Queen Elizabeth II
King Edward VIII was bitter and furious towards his parents that he made up his mind he would never marry to please them. Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II arrives for the state banquet in her honour at Schloss Bellevue palace on the second of the royal couple's four-day visit to Germany on June 24, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images/Sean Gallup

King Edward VIII had a difficult relationship with his parents.

King Edward VIII abdicated the throne to pursue his love, Wallis Simpson. This paved the way for King George VI and later on Queen Elizabeth II to succeed the throne.

Many were shocked when King Edward VIII decided to leave his royal life for a twice-divorced woman. But his decision could be due to his complicated relationship with his mother and father.

According to Andrew Morton in his book “17 Carnations,” King George V and Queen Mary encouraged King Edward VIII before he took over the throne to find a suitable bride. King Edward VIII fell for a nurse named Lady Rosemary Leveson-Gower. Unfortunately, both of his parents did not approve of her.

The Queen told her son that there was “bad blood” and "a touch of madness" in the woman’s family. This came at a time when health stability was a huge concern for the royals because King Edward VIII’s younger brother, Prince John, suffered from autism.

King Edward VIII didn’t take his parents disapproval really well. He felt “bitter and furious.” In fact, Lady Paget felt that King Edward VIII never forgave his father.

“I also felt that from that time on, he had made up his mind that he would never make what might be called a suitable marriage to please his family,” she added.

After leaving the throne to marry Simpson, King Edward VIII told American writer Charles Murphy that he had a “wretched childhood.” “Of course there were short periods of happiness but I remember it chiefly for the miserableness,” he said.

According to Morton, King Edward VIII was mistreated by his sadistic nannies and tutors who used to beat him. He also realized that his personal happiness would play no role in the royal equation.

Just like King Edward VIII, Prince Harry fell in love with a divorced woman. However, Prince Harry’s love story with Meghan Markle is very different. Their wedding journey was easier and smoother.

The public was more welcoming and accepting of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. This could be because the public’s attitude toward divorce has changed. Moreover, Prince Harry is way down the line of succession.

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