Edward VIII (1894–1972)

King of Great Britain and Northern Ireland January–December 1936, when he renounced the throne to marry Wallis Warfield Simpson (see abdication crisis). He was created Duke of Windsor and was governor of the Bahamas 1940–45.

He succeeded his father George V on 20 Jan 1936, and on Dec 11 he abdicated. A divorcee, Mrs Simpson was not acceptable constitutionally as queen. They were married in France in May 1937.

Edward was extremely popular as Prince of Wales, and he made fashion statements that changed the way men dressed in the Western world – soft collars, tweed sport jackets, cuffed trousers, low shoes, the Windsor knotted tie, and V-necked sweaters freed men from the starched look that characterized the turn of the century.