Abdication crisis

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  • Created by: K4typ
  • Created on: 01-01-17 13:27
10 January 1931
Edward meets Wallis Simpson at a house party. Mrs Simpson is married to her second husband, Ernest, after divorcing her first husband Earl Winfield Spencer.
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May 1931
They meet for the second time
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January 1932
Edward dines at the Simpsons' London flat, staying until 4am. At the end of the month, the Simpsons spend their first weekend at Edward's country retreat, Fort Belvedere in Berkshire.
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August 1934
Edward takes a party, including Wallis Simpson, on holiday to Biarritz, followed by a cruise along the Spanish and Portuguese coasts. Ernest Simpson is notably absent for the first time.
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November 1934
Wallis Simpson attends a party at Buckingham Palace in honour of the Duke of Kent. Edward introduces her to his mother, but the King, George V, is outraged and refuses to meet her.
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20th Jan 1936
King George V dies and Edward succeeds him as King.
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May 1936
Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin meets Wallis Simpson for the first time at a dinner hosted by the King, although Ernest Simpson was also there and Baldwin did not realise the significance of her presence.
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July 1936
Ernest Simpson, who had been conducting an affair of his own, moves out of the couple's home to his club.
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August 1936
Wallis Simpson the King and other guests go for a cruise along the Yugoslav, Greek and Turkish coasts. Photographs of the King and Mrs Simpson together are widely published in the American and continental press, people specualte on relationship.
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October 1936
Wallis Simpson installed in house rented for her by the King in Regent's Park
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20 October 1936
Stanley Baldwin confronts King for the first time over his relationship with Mrs Simpson. He asks him to conduct the affair more discreetly and persuade her to put off her impending divorce proceedings against her husband, to no avail.
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27 October 1936
The Simpsons' divorce case is heard at Ipswich Assizes and a decree nisi is granted
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16 November 1936
King sends for Baldwin. He tells him he wants to marry Mrs Simpson. Baldwin says that whoever the King married would have to become Queen, and the British public would not accept Mrs Simpson as such. The King says he is prepared to abdicate.
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25 November 1936
King meets Baldwin again, telling him he wants a morganatic marriage to Wallis Simpson, in which he could still be King but she would not be Queen, merely his consort. This would require new legislation in both Britain and the Dominions, and although
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27 November 1936
Baldwin raises the issue of a morganatic marriage in the Cabinet, which rejects it outright. Also then rejected by the governments of the Dominions.
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2 December 1936
Baldwin talks to King none of his governments willing to agree to a morganatic marriage, therefore he now has three choices:finish his relationship with Mrs Simpson, marry against the advice of his ministers who would then resign, or to abdicate.
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3 December 1936
The story breaks in the British press, which is widely disapproving of the prospect of the couple's marriage. Wallis Simpson leaves for France, to escape the furore.
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3 December 1936
The King tells Baldwin he wants to broadcast an appeal to the nation, putting his problem to them. He hopes this might sway public opinion in favour of him marrying and remaining King. Baldwin says such a broadcast would be constitutionally impossibl
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9 December 1936
King informs government of irrevocable decision to abdicate.
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10 December 1936
King signs Instrument of Abdication, drawn up by his close friend and adviser Sir Walter Monckton. Baldwin announces the news to the Commons.
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11 December 1936
Abdication endorsed by Parliament. King broadcasts his decision to the nation on the BBC.
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12 December 1936
Edward's brother proclaimed King George VI. Edward, now Duke of Windsor, leaves England for Austria.
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3 May 1937
Wallis Simpson's decree absolute comes through. She is now divorced and free to remarry.
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12 May 1937
Coronation of King George VI
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3 June 1937
Edward and Wallis Simpson marry in France. She becomes the Duchess of Windsor.
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Other
His family refuse to meet Wallis
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

They meet for the second time

Back

May 1931

Card 3

Front

Edward dines at the Simpsons' London flat, staying until 4am. At the end of the month, the Simpsons spend their first weekend at Edward's country retreat, Fort Belvedere in Berkshire.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

Edward takes a party, including Wallis Simpson, on holiday to Biarritz, followed by a cruise along the Spanish and Portuguese coasts. Ernest Simpson is notably absent for the first time.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Wallis Simpson attends a party at Buckingham Palace in honour of the Duke of Kent. Edward introduces her to his mother, but the King, George V, is outraged and refuses to meet her.

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
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