Would Queen Elizabeth Still Be The Monarch Today Had Edward VIII Not Abdicated?

The Duke of Windsor, formerly King Edward VIII, was succeeded by his younger brother, Prince Albert, who later became King George VI, immediately after his abdication. Considering how his abdication shook the line of succession at the time, many wonder who the current monarch would have been had he not abdicated. Would it still be Queen Elizabeth?

Having reigned for only 326 days, King Edward VIII was one of the shortest-reigning kings of England. After becoming King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Empire in 1936, he abdicated a few months later and became the Duke of Windsor. After his abdication, George VI took over.

King Edward VIII abdicated so he could marry the love of his life, the divorcee Wallis Simpson. Assuming that he married Simpson and their union produced no children, as was the case, Henry, the Duke of Gloucester and his eldest surviving brother, would have become King Henry IX in 1972 — the year the Duke of Windsor died.

If Henry were the one who succeeded King Edward VIII, his reign would have only lasted for two years as he died just two years after King Edward VIII’s death. After his death, his son, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, would have ascended the throne as King Richard IV in 1974, and he would be the King of England until today. His reign would have been one of the longest in history.

That means had King Edward VIII not abdicated, Princess Elizabeth would have only been fourth in the line of succession and would not have the status that she does have today. As a matter of fact, she probably would not have been an important member of the royal family at all, and her chances of becoming Queen Elizabeth II would have been zero.

Without King Edward VIII’s abdication, Queen Elizabeth II would have been known as the Duchess of Edinburgh today. This position is about the equivalent of that of her son Prince Andrew, the Duke of York.