Royal Revolutions, a Royal History Geeks podcast

As Wallis Simpson awaits her divorce hearing, the Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin, pleads with Edward VIII to change course. From that moment, the relationship between the King and Mrs Simpson becomes an official issue of government business and the event can truly be called a constitutional crisis.

In the latest episode of our series on the abdication crisis, James Taylor and Gareth Streeter discuss:

• The King’s attitude toward the Prime Minister and the government
• Wallis’s divorce and the fallout
• The King’s dinner with Queen Mary, when he broke the news that he intended to marry Mrs Simpson
• The idea of a morganatic marriage and the attempts to find a compromise
• A controversial speech by an obscure Bishop
• The breaking of the story in the press

We were also joined by historian Adrian Phillips to learn more about Stanley Baldwin and his attitude toward the crisis.

When the story of the King's relationship with the twice-divorced Wallis Simpson broke in the British press, Edward VIII believed his abdication was inevitable. But for a brief "moment" on the 4th and 5th of December, it looked as if a flicker of public support might light a path for his survival.

In the latest episode of "Royal Revolutions", RHG founder Gareth Streeter and Royal commentator James Taylor discuss:

• Wallis's tumultuous escape from Britain to France
• The motivations of the King's supporters
• The media reaction and hints of public support for the King
• Why Harry Enfield ruined a teenage Gareth's life back in the 90s
• Wallis's latest attempts to break it off with the King
• The King's planned broadcast appeal that never aired
• Baldwin's fears of the constitutional settlement being overturned
• Winston Churchill's outspoken role in the crisis
• Concerns about the legality of Wallis's divorce

We are again joined by historian Adrian Phillips who helps us make sense of what the so-called "King's Party" was.

In this episode we pause the continuity of the crisis to take a look at how the events of 1936 affected members of the Royal family.
Despite it having huge repercussions on their lives, Britain's premier pedigree were not major players in the crisis (apart from the King, of course). However, this is a ROYAL history podcast so we wanted to take a moment to look at events from the family's vantage point.

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

• Queen Mary, her background and reaction to the crisis
• The Duke and Duchess of York's fears as they prepare to assume power
• The beginnings of the Duchess of York's (later Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother) feud with Wallis Simpson
• The closeness between Edward VIII and Princess Mary, the Princess Royal
• The wayward Duke of Kent and how some thought he should be King
• The cool relationship between Henry, Duke of Gloucester and his eldest brother

This episode also features comments by Elizabeth Basford, author of "Princess Mary: The First Modern Princess."

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.

Royal Revolutions is the brand new podcast from Royal History Geeks. Season 1 focuses on the Abdication Crisis of 1936.

In this bonus episode, Catherine Ibbotson - the "Historical Collaborator" - goes behind the scenes with Gareth and James (the show creators) to hear more about the background to the show and why they wanted to jump straight in to the drama of the 1930s.