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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Edward VIII
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(1894–1972) King of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 20 January–11 December 1936; eldest son of George V and Mary of Teck; married Wallis Warfield Simpson in 1937.
He was invested as prince of *Wales at Caernarfon in 1911. He had been educated at the Royal Naval College (first at Osborne, then at Dartmouth), but nevertheless served in World War I in the army (Grenadier Guards), as ADC to Sir John French and then to Lord Cavan. After the war he made a very successful series of tours to all parts of the empire. His brief reign was dominated by the *abdication crisis, as a result of which he was succeeded by his brother (as George VI) and was himself created duke of Windsor.
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On the night of his abdication speech to the nation on radio, he left Portsmouth on a naval destroyer and went to France. There, some six months later, he married Mrs Simpson; but on cabinet advice *George VI denied the duchess royal status. Apart from the war years, when the duke was appointed governor of the Bahamas, the couple lived in France. The duchess died in 1986.
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