The King Who Had to Go

by Adrian Phillips

  Layton, Sir Walter 1, 2

  Legh, Piers ‘Joey’ 1, 2

  Lloyd, Lord 1

  Lloyd George, David relationship with Edward VIII 5 becomes Prime Minister 1

  later political life 1

  appointment of Sir Warren Fisher 1

  relationship with Lord Beaverbrook 1

  and Carlton House coup 1

  negotiations over financial settlement 1

  Lothian, Lord 1

  Lyons, Joseph 1, 2, 3

  MacDonald, Malcolm 1, 2, 3

  MacDonald, Ramsay 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

  Macmillan, Harold 1

  Maisky, Ivan 1

  Manchester Guardian 1

  Mann, Arthur 1

  Mansfield, Lord 1

  Margesson, David 1, 2

  Marina, Princess 1

  Mary of Teck, Queen marriage to George V 1

  meets Wallace Simpson 1

  told of Edward VIII’s marriage intentions 1

  meeting with Stanley Baldwin 1, 2

  statement on abdication 1

  Mathew, Theobold 1 after death of George V 1, 2, 3

  Menzies, Sir Stewart 1

  Merriman, Sir Boyd 1

  Metcalfe, ‘Fruity’ 1, 2

  MI5 surveillance of Edward VIII 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  information on William Randolph Hearst 1

  report on Wallis Simpson 1

  Monckton, Walter introduces Wallis Simpson to Theodore Goddard 1

  and Alec Hardinge’s letter to Edward VIII 1

  and Harmsworth’s plan for morganatic marriage 1

  seeks advice of Winston Churchill 1

  and Beaverbrook’s involvement in crisis 1

  arranges direct contact with Wallis Simpson 1

  and Cabinet rejection of morganatic marriage option 1, 2

  negotiations over abdication 1, 2

  concern over advice given to Edward VIII 1

  and Edward VIII’s plan for radio broadcast 1, 2

  and Baldwin’s statement to House of Commons on Cabinet meeting 1, 2

  arranges meeting between Edward VIII and Churchill 1, 2

  and letter from Churchill to Edward VIII 1

  intervention in divorce proceedings 1, 2, 3

  Two Bills plan 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  and meeting between Goddard and Wallis Simpson 1, 2, 3, 4

  final attempt to persuade Edward VIII to avoid abdication 1

  and last substantial discussion of crisis in Cabinet 1

  and Wallis Simpson’s offer to withdraw 1

  and signing of Act of Abdication 1

  and Baldwin’s statement of abdication to House of Commons 1

  and Edward VIII’s abdication radio broadcast 1

  part in MI5 surveillance 1

  opinion of Wallis Simpson 1

  and titles for Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson 1

  sends message on Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson’s wedding day

  Morning Chronicle, The 1

  Morrison, Herbert 1

  Morton, Desmond 1

  Mosley, Oswald 1

  Mountbatten, Louis 1

  Mussolini, Benito 1, 2, 3

  Nahlin holiday 1, 2, 3

  National Insurance Act (1911)22

  News Chronicle 1, 2, 3

  Nicolson, Harold 1, 2, 3, 4

  Norfolk, Duke of 1

  Norman, Montagu 1

  Norton, Jean 1, 2

  O’Callaghan, Miss 1

  Parnell, Charles 1

  Peacock, Sir Edward 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  Percy, Eustace 1

  press reaction to Nahlin holiday 1

  to divorce proceedings 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  pressure to maintain silence 1

  and plan for morganatic marriage 1

  Baldwin’s plans for 1

  Edward VIII’s concern over 1, 2

  and Wallis Simpson’s flight to France 1

  support for Edward VIII 1, 2

  Preston, Alice ‘Kiki’ 1

  Putlitz, Wolfgang zu 1

  Raffray, Mary 1

  Ram, Granville 1

  Reith, Sir John 1, 2, 3 reaction to dinner at York House 1

  and Edward VIII’s plan for radio broadcast 1, 2, 3

  and Edward VIII’s abdication broadcast 1, 2

  von Ribbentrop, Joachim 1, 2, 3

  Rickatson-Hatt, Bernard 1, 2, 3, 4

  Rogers, Herman 1, 2, 3

  Rogers, Katherine 1

  Rothermere, Esmond 1

  Rothermere, Lord 1, 2, 3

  Rothschild, Kitty de 1

  Runciman, Walter 1, 2, 3

  Salisbury, Marquess of 1, 2

  Schauffler, Elsie 1

  Simon, Sir John 1, 2, 3 Edward VIII’s dislike of 1

  in suggested delegation to meet Edward VIII 1

  support for Neville Chamberlain 1

  at Cabinet meeting 1

  and Edward VIII’s radio broadcast plan 1

  advises Lord Beaverbrook on abdication 1

  and meeting between Edward VIII and Churchill 1

  support for abdication 1

  intervention in divorce proceedings 1, 2, 3, 4

  and tapping of Edward VIII’s telephone 1, 2

  role in Two Bills plan 1, 2, 3

  and meeting between Goddard and Wallis Simpson 1, 2

  fears over crisis 1

  in charge of abdication arrangements 1

  and Act of Abdication 1

  writes Edward VIII’s Message to Parliament 1

  and Edward VIII’s abdication radio broadcast 1

  fears over Wallis Simpson after abdication 1

  Simpson, Ernest 1, 2 investigated by Special Branch 1, 2

  supports Wallis Simpson’s marriage to Edward VIII 1

  invited to dinner at York House 1

  and Nahlin holiday 1

  divorce case heard 1

  intervention in divorce proceedings 1

  offers help with crisis 1

  and MI5 report on Wallis Simpson 1

  fears over Wallis Simpson after abdication 1

  and Francis Stephenson 1

  interview with King’s Proctor 1

  Simpson, Wallis starts relationship with Edward VIII 1

  on Edward VIII’s personality 1

  investigated by Special Branch 1, 2, 3, 4

  and death of George V 1, 2

  during early days of reign of Edward VIII 1

  fears over pro-German sympathies 1, 2

  meeting with Sir Robert Vansittart 1

  invited to dinner at York House 1

  hears Edward VIII’s marriage plans 1

  starts divorce proceedings 1

  holiday on Nahlin 1

  visit to Balmoral 1, 2, 3

  makes fun of Elizabeth, Duchess of York 1

  press reaction to divorce proceedings 1

  social position of 1

  pressure on to stop divorce proceedings 1

  meeting with Theodore Goddard 1, 2

  leaves the country 1

  divorce case heard 1

  continues relationship with Edward VIII after divorce case 1

  and Harmsworth’s plan for morganatic marriage 1, 2, 3, 4

  breaks contact with Winston Churchill 1

  target of attacks 1

  retreats to Fort Belvedere 1

  plans to make radio broadcast 1, 2

  flight to France after press revelations 1

  intervention in divorce proceedings 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  plan for Theodore Goddard to visit 1, 2, 3

  writes press statement 1

  meeting with Theodore Goddard in Cannes 1

  pressure on to withdraw 1

  police guard withdrawn 1

  and Baldwin’s abdication statement to House of Commons 1, 2

  and Edward VIII’s abdication radio broadcast 1

  and Edward VIII’s departure after abdication 1

  fears over activities after abdication 1, 2

  maintains sense of humour 1

>   bitterness after abdication 1

  title after abdication 1, 2

  fears for safety 1

  suspects Edward VIII’s faithfulness 1

  life after abdication 1

  blames Baldwin for abdication 1

  marries Edward VIII 1

  Sinclair, Sir Archibald 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  Sitwell, Osbert 1

  Slipper (dog) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  Smith, F. E. 1

  Somerset Maugham, William 1

  Somervell, Sir Donald 1, 2, 3, 4

  Special Branch investigates Wallis Simpson 1, 2, 3, 4

  investigates Ernest Simpson 1, 2

  Spry, Constance 1

  Stanley, Oliver 1

  Stephenson, Francis 1

  Steward, George 1

  Streat, Raymond 1, 2

  Sunday Dispatch 1

  Swinton, Lord 1, 2, 3

  Taylor, A. J. P. 1

  Thomas, Sir Godfrey 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  Thomas, Jimmy 1, 2, 3, 4

  Times, The 1, 2, 3

  Trundle, Guy 1, 2, 3, 4

  Two Bills plan 1, 2, 3, 4

  Ustinov, Klop 1

  Ustinov, Peter 1

  Vansittart, Robert 1, 2, 3, 4

  Ward, Freda Dudley 1

  Wardell, Mike 1

  Waterhouse, Sir Ronald 1

  Waugh, Evelyn 1

  White, H. E. Y. 1

  Wigram, Lord and death of George V 1

  starts work for Edward VIII 1

  concern over Edward VIII 1

  concern over Wallis Simpson 1

  resignation of 1

  Ernest Simpson sends message to 1, 2

  negotiations over financial settlement 1

  Williams, Marcia 1

  Wilson, Sir Horace 1, 2, 3 and Baldwin’s announcement of abdication 1, 2

  and Baldwin’s doubts about Edward VIII 1

  Baldwin’s reliance on 1

  early life and career 1 personality of 1

  starts working for Baldwin 1

  concern over government inaction 1

  on Lord Wigram’s resignation 1

  reaction to dinner at York House 1

  and reports of Nahlin holiday 1, 2

  during Baldwin’s convalescence 1

  fears over divorce proceedings 1, 2

  first contact with Alec Hardinge 1

  agrees to put Edward VIII under MI5 surveillance 1

  persuades Baldwin to intervene in divorce proceedings 1

  and first meeting between Edward VIII and Baldwin about divorce 1

  opinion of Baldwin 1

  pressure on Wallis Simpson to stop divorce proceedings 1

  meeting with Theodore Goddard 1

  persuades Neville Chamberlain to take action within Cabinet 1, 2

  meeting with Alec Hardinge 1

  and letter from Alec Hardinge to Edward VIII 1, 2

  dislike of Alec Hardinge 1

  attempts to cover up his actions 1

  and second meeting between Edward VIII and Baldwin 1

  meeting with Chamberlain 1

  and Harmsworth’s plan for morganatic marriage 1, 2, 3

  plans for abdication 1

  and Edward VIII’s plan for radio broadcast 1, 2, 3

  opinion of ‘King’s Party’ 1

  and Chamberlain’s intervention in Cabinet 1, 2

  and Baldwin’s statement to House of Commons on Cabinet meeting 1

  on Churchill’s meeting with Edward VIII 1, 2

  hears story about Edward VIII meeting with ‘King’s Party’ 1

  and intervention in divorce proceedings 1, 2, 3, 4

  and Edward VIII’s plan to travel to Zurich 1

  and abdication negotiations 1

  and tapping of Edward VIII’s telephone 1, 2

  and Edward VIII’s plan to travel to Zurich 1

  role in Two Bills plan 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  and meeting between Goddard’s and Wallace Simpson 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  fears over Wallis Simpson after abdication 1, 2

  Windsor, Duke of see Edward VIII, King Wood, Kingsley 1

  York, Duke of see George VI, King Yorkshire Post 1

  Yule, Lady 1

  Ziegler, Philip 1

  Stanley Baldwin (right) had come to know Edward’s personality well when he was Prince of Wales during the 1920s. He viewed the prospect of being Prime Minister when Edward succeeded to the throne with deep foreboding.

  © Hulton Archive / Stringer via Getty Images

  The widely reproduced photograph of Edward as Prince of Wales captures the charm and glamour that inspired high hopes for his reign – hopes that were to be dashed by bitter disappointment.

  © Print Collector / Contributor via Getty Images

  Most readers of the The Sketch in 1935 were not to know why Mrs Simpson had been singled out for the front cover. Only a tiny handful would have understood that Slipper, the Cairn terrier, was a symbol of the Prince of Wales’s commitment to her.

  © Hilary Morgan / Alamy Stock Photo

  As Prince of Wales, Edward was a keen skier and took Mrs Simpson to Kitzbühel in 1935. She did not do well on skis. In his first, solitary months of exile after the abdication, skiing provided him with a welcome distraction, but it does not seem to have featured in their married life.

  Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain

  When Neville Chamberlain (right) became Prime Minister soon after the crisis, Sir Horace Wilson (left) remained as chief civil service adviser. Wilson supported Chamberlain’s appeasement of the fascist powers as enthusiastically as he had supported his hard line towards the King.

  © Popperfoto / Contributor via Getty Images

  Sir Warren Fisher combined a gushy, Edwardian style with vaulting ambitions for the civil service and a steely resolve not to allow anything to get in the way of doing what was right for the Empire.

  George Grantham Bain Collection, Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain

  The King paid his respects at the memorial to the dead of the Gallipoli campaign. His affinity with war veterans was entirely genuine, but the visit rebounded against him during the crisis when Mrs Simpson’s presence was taken as a desecration.

  © AP / Press Association Images

  The global press told the world of the intimacy between the King and Mrs Simpson during the cruise of the Nahlin, but the British newspapers kept silent.

  © Keystone / Stringer via Getty Images

  Sir Samuel (‘Slippery Sam’) Hoare was close to Beaverbrook, and the King thought that he might support him in the crisis, but he remained loyal to Baldwin. His enthusiasm for winter sports was a gift to satirists.

  © Imagno / Contributor via Getty Images

  Sir John Simon (‘Sir John Snake’) was a highly successful barrister, but, like Hoare, he was unpopular and mistrusted. It was said there would be ‘no moaning at the Bar when he puts out to sea’. He and Hoare became the mainstays of the Cabinet when Neville Chamberlain took over as Prime Minister in May 1937.

  Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain

  The ‘King’s Party’ at war. Winston Churchill (right) and Lord Beaverbrook (left) were cronies of long standing, but they pursued different goals during the crisis: Beaverbrook wanted, above all, to unseat Baldwin, and Churchill wanted to keep the King on the throne.

  © Keystone / Stringer via Getty Images

  The King’s visit to the abandoned Dowlais steel works in depressed south Wales sparked his heartfelt call that ‘something must be done’. The government saw how his words were being exploited in the burgeoning crisis over his relationship with Mrs Simpson.

  © AP / Press Association Images

  Fort Belvedere was Edward’s private sanctuary and refuge from his royal duties, the emblem of his desire to compartmentalise his life. He spent the last days of his reign there, but it had become a claustrophobic bunker by then.

  Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain

  Bernard Rickatson-Hatt, chief editor of the Reu
ters news agency, was a friend to both the King and Ernest Simpson, though he may have had additional, conflicting loyalties. His early career was decidedly colourful.

  Walter Monckton was a good friend of the King’s from their days together at Oxford, but he despised Mrs Simpson. By the time he became the link between the King and the government, abdication was by far the most likely outcome, and his work of helping arrange terms was far easier than Hardinge’s near-impossible task.

  © Hulton Archive / Stringer via Getty Images

  Mrs Simpson’s Buick makes its way through the press pack besieging the Villa Lou Viei in Cannes. Even without its conspicuous registration, it was unmistakable on French roads and another example of how the King’s attempts to keep secret the movements by the central figures in the crisis usually failed.

  © AP / Press Association Images

  Edward VIII was the first reigning British monarch to fly. He bought de Havilland Dragon Rapide G-ADDD personally and had it painted in the colours of the Brigade of Guards. It would have taken him to Zurich if his plan to bolt the country had succeeded.

  © De Havilland Photography

  COPYRIGHT

  First published in Great Britain in 2016 by

  Biteback Publishing Ltd

  Westminster Tower

  3 Albert Embankment

  London SE1 7SP

  Copyright © Adrian Phillips 2016

  Adrian Phillips has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.