The King They’d Rather Forget: How Queen Elizabeth II’s Uncle Abdicated the Throne and Joined Forces with Hitler (5 photos)

Edward VIII is remembered as the British king who gave up his throne for love—a grand, romantic gesture admired by millions. Yet there is another, far darker and more shameful side to his legacy.





Love for a Woman and Passion for Germany

His introduction to American socialite Wallis Simpson marked a fateful turning point for the English monarch. Simpson and her friend Emerald, a prominent salon host, belonged to a high-society circle that passionately admired Germany and its new Führer.



Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson

The group marveled at Germany’s post-WWI resurgence, praising the leader who had curbed rampant inflation and crippling unemployment while elevating German nationalism to new heights. In essence, it operated as a high-society Adolf Hitler fan club.

Edward’s fascination with Germany was nothing new; it rooted back to his childhood, fueled by his German lineage and frequent visits to Kaiser Wilhelm II. Fluent in the language, he could converse effortlessly with Hitler without an interpreter.





Knowing Wallis’s fondness for German leadership, Edward introduced her to Joachim von Ribbentrop. Rumors soon swirled of an intimate connection between the American socialite and the German diplomat. Wallis also maintained close ties with Otto von Bismarck’s family and Hitler’s favorite architect, Albert Speer. It was, to say the least, an extraordinary social circle for the partner of a British monarch.

How Wallis Derailed Hitler’s Plans—and Her Own

As Adolf Hitler plotted European dominance, he recognized the need for influential allies and set his sights on Edward, seeing him as sympathetic to the Nazi cause. A plan was devised to marry the king to a German princess, the granddaughter of Wilhelm II. However, Edward flatly rejected the idea of marrying anyone other than Wallis Simpson.



Most are familiar with the official narrative behind Edward VIII’s abdication:

“I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as King as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.”

Yet a far more sinister explanation exists. British intelligence had caught wind of the king's pro-Nazi leanings, prompting swift intervention. Officially, it was presented as a noble sacrifice for love, forced by a Parliament unwilling to accept a twice-divorced American. In reality, the British establishment did everything in its power to stop a Nazi-sympathizing king from sitting on the throne.

In a single stroke, Wallis’s dream of becoming queen vanished, along with Hitler’s hopes of securing a loyal puppet monarch.

The Plot to Reclaim the Throne

Many historians contend that the disgraced king refused to accept his fate and actively plotted to reclaim the throne with Hitler’s help. This offers a compelling explanation for his high-profile visit to Germany shortly after his wedding. Edward reportedly envisioned establishing an absolute monarchy in Britain and dissolving Parliament—a move that, given his fascist leanings, would have brought Britain under Nazi influence.



However, the scheme collapsed thanks to the foresight of Prime Minister Winston Churchill and decisive action by British intelligence. The government effectively exiled Edward and Wallis by appointing him Governor of the Bahamas, neutralizing the threat. The couple was not permitted to return until after World War II had ended.

It proved a necessary precaution. Declassified wartime correspondence later revealed that the former king had urged Germany to bomb the British Isles to force Britain into submission—a shocking betrayal. It is little wonder the British government kept these letters secret for so long.

Ultimately, one of history’s most celebrated royal romances conceals a deeply troubling reality. Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson were bound not just by romantic devotion, but by fascist sympathies and dangerous ambition. Seen in this light, their famous love story loses its tragic glamour.