearly did not like these circumstances. high-ranking officials, who fiercely hated the rootless American. Under pressure from high society, the king was forced to sign an act depriving Edward's wife of the title of duchess. The Duke did not expect such a wedding gift from his brother, but nevertheless it only accelerated preparations for the wedding.

The wedding took place in a modest castle near the French town of Cande. Among the guests were Churchill's son Randolph, the Rothschilds, the British Consul in Nantes and the First Secretary of the British Embassy. A large crowd gathered near the castle, joyfully shouting: “Happiness to Windsor and Mrs. Warfield!”

After the wedding ceremony, a wedding breakfast took place, where Wallis cut the six-tier wedding cake.

One of the newspapers carried an article detailing the ceremony: “Everyone drank Lawson 1921 champagne, except His Highness, who asked for a cup of his favorite Earl Gray tea. After which Eduard turned to the journalists with a request to leave them for a while honeymoon in peace, and, strangely enough, they obeyed..."

At this time, Europe was on the verge of World War II. German troops invaded France, and Paris, where Edward and Wallis settled, held the defense with its last strength. The newlyweds managed to get to the French Riviera, and then they crossed the Spanish border. In May 1945, when it surrendered fascist Germany, Edward and Wallis were in New York. They have lived together for about 10 years. On this occasion, Edward said: “Ten years have passed, but no love.”

Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson. Years pass, but not love

After the war, the lovers settled again in Paris. “My husband was a king, and I want him to live like a king,” Wallis said more than once. The couple purchased a house that had recently served as the residence of Charles de Gaulle. Wallis enthusiastically set about arranging the family nest. The couple traveled a lot, and when they found themselves in Paris again, they gave lavish receptions to numerous friends.

The Duke went alone to the funeral of his brother George VI. The new Queen Elizabeth II, who was his niece, said that she loved her uncle dearly, but his name was not on the list of invitees to the coronation.

Around the same time, a film appeared called “The Story of a King,” which tells about the extraordinary act of Edward, who sacrificed the throne for the sake of happiness with his beloved. The couple also attended the premiere. Both later admitted that they had never seen a more touching and truthful picture.

Many biographers and journalists puzzled over the secret of their eternal union. The Duke himself repeatedly said that he always felt like a young man in love with a girl.

In 1970, at a White House reception, responding to a toast from President Richard Nixon, the Duke said: “I am extremely fortunate that a charming young American woman agreed to marry me and has been a loving, devoted and caring companion to me for thirty years.” To which Wallis replied with a smile: “Well, now you understand why I fell in love with him.”

Their family life flowed smoothly and slowly. The Duke was interested in golf and literature. Quarrels rarely arose, mainly due to the number of cigarettes the Duke smoked. The trouble did not take long to arrive. Doctors diagnosed Eduard with “inoperable lung cancer.”

The Duke was not at all afraid of death; what depressed him most was that he would never see his beloved. In order to be together after death, he bought two places in the cemetery, where he bequeathed to bury himself and Wallis when her time came.

Elizabeth II, who arrived on a visit to France, was well received by Wallis, who seemed to have no memory of past grievances. The Duke of Windsor died on May 28, 1972 at his Paris home.

Needless to say, how Wallis grieved, she seemed petrified. They decided to bury the Duke at home. Wallis arrived there on the Queen's private plane and was treated with care and attention, which she gratefully accepted. She categorically refused to look at her husband's body, saying that she wanted to keep him alive in her memory. The day the Duke was buried would have been their 35th birthday. life together.

Wallis survived her husband by 8 years, but all these years she was severely paralyzed and could hardly move. Her upkeep was paid for entirely by Elizabeth II, who may have felt deep down that if it weren't for Edward's mad love for Wallis, she would never have become queen.

May 17th, 2014 , 05:03 pm

Dear friends and readers!

I present to your attention an excerpt from my latest book
“Past without future. History of King Edward VIII".
M.: LLC “IPC “Mask””, 2013 - 270 p. ISBN 978-5-91146-922-1

This is the most scandalous episode in the biography of King Edward VIII, which the Windsor dynasty hides to this day.

Book summary:


Many people know the story of King Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne for the sake of his beloved woman, Wallis Simpson. It is generally accepted that the reason for his abdication was his desire to marry a twice-divorced American woman, which was opposed by the royal family, the English government and the Church of England. This official version satisfied everyone. The legend of passionate love still haunts the imagination of the fair sex - exchange royal throne for love. But is that really how things were? “I find it impossible to bear the heavy burden of responsibility and perform the duties of king as I would like without the help and support of the woman I love,” Edward VIII said on the radio on the night of December 11, 1936. Was he forced to say it himself, or was he forced to do so? Or maybe Wallis was just a pawn of Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin and Parliament to eliminate the unprofitable king? Or did Edward himself avoid this fate, hiding behind his crazy love for an American? There are too many subtleties in this story that are not so clear cut.

More information about the books here: http://www.polyakova-arina.com/#!knigi/c19ie

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PART TWO.

CHAPTER 4

“Heil Hitler! - Heil Windsor!

Edward's political views were prone to change like the wind: either he believed that the monarchy should be absolute, or he advocated a republican form of government, or even believed that all the abolished monarchies of Europe should be restored. If we consider the latter option, then, in his opinion, all the displaced dynasties should have returned to the thrones of their countries, after which all monarchies would have united in the person of one person - the monarch of the united states of Europe. This allows us to look at Edward’s activities from a completely different angle: it turns out that he was not a pawn of the British-German game, but acted based on his own interests. Thus, Edward and Hitler had the same idea of ​​​​creating the so-called “New Order in Europe,” although they had completely different visions of this very New Europe. This begs the question: who used whom? - Eduard's Hitler, or Hitler's Eduard? Probably, they both sought to achieve their goals, trying to use each other for personal interests. It must be borne in mind that the scope of royal ambitions will always be wider than that of an ordinary person, even if this person is the Fuhrer. This version allows Eduard to be acquitted of the accusation that he sold his homeland by contacting the Nazis.
It is interesting that Edward, unlike his father King George V, considered himself German. Edward communicated with his mother Queen Mary of Teck exclusively in German, which he spoke as fluently as he spoke English. He believed that the renaming of the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha dynasty as the Windsor dynasty was a timely decision by the father to abstract from the Germanic kinship during the First World War. Moreover, Edward was proud of his German origin: no less than 14 of his ancestors belonged to the Germanic royal houses. Edward believed that with the help of such a charismatic and ambitious Fuhrer, the kinship between the two countries could be restored. Working together, they would certainly create a powerful alliance. Edward believed that with his undeniable charm and German roots, he would soon gain the same popularity in Germany that he enjoyed in Britain. A tempting idea: Hitler remains chancellor and is in charge political affairs, and the Windsor dynasty heads all the monarchical houses of Europe.
The Nazis counted heavily on their British ally. After all, it was under Edward that the Nazis occupied the demilitarized Rhineland, and Britain condoned it in the summer of 1936. Without much warning, while continuing to assert that Germany had no territorial claims, on August 9, Hitler's army began its campaign to "return the territories." The French government was stunned by the impudence of the Nazis, but did not dare to send its troops without the prior support of Britain. Anthony Eden rushed to Paris to ensure that the French would not take any rash steps. He convinced the French government that the issue should be discussed at an emergency meeting of the League of Nations. However, in any case, he shouldn’t have worried - the French were not eager to get involved in a dubious political conflict. A meeting took place two days later in London, but no unanimous decision was made. It is curious that Hitler's actions caused a greater resonance in Berlin than in Paris or London. The embarrassment was that the Fuhrer did not consider it necessary to inform his generals about the planned operation. They were sure that Hitler's sudden move would provoke a conflict, and Anglo-French troops were about to be sent to the Rhineland. Politicians could not find a way out of this situation. German Ambassador Leopold Heusch, Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin and several others went to Fort Belvedere to visit Edward, where he was vacationing with Wallis. The king believed that the Rhineland historically belonged to Germany, and knew that, if necessary, a special pact could be concluded with Hitler, according to which he would undertake to bear responsibility for the population of the Rhineland. The king said there would be no war! From this point on, Hitler believed that he could manipulate the British government and Stanley Baldwin in particular, with the help of Edward. And Hitler's plan almost came true until Edward decided to abdicate. The Nazi dream collapsed. However, the Germans are a resilient people; If it didn't work out that way, then another way will be found.
From December 10 to December 11, 1936, Edward abdicated. The British emotions about this were described in the first part of the book, but what did the Germans feel? There is no written evidence that would convey the Fuhrer's reaction to Eduard's act, but it is not difficult to imagine what a storm of indignation and disappointment this could cause in the impulsive Adolf Hitler. For so long, through dummies, he established contact with the Prince of Wales, and then the King of Britain, so that everything collapsed overnight! The British throne cannot remain empty, and Edward must be replaced by another person, and it is not a fact that he will share the views of National Socialism. They assumed that the next throne could be taken by a much more traditional and conservative person than his predecessor. No, it was impossible to lose Edward - only he could help pave the way for the Nazis to Britain and, as they believed, have a significant influence on political processes.
So, back to the events of 1937: Edward abdicated, went into exile in Europe, got married, went on a honeymoon tour with Wallis, and settled down with his newly-crowned Duchess of Windsor at the Meurice Hotel, where Charles Bidault was their frequent guest. It is not surprising that during the abdication crisis of 1936 and until the fall of 1937, the Nazis cut off all ties with Edward - they simply wrote him off. But when they realized that no one else from the royal family in Britain would become their ally, they again returned to Edward, now the Duke of Windsor.
Thanks to the efforts of Charles Bidault, the most influential Nazis again became interested in Edward. The situation was twofold: of course, Edward, as a king, was more interesting to them and had much more influence than now, but in this case they would have to first obtain permission from Prime Minister Baldwin for the visit, having previously informed them in detail about the purposes of the upcoming visit, and there was no way the Nazis could do this; and now Edward was a nobody, he no longer had either power or influence, but he had one undeniable advantage that he did not have before - he had the freedom to speak. These influential Nazis were Rudolf Hess and Martin Bormann. They arrived in Paris with the goal of officially inviting the Duke and Duchess of Windsor to the Third Reich. Preparations began for their arrival several weeks in advance. Another influential representative of the Nazi elite, Robert Ley, volunteered to accompany them. In addition to the above-mentioned Nazis, Erol Flynn (a Hollywood actor who actively collaborated with Nazi agents) played a significant role in involving Eduard in Hitler’s network. There were also rumors about Flynn's activities in the aggressive IRA organization, but there is no documentary evidence of this.
Two days after the meeting, on October 3, 1937, Edward announced his intention to go to Germany in the very near future for at least 10 days, and after returning straight to the United States, where he wants to get acquainted with the American construction industry. While Wallis and Edward were supposed to be in Germany, Charles Bidault immediately headed to the USA, where over the next 9 days he had to prepare everything for the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The British government, having learned that the former king and his American wife were about to head to the Third Reich, tried to stop them: Churchill, Lord Beaverbrook and others tried to talk to Edward on the phone, but being offended by all British politicians, he already didn't want to listen to anyone. The Royal Family and completely threatened to end any relationship with Edward; All British embassies in Europe and America were ordered not to deal with the Duke of Windsor.

On October 11, 1937, Wallis and Edward traveled by train to the Third Reich. Their final stop was Friederichstrasse station, Berlin. There they were met by Mr. Harrison, Third Secretary of the British Embassy in Berlin, and not, as expected, by the head of the embassy, ​​Sir Neville Henderson. He was recalled from Germany on the eve of the arrival of Wallis and Edward, and the Duke and Duchess received another blow of contempt from Britain. In addition to Harrison, a Nazi delegation led by Robert Ley was waiting for them on the platform. It was Ley who was responsible for their arrival, and the fact that he was the head of the German Labor Front, in which Edward was allegedly very interested, was used as a cover for the true purpose of the visit. Among the greeters were little-known members of the Nazi elite, so as not to attract much attention: Gorlitzer, Captain Wedgemann, Schneer and Hevel. The chain was completed by Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop, who nevertheless gave the Windsors' arrival a certain touch of a summit meeting.
The Duke and Duchess were taken to the Kaiserhof Hotel, where they could rest after a tiring trip. On the evening of the same day, Robert Ley picked them up and took them to the factory, where he made a welcoming speech regarding the arrival of honored guests, and also, taking advantage of the opportunity and the presence of the press, exalted the Fuhrer, telling everyone how the “great” Hitler was able to eliminate mass unemployment . IN big hall An atmosphere of euphoria and general emotional upsurge reigned. After finishing his speech, Ley, raising his hand in a Nazi salute, shouted “Heil, Hitler!” three times, and the full hall echoed with thunderous cries of “Heil...”. After this, the British and German national anthems were played. At the end of the ceremony, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor returned to the black Mercedes-Benz convertible that was waiting for them; Robert Ley plopped down between them in the back seat. They headed to Leya's private estate to sample German gastronomic delights. From that moment on, the trip to Germany became one complete disaster for the Windsors. Cities flashed by one after another, endless speeches, Nazi salutes and all the time Robert Ley sitting between Wallis and Edward.
On October 12, 1937, a German news agency reported that Hermann Goering was due to make an official visit to Austria the other day in response to the visit of Austrian Foreign Minister Gaido Schmidt, who had just left Berlin. The Windsors were correctly informed that their schedule for the coming days was changing, and the meeting with Goering was being postponed to October 14; Instead of Essen, they need to go to Goering's personal estate, Carinhall, in the regional state of Brandenburg. But they still had a lot to do. They still had to visit a Nazi charity and dine in the company of Ribbentrop.
On the pages of a British newspaper The Times Very quickly articles appeared on Edward’s visit to Germany: “His Royal Highness smiles and makes a Nazi salute to the crowds of people gathered under his windows next to the hotel...” Later, Eduard, trying to justify himself, claimed that it was not a “zig”, but only that he harmlessly waved his hand at people. Whoever came to the Third Reich was shocked by Nazi paraphernalia and endless euphoria. And it is not surprising, because this was precisely one of the foundations of Nazi unity: commonality of actions, slogans, thoughts, marches, “fireworks.” Those who saw and heard Adolf Hitler himself were happy. He could give such a colossal surge of emotion and adrenaline to the crowd that people were ready to sell their souls to the devil just to fulfill the demands of their beloved Fuhrer. Edward, like everyone else, succumbed to this magic.
On October 14, 1937, the Windsors were to attend a special educational institution in Pomerania, preparing the future SS elite. They were captivated by the students' bearing, unanimity and fortitude. They were shown everything that teenagers are taught and prepared for. Edward was delighted! On the same day they went to Goering's estate, where they had the pleasure of meeting his wife. Herman greeted them on the threshold of his house in a crisp white ceremonial uniform, Emma Goering played the role of an attentive mistress of the house, although she considered Edward’s abdication a capitulation, and Wallis the main reason for this.
Hitler's personal translator, Paul Schmidt, accompanied the Windsors throughout their stay in Berlin. Regarding their trip to Goering, he wrote the following in his diary:
Goering showed the Duke and Duchess the house with childish pride, including his gymnasium in the basement with a complex massage apparatus. With all the decorations jingling on his uniform, he squeezed his generously tailored body between two rollers to show the smiling Duchess how he worked. The spacious attic was fully occupied big model railway to the delight of one of Goering's nephews. Goering turned on the electricity, and soon two men [Eduard and Goering himself. - Note] were completely absorbed in the entertaining toy. At the end, Goering launched a toy airplane attached to a wire and flew across the room. Flying over the railway, he threw several small wooden bombs. Then at tea I did not have to translate for the Duke, who spoke German quite well, but I gave explanations to the Duchess along the way.
In Goering's office, Edward saw a map on the wall, on which Austria was already part of the Third Reich. Goering joked: “This is so as not to redo the map a hundred times; it’s better to immediately draw what we have to add in the future.” Edward was obliged to inform the British government about what he saw, but he did not do that either. He probably knew about the Nazis' intentions a year before this meeting, when he had the honor of meeting the German diplomat Franz von Papen in Austria. Perhaps Edward even knew that Hitler was going to make his own homeland part of the Reich - it was only a matter of time. After the Windsors left the beautiful home of Goering, they still had to visit Rügen and Bielefeld.
While Edward and Wallis were getting acquainted with the famous steel industry of the Krupp family, Hitler took the opportunity to make another speech dedicated to expanding living space.
The Windsors traveled by train from one part of Germany to another, also visiting Dresden and Leipzig. It was in Leipzig that Edward, at a meeting of representatives of the labor front, made a speech: “I traveled around the world and saw many great achievements of mankind, but what I saw in Germany used to seem beyond the realm of possibility to me. It's impossible to believe - it's just a miracle! This can only be understood when the realization comes that behind all this there is one person and his will.”
In Dresden, Edward had the opportunity to meet his relative, the Duke of Coburg, who was Hitler's agent in 1936. In honor of the Windsors' arrival, he arranged a dinner held with all the requirements of royal etiquette. Even Edward's and Wallis's chairs bore the inscription HRH - His/Her Royal Highness. The Duke was the first member of the royal family to recognize Wallis's royal title. She was even more flattered when she learned that all representatives political power in Germany it was conveyed to be addressed as Your Royal Highness. The Nazis understood very well that they would only be able to conquer Edward with the help of his vain wife. Moreover, no matter what public places the Windsors appeared, there were special people in the crowd chanting “We are for the Duchess!”
It was the second week of the Windsors’ journey through Germany: Nuremberg, Württemberg, Stuttgart... warm weather, Nazi parades, a wonderful sunset and a light breeze from the Alps.

The apogee of the trip came on October 22, 1937, when Eduard was to meet with Adolf Hitler at his residence Berghof (Obersalzberg) in the Bavarian Alps in the Berchtesgaden valley, near Munich. And let us turn again to Schmidt’s memoirs:
“Hitler received the Windsors at Obersalzberg. The Duke expressed admiration for the industrial achievements he saw, especially at the Krupp factories in Essen. Social progress in Germany was the main topic of conversation between Hitler and the Windsors throughout the day. Apparently Hitler made an effort to be nice to Herzog, whom he considered a friend of Germany, especially mindful of a speech Herzog had given a few years earlier in which he extended a hand of friendship to German ex-military associations. In these conversations, as far as I understood, there was nothing to indicate that the Duke of Windsor was truly sympathetic to the ideology and practice of the Third Reich, as Hitler seemed to be. With the exception of a few approving words about Germany's social welfare measures, Herzog did not discuss political issues. He was sincere and friendly with Hitler and displayed the social charm for which he was famous throughout the world. The Duchess only occasionally joined in the conversation, and then with great reserve, when some social issue arose that was of particular interest to a woman. She was dressed simply and appropriately for the occasion and made a great impression on Hitler. “She would be a good queen,” he said when the guests left.”
Apart from the translator's memoirs, there is no more written evidence of what Hitler and Edward could really discuss. Therefore, anything can be assumed. Hitler made a lasting impression on Wallis. “I couldn’t take my eyes off him...,” she would write a few years later in her memoirs, “he had long white arms that simply reeked of inner power.” She also noted the peculiarity of the Fuhrer’s eyes: “Indeed, outstanding - deep, unblinking, enchanting, burning with the same fire that I once saw in the eyes of Kemal Ataturk...”
At 5 pm the Windsors boarded a train that returned them to Munich. There they were met by the former Grand Duke of Mecklenburg. Later they went to dinner with Rudolf Hess. A few years later they will meet again at strange circumstances, unexpected for both of them...
Evening last day in Germany, they happily spent time in a Bavarian beer hall, enjoying the taste of good German beer and sausages. After drinking three glasses of beer, Edward stood on a chair and addressed the people, expressing his love and admiration for their wonderful city of Munich. The audience was delighted when, at the end of his speech, Edward put a fake mustache on his lip.
The next day, Wallis and Edward walked around Munich, looking at the sights. The Nazis did not fail to show them the memorial, which was dedicated to the sixteen who died during the Beer Hall Putsch of 1923 and were considered martyred heroes. The trip has come to an end. The Windsors began to prepare for the return trip to France. They no longer went to America, since the Americans refused to cooperate with them, the tour was cancelled.

Many people dream of royal life. But in world practice there are many cases when a monarch abdicated the throne due to certain circumstances.

One of the most romantic reasons for renouncing the crown is the desire of the ruler to marry a commoner or commoner. Until now, this desire itself testified to great strength, because the highest society for a long time did not approve of such unions. However, the situation has changed.

Edward VIII, "The Monarchical Revolutionary"

The Queen owes her title to her relative the Prince Eduard. If he had not fallen in love with the beautiful, but twice married Wallis Simpson, England would now be ruled by a king, not a queen.

Future Duke Windsor I saw my fate at the ball. The high-society American woman arrived there with her second husband. The prince fell in love immediately and mutually. The crowned relatives did not appreciate his impulse, but for a long time they turned a blind eye to the romance, until the future monarch decided to get married. The king and queen considered marriage to a twice-divorced woman, who was also an American, impossible and asked their son to choose: either the throne or a wedding. Young Prince I chose the second without hesitation. “Compared to what I received, I gave up very little,” the prince commented on his choice.

The newlyweds received the titles of Duke and Duchess Windsor and went to live in America. They lived in love and harmony for almost 40 years. Until Edward died of throat cancer in 1974. He never regretted his choice. As you understand, failed English king He immediately became a role model for many monarchs.

It's hardly a queen Elizabeth I would allow my own son Charles marries a divorcee Camilla Parker Bowles, if not for the happy example of Edward VIII. True, having become the legal husband of the woman he loved, Charles automatically abdicated the throne. After all, when Elizabeth gave permission for the marriage, she indirectly made it clear to her beloved son that he would now never become a full-fledged monarch.

Dutch monarchs. Self-denial tendency

Another example of renunciation for love was demonstrated by the Duke's fourth cousin Windsor, Dutch descendant of kings JohanFriso. True, his love story is not only amazingly beautiful, like any love story of a prince and a commoner, but also very piquant. After all, the prince could not find anything better than falling in love with a mafia princess.

Novel Johanna Friso with a famous activist Mabel Wisse Smith was gaining serious momentum when journalists learned that the girl was not as simple as she seemed. At one time she was seen more than once at a party with the boss of the Dutch mafia Klaas Breinsma. What would the Dutch queen be tolerant of? Beatrix, but for the prince to marry the girlfriend of a criminal - never. But as soon as the decision was announced, Johan showed unexpected determination: he abdicated the throne in favor of a great and bright feeling.

By the way, after some time the Queen of the Netherlands herself followed his example. Beatrix She also personally abdicated the throne. And also because of love. True, to my own son Willem. “He will be a wonderful monarch, perhaps even better than me. Besides, I have reigned long enough,” said the queen.

It is worth noting that the tradition of self-denial will in no way undermine either the prestige or the financial position of the monarchs. They will still rule the empire. True, this time it’s oil. It is known main family The Netherlands owns a controlling stake in the company Shell, which allows them to rule the world, even without royal powers.

Illegitimate child of the Prince of Luxenburg

And here is the Prince of Luxenburg Louis decided to abdicate the throne with a twinkle, from which a scandal subsequently erupted. His chosen one was an officer of the country's military forces Tessie Anthony.

The prince's chosen one is the daughter of a Luxembourg roofer of middle income. Since the age of 18, the girl has served as a sergeant in the Luxembourg army. With the prince Louis she met in Kosovo during his inspection of the Luxembourg NATO contingent as part of the KFOR forces in former Yugoslavia. The Grand Duke's court soon announced her pregnancy Tessie, as a result of which the girl received indefinite leave.

The prince's parents were against his romance and almost deprived him of all privileges. However, the prince was determined to get married. And although the child (a boy named Gabriel) was born out of wedlock, he was still recognized as the heir to the throne. And the father, although he does not have the right to claim the throne, still bears the title “His Royal Highness”.

Japanese princess Sayako. All you need is love

The only daughter of the Japanese Emperor Akihito less fortunate. She did not renounce the throne; her parents did it for her. When the king and queen learned that their 36-year-old daughter had fallen in love with a simple civil servant, they decided to give her all the privileges. And the princess meekly agreed to this. After all, life without a loved one Yoshiki Kurodu was unthinkable for her.

They had known each other since youth. At one time, the lovers studied at a prestigious Tokyo university "Gakushuin" and were members of the nature and culture lovers club. Their romance began two years ago, when they played tennis together on one of the courts of the imperial palace. This romantic interest had very serious consequences for the princess.

She not only lost her princess title, but everything financial assets and even the right to live in the imperial palace. It is worth noting that Sayako She steadfastly endured her parents’ decision and calmly began preparing for “ordinary life.” True, the groom did not appreciate such sacrifice. After the wedding, they did not live together for long, after which the civil servant left his princess for another girl. And she stayed Sayako on beans.

At the end of 1936, the King of Great Britain Edward VIII made his famous radio address, in which he said that he was unable to fulfill his duties if his beloved woman was not nearby. The monarch abdicated the throne, and his marriage to a divorced American woman of ignoble origin became one of the most notorious misalliances of the 20th century. How did Wallis Simpson manage to attract the British king...

Wallis Simpson(Wallis Simpson) Prince Edward VIII was introduced to him by his then mistress Thelma Furnis. An affair began between the American woman and the heir to the throne.

Wallis Simpson could not boast of an impeccable reputation. She had two divorces behind her, and she did not shine with beauty. At the time of her acquaintance with Edward VIII, she was already 35 years old. However, Wallis Simpson had a special charm that attracted men to her. She also knew how to listen to her interlocutors, support them in difficult times, and say what they wanted to hear. This is exactly what the heir to the throne lacked, having received less parental love in childhood. The prince literally beamed with happiness.

On January 20, 1936, King George V died. The throne was to pass to his son. When Wallis learned of the king's death, she told Edward that she understood the changes that would occur in their relationship. The prince convinced her that he was not going to abandon his beloved.

The situation was further aggravated by the fact that Wallis was still married. She immediately filed for divorce. Edward VIII promised that he would marry her before the official coronation. However, parliament and the royal family had a different opinion on this matter. According to established regulations, the British king could not marry a divorced woman.

Plus, the people of Great Britain are up in arms against Wallis Simpson. Anyone could be the king's mistress, but not his wife. People took to the streets with posters in protest and shouted insults at the American woman. The prime minister threatened to resign, and there was unrest in parliament. In the end, the woman could not stand the pressure and left for the south of France. But even there she had no peace. People left en masse the hotels where she stayed, expressing their protest. Wallis received threatening letters. She was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

On December 11, 1936, Edward VIII made a radio address that changed the course of history. The king abdicated the throne, declaring: “I have found it impossible... to perform the duties of a king without the help and support of the woman I love.”.

Six months later they got married. The royal family pointedly ignored this event. The newlyweds received the official titles of Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Wallis understood the sacrifice David (as she called Edward VIII) made for her sake, so she tried to create conditions under which he simply did not have enough time to think about what he had done.

The Duke and Duchess, in fact, did not have a single free minute. They constantly visited official receptions, special events. Journalists queued up to interview Edward VIII. Along the way, the former king wrote memoirs.

The couple traveled a lot around Europe, and each time Wallis tried to arrange their place of residence as Edward was used to in his homeland. They even slept in different rooms.

Wallis Simpson maintained order not only in her everyday life, but was also strict with herself. She did not abuse alcohol and food. Until her old age, this woman was considered the standard of style. As the Duchess herself said, if nature has not endowed her with beauty, then she must be impeccable in everything else.

Unequal marriages have happened at all times and in any country. Steel is no exception