King Edward VIII - Professor Vernon Bogdanor FBA CBE

Edward VIII reigned for just 325 days. www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-an...
The history of his reign is in large part the history of the abdication. However, as Prince of Wales, Edward had been the first heir to the throne to find a genuine role for himself, as a spokesmen for the ex-service generation. His Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin, said that he had a wider and more intimate knowledge of all classes of his subjects --- than any of his predecessors. The abdication, often regarded as a constitutional crisis, in fact resolved a crisis which never became constitutional, since Edward did not allow any constitutional differences to arise between him and his ministers or between him and Parliament.
The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website: www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-an...
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[@shannonfick7170]

I really love this presenter! He’s incredibly knowledgeable, professional, and adds just the right amount of humor. Really loved his series!

[@LynxSouth]

This fellow is wonderful speaker and presenter. I'll be listening to many of his other lectures.

[@tonylove4800]

The truly bizarre fact is that the establishment/church had a problem with her being divorced. The only reason the Church of England exists is because of divorce.

[@johnandmarylouwilde7882]

Amen

[@michaeltowslee4111]

The divorce of Simpson was a ruse. The court establishment were scared that any liberalization by Edward would have threatened them. Edward would have been a poor king. But, let's not delude ourselves. He was, in the end, left with only the option of abdication.

[@tonylove4800]

@@michaeltowslee4111 Not my point. I don't care. The church only exists because of divorce.

[@renerpho]

The Church of England's stance on divorce at the time was bizarre, yes, but not because of its connection to the actions of Henry VIII's. It wasn't before the reign of Elizabeth I that the "Church of England" became the institution that it is today, and by that time (after two attempted counter-reformations) it had little to do with the project that had been started by Henry VIII.

[@jakubegermajer9841]

Henry VIII was not divorced from Katherine of Aragon , and never asked for a divorce. He asked for his marriage to be annuled (which is what happened, when he broke from Rome), which was not unusual at the time, but the Pope refused him on the urging of Katherine's nephew Emperor Charles. Annulment is very different from divorce (which was not really accessible in Britain until after WW2). Divorce means there was a marriage, but now it is over. Annulment means that the marriage is declared null and void from the start (which means that children born from it are seen as illegitimate). Until recently the Church of England had a very similar position on divorce to the Catholic Church

[@Dechieftian]

Simply ... superb! Thank you Professor Bogdanor. You sir, have a unique knack for prying pieces of humanity from each of the subjects you disect. And add just the right amount of light humour that reminds us all your lofty subjects are not much different than those of us listening to your engaging and very interesting commentary of famous people living in fast changing times.

[@Orphen42O]

Edward VIII was more glamorous than George VI, but Great Britain was lucky that the second son was ultimately crowned.

[@Orphen42O]

@X Xx Although Edward's sympathy for Nazi ideology was a problem, it was not the only reason he was not as well suited as his brother to be King. During his short reign, Edward shirked his duties, left confidential papers lying around, spoke indiscreetly on sensitive subjects, and spent extravagantly on his own lifestyle while making petty economies in the royal household. Unlike George VI, Edward was pleasure-loving and inclined to avoid the dull events associated with royal duties. After the Abdication, he hid his financial resources in order to obtain more money from the Crown. George VI had much more stamina and dedication than his younger brother.

[@agnesdinga8164]

@@Orphen42O you are so right ✅. As prince of Wales he had all the finances and kept it 💯 then negotiated for further luxury. He was prepared for the job of a king, yet he was willing to abandoned the job without reflecting. It is unbelievable that man was so cavalier about everything. With all the women around him, he could only find love from other men's bed. I am still at a lost how much the aristocats got away with adultery. Yet they put this farcical comedy on morality.

[@Orphen42O]

@@agnesdinga8164 Although divorce carried an enormous stigma for the upper class, casual adultery was acceptable. During weekends at great country houses, "corridor creeping" was common. Often, people ended up in other people's bedrooms. In some manor houses, a gong went off before breakfast to enable people to return to their assigned bedroom in time for the servants to rouse them. Hosts often facilitated love affairs by asking both parties to the same house party and then placing them in adjoining rooms. The hypocrisy was outrageous.

[@ennediend2865]

F*** glamour ! George VI didn't betray his country . Hello from France 😁

[@scottobryant9733]

He is the only one of these people i dont hate

[@daviddelaney9885]

These are wonderful lectures.

[@adrianjanssens7116]

The Cartwright family in Alberta bought the EP Ranch in Turner Valley from the former king. Wallace Simpson hated going there, so he sold it. My family helped with clearing out the house, and we have some of the furnishings left behind. This brings back some cherished memories.

[@509cougs]

What a treasure.

[@FishyFun57]

As an Albertan I never knew this. Such a wonderful connection.

[@susanharris5926]

This is the second lecture I have watched and thoroughly enjoyed from Gresham College. They are so instructive and professional. I look forward to many more.

[@louisgiokas2206]

This whole thing about divorce at the time in the UK utterly amazes me. Has anyone heard of Henry VIII? That is why the Church of England (of which I was once a member) exists.

[@NinjaGrrrl7734]

Some people are more equal than others.

[@louisgiokas2206]

@@NinjaGrrrl7734 Exactly!

[@mavorhoff]

Role models

[@rin_etoware_2989]

this oft-repeated claim annoys me to no end, and i do hope it's understandable why by the end of this. the Church Henry VIII made up and the Church of England today are two completely different things! for one thing, the Church of England was the result of a settlement by Elizabeth I between the decidedly Protestant, then Catholic, establishments of her predecessors Edward VI and Mary I. the fact that there is a Low Church, a High Church, and even Anglo-Catholicism within the Church of England owes much to this settlement. in contrast, i don't think *anyone ever knew what Henry VIII's Church was supposed to be.* Charles de Marillac, the French ambassador to England at the time, said that the government "will not have either the one (follow Protestantism) or the other (retain Catholicism), but insists on their keeping what is commanded, which is so often altered that it is difficult to understand what it is." under Henry VIII, the Church would shift its core tenets to unbelievably ridiculous lengths to appease its new head. the rosary would be banned, but also communion with both bread and wine. Thomas Becket's bones were burned, and so too would many of the reformers under Cromwell's patronage be after their collective fall from royal favour. one could probably be forgiven for thinking that the English Church in this time was just something Henry VIII made up to get free divorces.

[@renerpho]

@@rin_etoware_2989 Gresham College of course has a lecture series that explains this quite well (Alec Ryrie's series on the Reformation).

[@joaquinpraveenvishnu8509]

I really love Prof. Bogdanor's lectures. I have watched all his KZbin videos.

[@colinhalliley111]

Edward was a wonderful speaker, a surprise after all the comments made concerning his being boring. He was very stylish and his taste in clothing reflected this unique taste . He also designed and helped make the fabulous jewels for his wife. He learned to embroider to calm his nerves and the pieces are wonderful. Edward also loved gardening and was very accomplished at that. He was a fascinating man who wore his heart on a well dressed sleeve.

[@lsmith9249]

he was a narcissist who was used to getting his own way and he should have been tried for treason

[@holitinne]

That guy isn’t exactly someone to admire. Especially with his alarming ties to the Nazis.

[@stephenholmes1036]

A traitor. Self obsessed, selfish, treated his staff disgracefully

[@kathrynhenry1752]

Excellent lecture. Very knowledgeable! Enjoyed.

[@michaelgask]

A moving way to end this lecture. Thank you. I'm really enjoying this series.

[@bluegtturbo]

Oh that my school history teacher has been as inspiring as this lecturer...

[@splinterbyrd]

The Prof is wrong in his introduction, the last year of three kings was 1483, when Edward IV was succeeded by Edward V who was then toppled by Richard III, all within three months

[@tatuloa]

And Henry ...the 7th ..makes 4 ..🇬🇧🇬🇧😎

[@johnandmarylouwilde7882]

Henry VII deposed Richard III, and died while still monarch.

[@lsmith9249]

that could have been a year of four Kings, Edward V younger brother Prince Richard, Duke of York was his older brother's heir, both brothers had to be dead for Richard III to be a legitimate King

[@lsmith9249]

@@tatuloa Richard III was killed at the battle of bosworth field in 1485 and that's when Henry seized the crown but there still could have been 4 Kings, if Edward V was murdered first then his younger brother Prince Richard would have become King, both brothers had to be dead for their uncle to be a legitimate King

[@splinterbyrd]

@@lsmith9249 We don't know what happened, but it's likely they both died at the same moment. Richard III had already declared them illegitimate and thus ineligible for the kingship. I'm not sure if he'd got parliament to pass a law endorsing it or not.

[@marilynwoolford-chandler1161]

Yes I haven't heard such authorative presentation since my years at Otago University

[@karifredrikson8492]

i am so grateful for this SERIES. G

[@agnesdinga8164]

It is troubling that Edward Viii throughout his life found pleasure with other men's wives despite all the women drooling around him. He had to find his wife from another man's bed.

[@MichaelMeighu]

what a weird thing for him to say. The dimensions he saw was empowered and independence - almost 100 years before his time. He was a great romantic - and too bad the establishment didn't like him.

[@VLove-CFII]

The women were complicit. Don’t kid yourself.

[@ennediend2865]

Two other men's bed in fact : Mrs Simpson had been married twice...

[@hellooutthere8956]

No Commitment

[@agnesdinga8164]

@@MichaelMeighu Romantic or great romantics do not have to covert and be adultrous to show the world that he is one. That my friend is fictional and off course he proved the negatives of it all.

[@patscott8612]

@28.20 The Scottish Church at the time of Princess Anne"s remarriage allowed divorcees to get married unlike the Church of England which didn't up until 2002.

[@briandelaney9710]

The Scottish Episcopal Church or the Presbyterians ?

[@ephelduath610]

@gresham college this video is missing from prof. Bogdanors lectures playlist

[@markbateman9222]

Edward was a bit unlucky in his supporters. Churchill was at the time regarded as an untrustworthy maverick, a man of very little sound judgement. Oswald Mosley and the BUF tried to use the issue to bolster their dwindling support. As the lecture makes clear, all mainstream opinion agreed that Edward could not be King if he married Mrs. Simpson. Perhaps if Edward had been regarded as a man of more serious devotion to his royal duties Baldwin and his colleagues might have made more of an attempt to resolve the problem in some other way but Edward was widely regarded as a man unsuited to his royal role.

[@dennisroyhall121]

Lovely song and so beautifully sung....Could some kind soul tell me her name please...I could so easily fall in love with such a voice!

[@d.annejohnson5631]

6:00 Julie Andrews

[@stevebbuk]

@@d.annejohnson5631 Elsa Lanchester. Julie Andrews was born eight years later.

[@Quinefan]

The Hamlet quote is Laertes, not Polonius (c. 41 mins).

[@christipaz8081]

King Edward VIII was Sincere and Genuine with His Role as a King. He did't neglect his Country!!!!!!!!!!!! King Edward VIII was asking to Married Wallis with Dignity and Righteousness to be a King but NOT as His MISTRESS!!!!!!!!!!!!! shame on those who plotting behind King Edward VIII!!

[@astrinymris9953]

17:59 My understanding was that it was Edward and Wallis's Nazi sympathies which were a far bigger sticking point. I think Churchill would have been okay with Edward marrying Wallis morganatically if it weren't for that. And the fact that Edward couldn't keep his bloody mouth closed about sensitive information, of course.

[@stephenwildsmith8594]

It's very real and serious point but you do make an amusing punch line...of Edward VIII's loose mouth. Enjoyed reading your conment

[@valmarsiglia]

Let's not forget also that Churchill's own mother was American.

[@ennediend2865]

@@valmarsiglia So what ?

[@stevebbuk]

It's irrelevant what Churchill thought because it was the Dominions which wouldn't accept the morganatic marriage idea.

[@cjk6736]

They wanted him removed as king so Wallis actually did a huge favor to England by providing the "excuse" to cause him to abdicate.

[@johnnog1969]

I wonder if it would be better to disable the comments sections for these lectures. The ridiculousness of some of them are very off putting. Otherwise I’m really enjoying the lectures themselves.

[@bobwebb1348]

Yes! You should be silenced!

[@corazoncubano5372]

Sometimes I wish the same as well.

[@Ira88881]

So don’t read them.

[@ennediend2865]

@@Ira88881 Exactly ! Well said.

[@mizzyroro]

I sometimes believe the British monarchy will not survive past the queen. How much of that depends on the monarch and how much depends on parliament?

[@stevebbuk]

They have been groomed since birth to take over the role, and the monarchy seems in pretty safe hands with the short time Charles III will have it and the many years William V will probably be on the throne.

[@balafama2120]

@@stevebbuk Don't bet on it,charles might live to be over 100 like grandma.

[@trishemerald2487]

The Duke was also an avid needlepointer, surprisingly.

[@richierichnumber1]

Were they lucky the establishment got King Edward the Eighth to abdicate we will never know, and Elizabeth would have still been his heir because we do know he had no children of his own.

[@ericspence805]

It's all politics. There is no constitutional requirement that there be a coronation. If the Archbishop had refused to crown Edward VIII, then so be it. He was still king. British monarchs become monarch not at their coronation, but at the moment the previous reign ends. (Unlike Belgian monarchs, who become monarch only upon their inauguration.)

[@degaslittledancer6912]

The UK dodged a bullet.......

[@johannesbols57]

We can thank his father, George V, for this whole problem. He hated his son, and his son eventually returned the favour.

[@JERRYSHAPIRO]

I believe Edward's infatuation with the Nazis came after the abdication. Since this is a lecture about events surrounding the abdication it seems wholly appropriate that no mention was made of Edward's later perfidy.

[@lilise3965]

AFTER the abdication and BEFORE Hitler's invasion of Poland.

[@CornbreadOracle]

Fair point

[@lsmith9249]

JERRY S then you believe wrong, him and Wallis were under surveillance by Special Branch before King George V died, he had spent £110,000 on jewellery on Wallis, the equivalent of 7 million today, he was seen as a security risk the King thought Edward was blackmailed, but officials worried about his association with people like Sir Oswald Moseley, Downing St went above Special Branch to MI5 and asked them to spy on them, they knew where their sympathys were before the abdication

[@lsmith9249]

@@lilise3965 BEFORE the abdication

[@stconstable]

The British Establishment was enamoured with the nazis long before WW2.

[@cotswoldcuckoo775]

I'm Edward the 8th I am, And I proved to be a very weak man. I'd never had a good gobble before, Except but once at a debutane ball, But Wallis does it luvverly, She takes care of my " old man, " So bollocks to the monarch, Pussy whipped is what I am, I am, Pussy whipped is what I am.

[@christopherarner8322]

While I am a bit of an Anglophile, I don't believe Rupert Murdoch is an enemy of the monarchy. Simply put, certain high level members of the monarchy have behaved in an improper way. And that is legitimate news. So, I believe this claim is a bit misleading.

[@stephanbach1652]

Rupert Murdock is the enemy of all except the extreme conservatives.

[@stconstable]

George V cursed his own Son when he said he'd ruin himself within 12 months.

[@iankingsleys2818]

45:40 Five other Dominions- surely six. Did not Newfoundland have Dominion status ?

[@renerpho]

Wasn't Newfoundland already under direct rule by the British government at the time?

[@patavinity1262]

As much as I enjoy Mr Bogdanor's lectures, it must be pointed out that he has completely ignored a very important aspect of Edward VIII's reign - his closeness with Hitler. No conscientious historian of the period should neglect this unfortunate episode.

[@franciscussteiner5661]

Indeed, when I read the Wikipedia page about this guy (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_VIII) I get a much, much darker picture than from this sunshine lecture. Which I enjoyed, but after reading up a bit more on the person I now see that the lecture is extremely one-sided. He also seems to have used his privileged position for personal gain throughout his life, from asking the Nazis to guard his properties in France during the occupation (which they did) to tax exemptions on his income.

[@ashleyhyatt6319]

Precisely!

[@splinterbyrd]

Some say Edward VIII had to abdicate not because of Mrs Simpson, but he was forced out by the government because of his unacceptable right-wing views. God knows what could have happened if we had gone to war against Hitler with a king who was a nazi sympathizer

[@triannamag4866]

splinterbyrd wow. The gov of the time pushed for peace w Germany...it was not just Edward. But for Churchill (who most in govt snarled at) England might be very different today.

[@Aidankiwi]

beth mag Edward VIII was not King of England and Churchill was not Prime Minister of England. England has not been a sovereign state since 1707, and the title King or Queen of England was abolished in that year. In matters of state England does not exist, there is only the UK. Do not therefore refer to England when you should be using the term United Kingdom. Thousands of dedicated British servicemen from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have made the ultimate sacrifice defending the United Kingdom, do not defame their memory with your ignorance.

[@DJS11811]

The Nazi King. The Professor ignores that Wallis has an affair with Ribbentrop; that Edward was in talks with Hitler to resume his being king if the Nazis successfully invaded. Etc.

[@DJS11811]

@james mcbride That may be somewhat Legit. His girlfriend was also probably sleeping with Ribbentrop, by the way. He also Loved visiting Hitler,.

[@ennediend2865]

All true .

[@tonylove4800]

The only reason this strange church exists is because of divorce. Why is this not mentioned??

[@MrDavey2010]

Tedious in the extreme!

[@kristinab881]

He said Henry VIII instead Edward.

[@geraldperyman6535]

Eddy is best forgotten.

[@valmarsiglia]

It's almost as if a particular theme were being studiously ignored, what was it... something that rhymes with Yahtzee...

[@rosemarysutherland7025]

I am enjoying these wonderful lectures I have most of the books on the abdication and note that over the years-there has been a lot more information revealed .I am convinced that the Prince of Wales NEVER wanted to be king he was fed up with royal duties and the marriage was his only escape ! I see shades of the abdication in Prince Harry ! The Windsor’s amassed a fortune in France the jewellery alone was a fortune ! NEVER

[@bridieoshaughnessy8851]

The “WE” jewelry collection was bequeathed to AIDS research at Pasteur Institite…a wonderful legacy for a couple oft deemed frivolous and even dangerous! Their love story lasted acc to Wallis’ friend the American author Aline, Countess of Romanones who was USA spy during WWII. I met Aline and she stayed with them in Paris where as old people “ WE”could be heard giggling and gossiping in their bedroom late into the night. The Countess believed they were happy with their fates.👑

[@JimMac23]

Edward the Unworthy and Cruella the Gold Digger.

[@MrSherry1929]

Souns as if he is reading the lines from the BBC 1978 Series "Edward & Mrs Simpson"

[@christipaz8081]

Duke of Windsor King Edward VIII was Unquestionably and Thoroughly made a Precisely and Faultless Decision to Live and Love Wallis as His Wife and His Highness!!!!!!!! King Edward VIII Mother was very bitter and dissatisfied and did't support King Edward VIII in her life and had no respect for King Edward VIII as a King who loved Wallis with sincere and genuine heart. Stanley Baldwin did not represent the entire People of United Kingdom!!!! All people's in United Kingdom Plead and Asked for King Edward VIII to be a King and Married Wallis as His Wife. King Edward VIII would of be a Remarkable King with Wallis. RIP King Edward VIII and Wallis

[@alicat1328]

Harry’s mistake believing his inherited birthright/duty is a choice !

[@newnormal1841]

❎. physically puny. 🤺💐

[@lesking6541]

Yes, very entertaining and authoritative, but only half the story of Edward. There was also the part he played in the events surrounding the second war. Much more intriguing than his divorce.

[@a.t.c.3862]

Abdication is seen negatively in the UK because of the circumstances surrounding Edward VIII's abdication. It has no such connotations in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg or Japan, and it need not have in the UK either. Elizabeth II never vowed to serve as Queen until her dying day. On her 21st birthday she vowed to serve all her life, which she did as the Princess Elizabeth, continues to do as Queen Elizabeth, and can still do as Princess Elizabeth after her abdication. It is in her power to cleanse and redeem the 'A' word and free abdication for the use of her heirs and successors when illness and / or old age afflicts them. Abdication is just a tool which she can and should use after the Platinum Jubilee next year.

[@renerpho]

This is a mute point now that she's dead, but I think her vow has been understood in just that sense (serve as Queen until the moment she dies), and I doubt that her son is going to change anything about it. That he mentioned that vow in his first speech as king would suggest so. But then, of course, the abdication of a pope was seen as a necessarily forceful event for centuries (the few precedents from the middle ages were less than glorious), certainly until the latter years of John Paul II's papacy. If his successor could abdicate voluntarily, and be admired for that decision, then so can a British monarch. Whether the decision to abdicate would be seen as a sign of strength or weakness is a different matter, and depends on how it is handled.

[@bobcornford3637]

Rather mild. Doesn't really reveal anything new and rather skates over the controversy of the Dukes dalliance with the Nazis. In fact it rather stops at the end of the thirties. I think, overall, it sees the Duke and Duchess through rose coloured spectacles. Rather disappointing.

[@kelleeblack539]

Handsome Man it's a Shame he went for Married Woman!!! Wallis was playing a game she lost to HM ..

[@Lucy0809]

Edward 7-what an absolutely disgusting man shooting all those innocent animals

[@chitasamson1]

X

[@southafricandominion]

Hardly an academic lecture pure froth taken from biographies

[@chel3SEY]

Overpraise of the royals is a common British habit. Professor Bogdanor is obviously no exception.

[@nonmihiseddeo4181]

The music is hideous. Ugh!

[@bilinguru]

This lecture exposes why the British ceased to be an Empire. Enslaved to antiquated values and traditions to such a degree that stuffy old men and gossip mongering women would rather deny a man his happiness, when in every other way he proved ready, willing and able to sacrifice for duty and country. If I had been a member of parliament at that time, I would have been ashamed and would have resigned myself.

[@josephhenry661]

Long Live The Memory of King Edward VIII.... Prince of Wales David Windsor... Duke of Windsor...Canadas Sovereign.

[@ddoz11]

Well there you go I did not know his name was David. Learn something new everyday ty 😁👍🇦🇺

[@laurenmay2098]

GEE OZZ his last name a christian one was David, it is shocking how many name he had.

[@andyroo9381]

Everything I have ever read or seen about this incident has made it clear; Prime Minister Baldwin and the Archbishop of Canterbury did not like the Prince of Wales (King Edward VIII). Those two, and others, felt he was dangerous to the Monarchy because he did not want to conform to the rigid protocol and rituals that accompanied it. They wanted the Prince of Wales out!

[@adrianlarkins7259]

This lecture is an insult to people who have real knowledge of Edward. He went on a long sea voyage holiday in the Med with Wallis. Don't tell me he didn't engage in intimate acts. Thank God this admirer of Hitler abdicated. He was totally under the heel of his gold digging wife who actually found herself trapped into marriage by Edwards' strange persistence. She actually still loved Ernest, her former husband. FACT. There is nothing to admire in this selfish pro Nazi king.. My late father said that Xmas the words of "hark the herald angels sing" were changed to "hark the herald angels sing Wallis Simpson's pinched our king"

[@suzanking5625]

Yes. I was told about that ditty also. The favorite joke of the day was: He was an Admiral of the British Fleet and NOW he's Third Mate on an American Tramp.

[@saintlady2]

Did either of you recognize how hypocritical being a “royal” is actually? I wouldn’t want any part of it either. People like David, Diana and Harry have my full support.

[@co2gorecarbonconman]

Edward VIII was deposed, just as James II. George VI was very easy for the government to manipulate and Baldwin's choice. Puppets are nothing new BTW (Unless you are asleep)

[@mariagatt2930]

His chief enemy who did not want him on the throne was actually the archbishop. His name was Cosmo Lang. Would suggest watching the documentary “ how to topple a king”

[@highmyope-ps2by]

Well, at least they did not do to him what they did to Edward II.

[@tatuloa]

The king preferred well oiled old leather to silky ones ... nothing wrong with that .. many a man have lusted after aunties, take Charly the dork for one ... 🤣😃🐴🇫🇴.

[@margaretchabot358]

I don't believe the real Edward V111 ever abdicated

[@catherinepositano8544]

Margaret Chabot... Well... There's always one....

[@jema9735]

He vaporized

[@catherinepositano8544]

@@jema9735... 😂😂😂😂... Good answer!! 👍👍👍

[@catherinepositano8544]

Margaret Chabot.... So what do you think happened to him? 🤔

[@509cougs]

He became an actor and got a smash up role as the picture perfect Edward V111 in the Netflix series The Windsors.

[@mogreenz]

uk deserves another bad king

[@wstevenson4913]

He was a waste of space

[@margaretchabot358]

The real Edward V111 never married Willis Simpson the real Edward V111 married Claudia O'Keeffe

[@catherinepositano8544]

@Tilly Divine.. She's overdue for her antipsychotic meds.

[@bobwebb1348]

The real Edward 8th punched you in the head and you've never been normal since.

[@AnEnemy100]

That song was atrocious. How anyone could could hear it without being an instant convert to republicanism beats me.

[@abeal49]

Wallis was a courtesan. Get a clue people!! She hadnt just been married twice, she'd had multiple men over the course of her "career." That was how she supported herself. Her family had connections but no money. Her husband pimped her out, and even bought the insurance on the jewelry David gave her. My grandmother and Wallis had mutual acquaintances. I once asked about Wallis and she told me "Wallis Simpson was not that sort of person ANYBODY would want marrying into their family." David and Louis Mountbatten were besties. The Mountbattens and their crowd were notorious swingers. Louis Mountbatten was a very bad influence on Phillip and then Charles and Andrew. The whole bunch of them were awful.