Abdicated Gallery

King Edward VIII in his coronation robes

King Edward VIII (1894-1972), later Duke of Windsor, fictitiously pictured in his coronation robes, a painting by Albert Collings which was to appear in the pre-prepared Coronation Record Number of the Illustrated London News. Edward abdicated the throne in December 1936 in order to marry Mrs. Wallis Simpson and was consequently never crowned. The ILN archive holds the record number, complete with blank pages ready for actual photographs from the day. Date: 1937

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

A scene in Downing Street during the Abdication crisis

A cyclist sympathetic to the dilemma of King Edward VIII in December 1936, talks to a policeman in Downing Street, London. The king's desire to marry Mrs Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee split the government and resulted in a constitutional crisis, with the Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin refusing to allow the king to marry and have Wallis as his Queen. Edward abdicated in favour of his younger brother, Albert (King George VI) and became the Duke of Windsor, marrying Wallis in June 1937

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

The Sketch front cover: Mrs Ernest Simpson

Front cover of The Sketch magazine in March 1935, featuring a portrait by Dorothy Wilding of Mrs Ernest (Wallis) Simpson. The caption reads: Mrs Simpson is the beautiful wife of Mr. Ernest Simpson, and is one of the many attractive Americans in London society. She was formerly Miss Wallis-Warfield of Baltimore, U.S.A, and is the sister-in-law of Mrs. Peter Kerr-Smiley. Her centre parting and the chic simplicity of her dress are well-suited to her type of good looks'. Wallis would eventually become the Duchess of Windsor when King Edward VIII abdicated the throne in December 1936 in order to marry her

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans