Royal title snub: How Wallis Simpson changed the course of this royal title forever

The Queen can grant titles to members of the Royal Family and does so for special occasions, such as weddings. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry gained their titles - Duke and Duchess of Sussex

- upon their marriage in May 2018. However, when choosing a title for a Royal Family member, the Queen carefully considers past bearers of that title, and how it will be perceived by future

bearers. 

One title has been banned from use forever, and that is The Duke of Windsor. The Queen’s uncle, Edward VIII was the last person to have the title Duke of Windsor and possibly will be the

final person in history to have done so. Edward VIII abdicated his throne for a relationship with Wallis Simpson, leaving Queen Elizabeth II’s father George VI to become King. Once

abdicated, Edward was granted the title Duke of Windsor. 

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Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams has said Edward VIII has sullied the title of Duke of Windsor - and it is unlikely to ever be used again.Mr Fitzwilliams said: “The Dukedom of Windsor is

unlikely ever to be used again as it will forever be identified with the Queen’s uncle, who abdicated in 1936 to marry the twice-divorced Wallis Simpson.“His public reputation was for a

while that of the King who gave up his throne for love, but in recent decades his reputation has become that of a King to whom patriotism and duty meant nothing, as well as a fascist

sympathiser.“His selfishness has become his epitaph.”

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Edward and George’s father George V died in 1936, making the elder brother Edward king. However, Edward had met and fallen in love with American socialite, twice-divorced Wallis Simpson -

and was determined to marry her. Their wedding was scheduled before Edward’s coronation in 1937, but there were public outcry and strong disapproval from both the Church of England and

Houses of Parliament on the marriage. The outcry made Edward the first English royal to have voluntarily abdicated the throne.Edward gave a radio speech on December 11, in which he explained

his decision: “I have found it impossible to carry on the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge the duties of king, as I would wish to do, without the help and support of the

woman I love.”

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As Edward abdicated, the throne was passed to his younger brother, then the Duke of York - who became King George VI. Edward was then granted the title Duke of Windsor, and in 1937 married

Wallis before moving to France where they lived for two years. During World War 2, Edward was given the position of liaison officer to France, and then became Governor of the Bahamas in the

West Indies - a position given by Winston Churchill to thwart a Nazi plot to capture both Edward and Wallis. In 1945 the pair returned to France, with Edward returning to England for the

funerals of his brother King George VI in 1952 and his mother, Queen Mary, in 1953.

The couple were not invited to an official public ceremony until 1967 when they were asked to attend a plaque unveiling which was dedicated to Queen Mary. Edward died in Paris in 1972 and

his body was returned to England, to be buried at Frogmore, on the grounds of Windsor Castle. Here there is a Royal Burial ground and is where the Royal Mausoleum of Queen Victoria and

Prince Albert is located.The Duchess of Windsor, Wallis, died in 1986 and was buried beside her husband.

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