How King George V Foresaw The ‘Premature End’ Of Edward VIII’s Reign

King George V was able to predict the end of his eldest son, Edward VIII’s reign, even before he abdicated.

In a letter that he wrote to the prime minister, the late royal foresaw how Edward VIII will ruin himself within the next 12 months.

“After I’m dead, the boy will ruin himself within 12 months,” he wrote to Stanley Baldwin in 1934.

Queen Elizabeth II’s grandfather was one of the many people who didn’t want Edward VIII to give up the throne for the woman that he loves. Prior to his relationship with Wallis Simpson, Edward VIII dated Fred Dudley Ward, who King George V didn’t approve of either.

Prior to this abdication, Edward VIII wrote a letter to Princess Alice on June 4, 1925, saying that he is heartily sick of being cheered on and yelled at whenever he’s out in public.

“It almost hurts sometimes. I suppose the fact of the matter is that I’m quite the wrong person to be Prince of Wales,” he wrote.

Just a few months after he was crowned King, Edward VIII decided to abdicate from his position. This resulted in his younger brother, King George VI, taking over.

The sudden change in King George VI’s role didn’t sit well with the Queen Mother either. The late royal reportedly prayed to God every night for her brother-in-law to not abdicate but he still did.

Meanwhile, Edward VIII’s abdication resulted in Queen Elizabeth II becoming the head of the monarchy on Feb. 6, 1952. On the same day, her father died. One year later, she was officially crowned as the Queen.

“Therefore I am sure that this, my coronation, is not the symbol of a power and a splendor that are gone but a declaration of our hopes for the future and for the years I may, by God’s grace and mercy, give to reign and serve you as your Queen,” she said.