Tuesday, October 19, 2010

King to give up throne for Mrs. Simpson

Embed from Getty Images 
 October 19, 1936

There are rumors circulating in London society circles today  --but "they must be treated as no more than rumors," reports the Chicago Daily Tribune - that King Edward VIII "intends to abdicate."  According to these rumors, the King will abdicate in favor of his brother, the Duke of York, and marry Mrs. Simpson after she obtains a divorce.

The rumors that the king "will give up his throne follows worldwide publicity given to the monarch's close friendship with  Mrs. Simpson."

In Ipswich last week, Mrs. Simpson began divorce proceedings against her husband, Ernest Simpson, a shipping broker.  The case is undefended.

What led to the reports of these rumors is "the announced plans to rent the farms of the monarch's Sandringham estate in Norfolk."  Sandringham is private property, and not a part of the crown estates.


In the case of the king's abdication, the "eventual succession of Princess Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the duke of York, would be assured.    This is seen as a very "popular development."  The British are "intrigued by a second Queen Elizabeth, the reign of the first Elizabeth having covered one of the most glorious periods in English history."

It is not known that if the King abdicates, he will revert to the dukedom of Cornwall.

2 comments:

Gary said...

Interesting that this was being openly discussed in a Chicago newspaper in October, even speculating on the soon-to-be ex-king's title, while the British public would still be in the dark for more than another month.

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

The Trib was reporting what was being said in London society. The Trib was also cited for its very active reporting of the relationship.