Queen Elizabeth’s Uncle King Edward Could Have Kept The Throne, Wallis Simpson

Queen Elizabeth II’s uncle King Edward VIII could have kept the throne and his love Wallis Simpson.

Her Majesty was not supposed to reign because her father was further down the line if her uncle King Edward VIII got married and produced his own heir. However, there was an unexpected turn of events.

King Edward VIII fell in love with twice divorced Simpson. Many did not support their love affair that it came to a point that the king had to make a choice between his royal duties and lady love.

King Edward VIII decided to renounce the kingship to marry Simpson. Queen Elizabeth II’s father took over the throne deeming her to be the next heir apparent.

However, according to constitutional historian Vernon Bogdanor in his 1995 book “The Monarchy and the Constitution,” there was actually a way to keep both the throne and his then-girlfriend. However, Queen Elizabeth II would still be in line to the throne because King Edward VIII and Simpson’s children would be disqualified in the line of succession.

“It was the King who insisted upon the marriage, even if it would have to be a morganatic marriage,” Bogdanor wrote.

“A morganatic marriage is one in which the wife of the sovereign and any children who may be born of the marriage are denied royal status and all the claims or privileges that go with it. This would have allowed Mrs Simpson to marry the king without enjoying the title of queen, and without their descendants being in the line of succession.”

According to royal biographer Jane Ridley, Queen Mother was distraught when she learned that her husband would assume the throne. Queen Elizabeth II’s mother had never expected or wanted to take on the role of being queen.

Queen Elizabeth II’s family had a very simple lifestyle. There was a huge change in their family when King George VI was forced to take over the kingship. In fact, both of Her Majesty’s parents found the thought of them ascending the throne terrifying.