The European and American
press, in contrast, provided extensive coverage of the developing
romance.
At first, the King did not wish to marry Simpson, merely to make her
his consort by changing the law to allow for a morganatic marriage (of
people from different classes, with no rights of inheritance). Simpson
herself thought of giving up the marriage. Yet, finally, they got
married after the abdication, in France. Though Simpson became the
Duchess of Windsor, she could not be addressed as "Her Royal
Highness".
Additionally, the King was not allowed by the British government to
address the British people and the Empire through the BBC.
The government's constitutional experts wrote:
"If the King disregarded it, constitutional monarchy would cease to
exist. The King is bound to accept and act upon the advice of his
ministers ... for the King to broadcast in disregard of that advice
would be appealing over the heads of his constitutional advisers. "The
last time when this happened in English history was when Charles I
raised His Standard at the beginning of the Civil War on 22 August
1642."
Edward abdicated from the throne on 11 December 1936, making a
different speech.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25