How Queen Elizabeth’s Aunt Tried To Eliminate A ‘Threat’ To The Monarchy

There was once a time when the future of the British monarchy hung in the balance. Back then, Queen Elizabeth II was still a child and was not even the heir apparent yet because it was still her uncle, Edward VIII, who sat on the throne.

But all was not well with the centuries-old British monarchy. This time, the threat to its existence would come from across the Atlantic Ocean, from the American socialite Wallis Simpson.

It was Edward VIII’s insistence to marry Simpson — who was still in the process of divorcing her second husband — that caused the empire’s constitutional crisis. At that time, it was forbidden for the British monarch, as head of the Church of England, to marry a divorcee whose ex-spouse is still alive, as was in Wallis’ case.

Some members of the royal family became increasingly worried over these developments and made plans to convince the monarch to abandon his plans. One of these is Mary, Princess Royal, Queen Elizabeth II’s aunt and sister to both George VI and Edward VIII.

Apparently, Princess Mary was quite close to her older brother in their younger years. Knowing their relationship, another royal, Loelia, Duchess of Westminster, convinced Mary to use her influence to try to get rid of Simpson.

“You can’t drive him, but you may be able to lead him,” Loelia wrote to Mary. “You used to be such good chums in your school days.”

At this point, Loelia was still hopeful that convincing Edward VIII to give up on his marriage plans was still possible. “Sympathy and kindness may do a lot for him now,” the duchess continued. “It may be a turning point in his life and perhaps get rid of her for good.”

However, the young monarch stuck by his guns and didn’t budge an inch despite concerned friends and family trying to convince him otherwise. On Dec. 10, 1936, Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin announced Edward VIII’s decision to marry Wallis in a speck to Parliament. The following day, Edward VIII abdicated.

Edward VIII, who then became the Duke of Windsor, went to France with Simpson, where they married. It would take another 30 years before the exiled royal and his wife would be welcomed back into the family, thanks to the highly symbolic invitation of his niece, Queen Elizabeth II.