TOEFL Experts Reading Practice 35
Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David, known to his friends as David and, eventually, to the larger world as Edward VIII, was born in 1894. He was the great-grandson of the legendary Queen Victoria, and both his grandfather, Edward VII, and his father, George V, preceded him to the throne. Unlike his immediate predecessors, he reigned for less than a year. However, because he was the only British monarch to voluntarily abdicate the throne, and because of the racy circumstances of his abdication—it revolved around an American divorcée—he commanded the world stage in 1936 and nearly caused a constitutional crisis in the United Kingdom.
Like many royal heirs of that time, Edward had a haphazard education from private tutors. As a young man, aside from holding a military commission, he was confined to performing the ceremonial duties of his station as a prince. During the First World War, his request to serve in combat was denied, since his death or capture was considered too serious a mishap to be chanced. After the war, he resumed a life of representing the monarchy on international and domestic tours. While his status and dashing appearance made him quite successful in this capacity, as well as a darling of high society, he grew weary of the pointlessness of his role as the heir to the throne. Consequently, he devoted much of his energy to partying and affairs with several married women. His behavior disconcerted both the British politicians and his father, George V, who in fact accurately predicted that, as king, he would ruin himself within 12 months.
Edward began a passionate affair with Wallis Simpson, who at the time was estranged from her second husband, in 1934. Many accounts suggest that the relationship continued because she was the dominant figure and that he was utterly infatuated with her. In any case, this affair greatly disturbed George V, who refused to formally receive a divorcée, and his ministers. King George V then died in January 1936, and Edward ascended to the throne.
By summer, Edward decided to marry Wallis Simpson, but he faced staunch opposition from the Church of England, the Prime Minister, and the leaders of the Commonwealth nations. Edward had three choices: abdicate the throne, renounce Wallis Simpson, or marry her despite the opposition of his ministers, who would resign and thus create a constitutional crisis. Edward eventually chose abdication, granting the throne to his brother George, as the combined power of church and state surpassed that of the king. For the moment, though, Edward triumphed in the court of public opinion, as he won worldwide sympathy from a radio broadcast during which he famously said, “I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.”
In the following years, the couple’s fairy-tale romance took an unfortunate turn, as it was tarnished by conflict and suspicion stemming from both personal and political sources. Edward and Wallis moved to the European continent following his abdication and, especially after a publicized visit with Adolf Hitler, were accused of being Nazi sympathizers and worse. While no concrete evidence ever surfaced, a cloud of suspicion about their ultimate loyalties remained over their heads: during the Second World War, Edward, now the Duke of Windsor, was made Governor of the (distant) Bahamas, largely to isolate him.
This estrangement only increased Edward’s animosity towards his family; in the decades to come, he only saw members of his family on a handful of occasions. After the war, Edward and Wallis lived in France and were prominent in high society. Such a lifestyle strained their financial means, and various speculative dealings caused some critics to deem them parasites, echoing past accusations of immorality and fascism. Following several years of health problems, Edward died in Paris in 1972; Wallis Simpson lived there for another 14 years. In spite of all the family conflict, Edward and Wallis were accepted by the royal family in death, and the two were interred together in the Royal Burial Ground.
Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David, known to his friends as David and, eventually, to the larger world as Edward VIII, was born in 1894. He was the great-grandson of the legendary Queen Victoria, and both his grandfather, Edward VII, and his father, George V, preceded him to the throne. Unlike his immediate predecessors, he reigned for less than a year. However, because he was the only British monarch to voluntarily abdicate the throne, and because of the racy circumstances of his abdication—it revolved around an American divorcée—he commanded the world stage in 1936 and nearly caused a constitutional crisis in the United Kingdom.
Like many royal heirs of that time, Edward had a haphazard education from private tutors. As a young man, aside from holding a military commission, he was confined to performing the ceremonial duties of his station as a prince. During the First World War, his request to serve in combat was denied, since his death or capture was considered too serious a mishap to be chanced. After the war, he resumed a life of representing the monarchy on international and domestic tours. While his status and dashing appearance made him quite successful in this capacity, as well as a darling of high society, he grew weary of the pointlessness of his role as the heir to the throne. Consequently, he devoted much of his energy to partying and affairs with several married women. His behavior disconcerted both the British politicians and his father, George V, who in fact accurately predicted that, as king, he would ruin himself within 12 months.
Edward began a passionate affair with Wallis Simpson, who at the time was estranged from her second husband, in 1934. Many accounts suggest that the relationship continued because she was the dominant figure and that he was utterly infatuated with her. In any case, this affair greatly disturbed George V, who refused to formally receive a divorcée, and his ministers. King George V then died in January 1936, and Edward ascended to the throne.
By summer, Edward decided to marry Wallis Simpson, but he faced staunch opposition from the Church of England, the Prime Minister, and the leaders of the Commonwealth nations. Edward had three choices: abdicate the throne, renounce Wallis Simpson, or marry her despite the opposition of his ministers, who would resign and thus create a constitutional crisis. Edward eventually chose abdication, granting the throne to his brother George, as the combined power of church and state surpassed that of the king. For the moment, though, Edward triumphed in the court of public opinion, as he won worldwide sympathy from a radio broadcast during which he famously said, “I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.”
In the following years, the couple’s fairy-tale romance took an unfortunate turn, as it was tarnished by conflict and suspicion stemming from both personal and political sources. Edward and Wallis moved to the European continent following his abdication and, especially after a publicized visit with Adolf Hitler, were accused of being Nazi sympathizers and worse. While no concrete evidence ever surfaced, a cloud of suspicion about their ultimate loyalties remained over their heads: during the Second World War, Edward, now the Duke of Windsor, was made Governor of the (distant) Bahamas, largely to isolate him.
This estrangement only increased Edward’s animosity towards his family; in the decades to come, he only saw members of his family on a handful of occasions. After the war, Edward and Wallis lived in France and were prominent in high society. Such a lifestyle strained their financial means, and various speculative dealings caused some critics to deem them parasites, echoing past accusations of immorality and fascism. Following several years of health problems, Edward died in Paris in 1972; Wallis Simpson lived there for another 14 years. In spite of all the family conflict, Edward and Wallis were accepted by the royal family in death, and the two were interred together in the Royal Burial Ground.
- Edward VIII, a twentieth-century British king, occupies a unique place in the annals of the United Kingdom’s monarchy.