In the wake of the explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, attention has once again turned to royal couples who have diverged from traditional paths.
Among them are King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, the American actress for whom he famously relinquished the throne in 1936.
Their story began in 1931 when the Prince of Wales, Edward, crossed paths with Wallis Simpson, who was then married to British shipping executive Ernest Aldrich Simpson.
Despite her marital status, a romantic entanglement developed between Wallis and Edward, culminating in his ascension to the throne in January 1936.
However, the Church of England, headed by the monarch at the time, disapproved of divorced individuals remarrying within its confines, leading to a constitutional crisis when Edward proposed to Wallis.
After ruling the British Empire for less than a year, King Edward abdicated in December 1936 to be with Wallis.
Rather than relocating to Wallis’s homeland of America like Meghan and Harry did years later, the couple opted to establish their residence in France.
Their nuptials took place six months post-abdication at the Chateau De Cande in Monts, France.
In 1937, the pair made a controversial trip to Germany, encountering Adolf Hitler during his military resurgence.
As World War II loomed over Europe, Edward and Wallis faced increasing instability, prompting them to depart France in 1940 as German forces encroached.
Seeking refuge, they initially settled in Portugal before eventually moving to the Bahamas, where Edward assumed the role of governor in the British Crown colony, now part of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Following a stint in the Bahamas, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor relocated back to France, taking up residence in a grand 14-bedroom estate in the Parisian park Bois du Boulogne from 1946 to 1986.
Tragedy struck in 1972 when Edward succumbed to cancer, leaving Wallis a widow.
She passed away in Bois de Boulogne in 1986, with the couple laid to rest at the Royal Burial Ground near Windsor Castle.
For further insights into the British royal family saga, viewers can tune in to The Windsors: Inside the Royal Dynasty airing on Channel 4 at 8pm on March 20th.
