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

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.

This is the first episode of our series on the Abdication crisis of 1936. It forms season one of our "Royal Revolutions" podcast.

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