Long live the King! Part 2 of our series on the Abdication crisis, featuring Adrian Phillips

12/17/24 • 82 min

The second part in our series on the Abdication crisis of 1936.

Edward VIII ascends the throne and immediately begins a subtle but determined campaign to position Wallis Simpson as his consort.

But even without the dangers posed by Wallis, Edward soon begins to ruffle feathers. Among government, fears abound around the new King's reliability, capability and political instincts.

This episode again sees Royal commentator James Taylor team up with RHG founder, Gareth Streeter to discuss the unfolding crisis. It also features a guest interview with Adrian Phillips, author of "The King who had to go".

We discuss:

The circumstances of Edward's ascension and his immediate decision to break protocol by watching his own proclamation with Wallis
Concerns about the new King's reliability and work ethic
The early intervention of Cosmo Lang and Edward's relationship with this seasoned Archbishop of Canterbury
The politics of the 1930s and the circumstances that made Edward's German sympathies more difficult to manage
A potential plot to assassinate the King?
Wallis Simpson's first steps in divorcing her husband Ernest

Unfortunately, there are a few moments in this episode where there is bit of feedback sound. RHG apologies for this but wants to reassure you that such distractions only crop up a few times and last for just a few seconds.

The second part in our series on the Abdication crisis of 1936.

Edward VIII ascends the throne and immediately begins a subtle but determined campaign to position Wallis Simpson as his consort.

But even without the dangers posed by Wallis, Edward soon begins to ruffle feathers. Among government, fears abound around the new King's reliability, capability and political instincts.

We discuss:

The circumstances of Edward's ascension and his immediate decision to break protocol by watching his own proclamation with Wallis
Concerns about the new King's reliability and work ethic
The early intervention of Cosmo Lang and Edward's relationship with this seasoned Archbishop of Canterbury
The politics of the 1930s and the circumstances that made Edward's German sympathies more difficult to manage
A potential plot to assassinate the King?
Wallis Simpson's first steps in divorcing her husband Ernest

Previous Episode

The libertine and the lotus - the meeting of Edward and Wallis

This episode was originally part of the "Royal Revolutions" series, broadcast in December 2024.

The love affair between Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson could never have been a truly private matter. But when their relationship began in 1934 few could have predicted that it would lead to Britain's most recent Royal Revolution.

Royal commentator James Taylor once again joins RHG founder, Gareth Streeter. They discuss:

The upbringing and early life of Edward and Wallis

Life in the early twentieth century Royal family

George V and Queen Mary's parenting skills

The character, personality and limits of the dashing but dangerous Edward, Prince of Wales

The Prince's love affairs with Freda Dudley Ward and Thelma Furness

Wallis and Edward's meeting and early relationship

The King and Queen's reactions

Wallis and her husband Ernest's motivations for tangling with the Prince

Next Episode

The summer of love - part 3 of our series on the Abdication crisis

As the events of 1936 heat up, the King abandons the traditional Balmoral summer for a pleasure cruise of the Balkans. The world media goes crazy for pictures of the King and Mrs Simpson. The pressure begins to get too much for Wallis.

In this episode, Royal commentator James Taylor joins RHG founder, Gareth Streeter to discuss:

Churchill's "failure" to tell the King and Wallis what they want to hear
Edward's "sulky" attitude toward his duties
Why someone, please, in the name of mercy, needs to think of the poor debutantes
Whether Wallis was intelligent
Observations of Edward and Wallis's behaviour on the Balkan trip, based on eye-witness testimony
Wallis's attempt to break it all off
The King abandoning his duties to collect Wallis from Aberdeen station

Gareth also embarks on a rant about Edward acting like a rebel within the system, rather than the head of the system with real agency to make change if only he had the courage to confront.