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

Abdicated Abdication Constitutional Cyclist Desire Dilemma Divorcee Downing Favour Marry Marrying Refusing Resulted Split Sympathetic Wallis

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