Edward VIII

Edward VIII reigned as King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions for a brief period in 1936, making him one of the shortest-reigning monarchs in British history. His abdication after less than a year on the throne was a constitutional crisis triggered by his desire to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcée. The government and church opposed the union, believing it would be unacceptable to the people. Edward chose love over duty, famously stating he could not continue his role "without the help and support of the woman I love". He abdicated in favor of his brother, becoming the Duke of Windsor, and spent much of the rest of his life living abroad with Wallis. His tenure and abdication reshaped the monarchy, emphasizing the increasing importance of public and institutional approval in royal matters.