Despite being monarch for less than a year,King Charlesalready surpassed the reign of his great-uncleKing Edward VIII.This week, Charles officially eclipsed the reign length of his great-uncle Edward.Queen Elizabeth’s uncle was on the throne for just 325 days, famouslyabdicating to marrythe twice-divorced AmericanWallis Simpson.King Charles immediately acceded his mother as monarch following her death on Sept. 8, 2022, at age 96. While he has had his whole lifeto prepare to serve as sovereign, Queen Elizabeth’s fate changed as a child when her uncle shockingly relinquished his royal role.Elizabeth was born a princess in 1926 to Edward’s younger brother Prince Albert and his wife Elizabeth, who were styled as the Duke and Duchess of York. In 1930, her uncle Edward, heir to the throne and known as the Prince of Wales, fell in love with Wallis, the royal family websitestates. Wallis' marital status created a conflict as a courtship began and “concern about Edward’s private life grew in the Cabinet, opposition parties and the Dominions.“King Edward VIII in naval uniform before his abdication in December 1936.Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesEdward became King when his father, King George V, died on January 20, 1936. He reigned for a matter of months before stepping down to follow his heart and wed Wallis, who had secured a divorce from her second husband, shipbroker Ernest Simpson.King Edwardsigned the abdication paperson December 10, 1936, and made the announcement via radio broadcast to his subjects the next day. “I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love,” he explained.The Duke and Duchess of Windsor on their wedding day in June 1937.Bettmann/GettyIn the same motion, the crown passed to his younger brother Albert, who took the name of King George VI to honor his father. King Georgestruggled with a stutterand worked hard to overcome it in his new royal role, which inspiredColin Firth’s Oscar-winning turn in the 2010 filmThe King’s Speech.He was crowned at Westminster Abbey on May 12, 1937 — the date originally designated for his elder brother.After the abdication, Edward was made the Duke of Windsor and married Wallis in June 1937. The couple lived out most of the rest of their lives in exile in France.The Duke and Duchess of Windsor relax in this 1941 shot.Bettmann via Getty ImagesCan’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!The story of how Edward and Wallis' romance changed the monarchy forever reached new audiences with Netflix’s hit seriesThe Crown, which is set to conclude with the upcomingsixth and final season. A release date has not yet been announced.
Despite being monarch for less than a year,King Charlesalready surpassed the reign of his great-uncleKing Edward VIII.
This week, Charles officially eclipsed the reign length of his great-uncle Edward.Queen Elizabeth’s uncle was on the throne for just 325 days, famouslyabdicating to marrythe twice-divorced AmericanWallis Simpson.
King Charles immediately acceded his mother as monarch following her death on Sept. 8, 2022, at age 96. While he has had his whole lifeto prepare to serve as sovereign, Queen Elizabeth’s fate changed as a child when her uncle shockingly relinquished his royal role.
Elizabeth was born a princess in 1926 to Edward’s younger brother Prince Albert and his wife Elizabeth, who were styled as the Duke and Duchess of York. In 1930, her uncle Edward, heir to the throne and known as the Prince of Wales, fell in love with Wallis, the royal family websitestates. Wallis' marital status created a conflict as a courtship began and “concern about Edward’s private life grew in the Cabinet, opposition parties and the Dominions.”
King Edward VIII in naval uniform before his abdication in December 1936.Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Edward became King when his father, King George V, died on January 20, 1936. He reigned for a matter of months before stepping down to follow his heart and wed Wallis, who had secured a divorce from her second husband, shipbroker Ernest Simpson.
King Edwardsigned the abdication paperson December 10, 1936, and made the announcement via radio broadcast to his subjects the next day. “I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love,” he explained.
The Duke and Duchess of Windsor on their wedding day in June 1937.Bettmann/Getty
Bettmann/Getty
In the same motion, the crown passed to his younger brother Albert, who took the name of King George VI to honor his father. King Georgestruggled with a stutterand worked hard to overcome it in his new royal role, which inspiredColin Firth’s Oscar-winning turn in the 2010 filmThe King’s Speech.He was crowned at Westminster Abbey on May 12, 1937 — the date originally designated for his elder brother.
After the abdication, Edward was made the Duke of Windsor and married Wallis in June 1937. The couple lived out most of the rest of their lives in exile in France.
The Duke and Duchess of Windsor relax in this 1941 shot.Bettmann via Getty Images
Bettmann via Getty Images
Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
The story of how Edward and Wallis' romance changed the monarchy forever reached new audiences with Netflix’s hit seriesThe Crown, which is set to conclude with the upcomingsixth and final season. A release date has not yet been announced.
source: people.com
