what do you understand about the kings character from his proclamation that the bell had ben put to give justice to the
citizens of atri?
Answers
Answer:
On January 21, 1936, this happened. Now, I only recently found this out, having given it literally no amount of thought, but monarchs don’t watch the formal proclamation of their accession. In Edward’s case, he not only did it, but he did it publicly from a window in St. James’s Palace next to none other than his long-time, still-married companion, Wallis Simpson. #Scandal. Well, sort of.
Edward’s father, George V, died on January 20 at Sandringham House in Norfolk after a 25-year reign. Edward was 43, unmarried, childless and had, in certain circles, a reputation for being a bit of playboy, particularly if the women in question were married.
At the time that he became king, his relationship with Wallis Simpson wasn’t well-known to the public – thus, seeing them together wouldn’t raise alarm bells for most people. But it certainly did for those who knew who Wallis was, particularly members of Edward’s government, his family and his courtiers. As Edward was about to find out, what had been tolerated for the throne’s heir, would emphatically not be for its king.
A relationship had been underway since the winter of 1434 when Edward’s then-girlfriend, Thelma Furness left England to visit her sister in the United States and asked her friend, Wallis, to keep an eye on the prince. Edward and Wallis had known each other for about three years at that point, having been introduced by Thelma on January 10, 1931.
Thelma Furness and Edward, Prince of Wales in 1932
By the time Thelma returned to England in March 1934, the rather strange, obsessive relationship between Edward and Wallis had begun and the rest was history. Especially if by “history” you mean the “abdication crisis.”
By January 1936, the relationship was certainly known within the family. The year before, Edward had brought Wallis to a court function at the Palace and essentially tricked his mother, Queen Mary, into receiving her. This didn’t go over too well with George V.
And while Albert, Duke of York and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Duchess of York, Edward’s brother and sister-in-law, had met and socialized with the couple on occasion, the relationships were becoming increasingly frosty.
It was also known by the government, particularly as members of the Metropolitan Police Special Branch were tailing them, uneasy about the influence Wallis appeared to have over the Prince.
Edward, Prince of Wales and Albert, Duke of York, later Edward VIII and George VI
A gentlemen’s agreement kept news of the relationship out of the British papers, but American and Canadian media had a field day. Once Edward was king, Wallis appeared more frequently at court, showing up in the Court Circular, significantly, without mention of her husband, Ernest Simpson.
Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson in Yugoslavia in 1936
Showing little interest in governing and with rumors circulating that Wallis had had, or was having, a side relationship that put her in the position of serving as a German spy, ministers began editing and withholding what information was shared with the King. Three years out from the outbreak of World War II, it’s not difficult to understand why. It was the first time such a precaution between government and monarch had been installed. And though constitutionally murky, it also spoke to the extent that Wallis and her friends – as well as Edward’s judgment and discretion – were mistrusted.
The abdication document bears the signatures of Edward VIII and his three younger brothers
In October the Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin, finally approached Edward and asked him to distance himself from the relationship. Far from being well-received, Wallis was soon divorced from her husband and Edward proposed marrying her, even in a morganatic union so that she didn’t assume the title of queen. By November 27, this idea had been rejected by the Cabinet. On December 2, Baldwin informed Edward that if he was set on marrying Wallis he would have to abdicate. On December 10, he did.