Edward & Mrs. Simpson (1978): Season 1, Episode 7 - The Abdication - full transcript
With all avenues now exhausted, King Edward VIII accepts his situation and proceeds with the abdication. In his broadcast to the nation, he appeals for understanding and tells his people that he cannot continue without the woman he loves. His brother, Prince Albert, feels that he is completely unprepared to take on the duties of the monarch but he accepts his duty and becomes King George VI. The new King decides that his brother, now Prince Edward, will be known as HRH the Duke of Windsor. The Duke however is dismayed when told that his future wife, while becoming a Duchess, will not be allowed to use the HRH designation. The former King goes into exile in France and he and Wallis marry, though with no members of the Royal Family in attendance.
[ "God Save the King" plays ]
[ Up-tempo music plays ]
♫ I've danced with a man
who's danced with a girl ♫
♫ Who's danced
with the Prince of Wales ♫
♫ "It was simply grand,"
he said ♫
♫ "Topping band" ♫
♫ And she said,
"Delightful, sir" ♫
♫ Glory, glory, alleluia ♫
♫ I'm the luckiest of females ♫
♫ For I've danced with a man
who's danced with a girl ♫
♫ Who danced
with the Prince of Wales ♫
[ "God Save the King" plays ]
[ Up-tempo music plays ]
David, if you'll only fight
for your rights.
You're the king of England
and immensely popular
with your people.
If you stand up to Mr. Baldwin
and the rest of them,
your popularity will carry
the day.
Yes.
Well, I hope you're right.
[ Static ]
The people are on your side,
David --
the ordinary men and women
you spoke to in Wales.
The prime minister
can't ignore them.
No, but I mustn't set them
against him.
And nor must I divide
the nation.
But short of that, there's still
a certain amount to be done,
and you may be sure
that we're doing it.
How are you in Cannes?
Well, but very lonely
without you.
I know you must be in England
now, but...
...well, i-it's so sad that I
can't be there to help you.
I know that life was impossible
before I left,
but it's all so very difficult
without you.
Yes. Well, it was the only thing
that we could do, wasn't it?
Yes.
I know it had to be.
He won't see me, Alec.
He keeps putting me off,
saying tomorrow...tomorrow.
But he never sends for me.
Could you put in a word?
Well, I'm afraid that he doesn't
listen to me anymore, sir.
To Walter Monckton, yes.
To Winston Churchill
these last few days.
And, of course, that woman,
on the telephone.
Endlessly on the telephone.
But, uh, not to me.
The thing is, I m-must know
what's going on.
Of course I do understand --
My wife and I must be warned
as soon as possible!
You see, Alec...
the whole fabric may give way
under the strain.
If I'm to hold it together,
I must be warned.
When will this statement
of yours appear, Winston?
Tomorrow, in the Sunday papers.
A plea asking for time --
no more.
That is just what Baldwin
and the rest don't want.
But you must have time, sir.
If they refuse it,
you should imitate
your ancestor George III,
retire to Windsor Castle
and lock yourself in,
placing the royal physicians
at the entrances
to refuse access to your person.
[ Laughs ]
It's a charming idea, Winston,
but I think it might be
overdoing it a bit.
Still, if your statement
would achieve a little delay,
I should be very grateful.
CHURCHILL:
I plead for time and patience.
The nation must realize
the character
of the constitutional issue.
There is no question
of any conflict
between king and Parliament.
Parliament has not been
consulted in any way,
nor allowed to express
any opinion.
The question is whether the king
is to abdicate
upon the advice
of the ministry of the day.
No such advice has ever before
been tended to a sovereign
in parliamentary times.
-[ Knock on door ]
-Come in.
Mr. Winston Churchill, sir.
Ah.
Winston.
Good of you to come so quickly.
Well, Prime Minister?
This statement of yours
to the press --
What do you hope to achieve
by it?
Time for the king
and for Parliament.
There is no time.
One way or another,
the thing must be settled now,
before it poisons
the whole nation.
He is not fit to decide
just now.
I had dinner with him
last night --
as a friend, Prime Minister.
And as a friend, I urged
his staff to call in the doctor.
And did they?
His Majesty appeared to me
to be under a very great strain.
He had two prolonged periods
of blackout
in which he completely lost
the thread of the conversation.
Oh, he was very gallant
and debonair at the onset,
but it soon wore off.
And his mental exhaustion
was painful to see.
It would be a most cruel
and wrong thing
to extort a decision from him
in his present state.
-[ Knock on door ]
-Come in.
Will you see
Mr. Walter Monckton, sir?
Yes.
Of course.
-Prime Minister.
-Walter.
Winston.
What's your news?
He means to go, sir.
He sent me here
to tell you formally
that he intends to abdicate.
I was with him last night,
and he said nothing.
I was with him this morning,
Winston.
Will you accompany me to the
fort, please, Prime Minister?
Very well, Walter.
So you see, sir...
there is a possibility
that you could lose
both the throne and Wallis.
How, Walter?
Well, the moment
you cease to be king,
you become subject to
the ordinary laws of the land.
Now, there is a chance that
the decree nisi may be quashed,
thereby invalidating
the divorce.
But to make sure
that this does not happen,
Walter has a proposal, sir.
And with your approval,
I have undertaken
to try to put it through.
Yes.
What is it?
Well, that there should be
two bills, sir --
one giving effect to your wish
to renounce the throne
and the other one
making the decree nisi absolute
immediately.
In this way,
we should leave no loose ends.
But I must warn you, sir,
that we can expect some
opposition from my colleagues,
on the grounds that it would
injure the marriage laws
and give wrongful privilege
to the monarch.
But you will support the plan,
Mr. Baldwin?
Yes, sir. It seems to me
a very reasonable accommodation.
If the Cabinet rejects it,
I shall resign.
No.
Still no answer?
None from him.
They say he's in conference,
speak to me later.
They said that yesterday.
He'll talk to you later,
they said.
They said it again this morning.
I wish he'd be straight with me.
The Cabinet won't agree, Walter.
The Abdication Bill, certainly.
But declined to allow a bill
to make the divorce absolute
immediately.
There was an outcry
about it being one law for the
rich and another for the poor
and that to rush
the decree through
would publicly confirm the worst
about Mrs. Simpson.
Who spoke against it?
Chamberlain, really, largely.
He said the thing would be
denounced as an unholy bargain,
that it would damage the moral
authority of the government,
be looked on as a blow
to the marriage laws in general,
and injure respect
for the monarchy.
Yes.
I hadn't expected
such opposition.
No more had I, Walter.
And now I have my promise
to keep.
I must resign.
No. The king won't allow that,
I assure you.
But what he will want is more
time to consult his advisers.
How long?
Well, a few days.
I don't know.
Perhaps weeks.
It's intolerable, Walter.
The affair must be finished
by Christmas.
Give him time, Prime Minister.
It's not possible, Walter.
Many members of the Cabinet
want the thing settled
long before then --
Chamberlain in particular.
They feel it's holding up
important government business.
It's even damaging
the Christmas trade.
And any further delay
just gives the Simpson press
added opportunity to
misrepresent what is happening.
Every day that passes
before the thing is settled
brings fresh perils.
You must see
that he should be denied
these weeks that you speak of.
And who is to deny them to him?
His own conscience?
[ Telephone ringing ]
Wallis?!
[ Static ]
How are you?
WALLIS:
How are you, David?
What's happening?
Well, Walter's proposal
didn't work.
The Cabinet threw it out.
It's all an unholy mess here.
But you said Baldwin was certain
they would waive the six months.
No.
I said he'd do what he could.
But it's misfired.
So now we shall have to wait.
Wait for what?
Well, to see what happens next.
David, they've turned down
the morganatic proposal
and your request for
a direct appeal to the people
and now this.
You're letting them
tie your hands completely.
W-Wallis, it's not as simple
as that.
I realize I'm out of touch here,
but, David, please,
you mustn't give up the fight.
No.
Well, are you happy to stay on
in Cannes?
It seems I have no choice.
Well, why don't you ask
Aunt Bessie to join you there?
Perhaps I will.
Oh, do, Wallis.
I hate the thought
of you being so isolated,
and she'd be a marvelous support
for you.
I tell you, I feel like chucking
it all and joining you.
No, David.
You mustn't.
You must stay
as long as there's hope.
We both have to accept that.
Yes.
Wallis?
[ Static ]
Wallis, I've made up my mind.
David?
David, I can't hear you.
What did you say?
[ Static ]
David?
David!
Mr. Speaker, it is now my duty
to ask the right honorable
gentleman, the prime minister,
whether he has anything to add
to his statement
of Friday, December 4th
on the possibility
of constitutional difficulties
arising from the private wishes
or intentions
of His Majesty the king.
Mr. Speaker.
Yes, sir.
I am glad to have the occasion
to make a further statement
on the position.
I should tell the House
that I have twice had audience
of the king since last Friday
and that I have also had
a meeting with the Cabinet.
While I am anxious for the
matter to be finally settled,
I am reluctant
to force a decision
from one who is as delicately
and painfully situated
as is His Majesty.
The king is at present
still consulting
with his own conscience
in an effort to reconcile
his private
and personal obligations
as he sees them
with his public duty
and the country's good.
When His Majesty has arrived
at a conclusion
as to the course
he wishes to take,
he will no doubt communicate it
to his governments
both here and in the Dominions.
It will then be
for those governments to decide
what advice, if any,
they feel it their duty
to tender to His Majesty
in the light of his conclusion.
I cannot end this statement
without expressing
what the whole House feels --
our deep and respectful sympathy
with His Majesty at this time.
-Hear, hear.
-Hear, hear.
SPEAKER:
Mr. Churchill.
Mr. Speaker.
May I ask
my right honorable friend
whether he could give us
an assurance
that no irrevocable step --
[ Indistinct shouting ]
...that no irrevocable step
will be taken
before the House has received
a full statement,
not only upon the personal,
but upon the constitutional
issues involved.
-[ Shouting continues ]
-Order! Order!
If the House resists my claim,
it will only add more importance
to any words
that I might wish to use.
May I say the right honorable
gentleman has spoken of rumors.
If he is able to give
an assurance that the House
will have the constitutional
issue laid before it
and that no irrevocable decision
will be taken
before at least a statement
is made to Parliament,
then this anxiety
would not persist.
[ Shouting continues ]
You won't be satisfied until you
have broken him, will you?
[ Shouting continues ]
Order!
Order!
[ Shouting stops ]
Mr. George Lambert.
Mr. Speaker, may I ask whether
the prime minister realizes
that there is a great personal
sympathy for him
from all sections of the House.
-Hear, hear!
-Hear, hear!
[ Murmuring,
indistinct conversations ]
So you must see
that as things now stand,
there's no way at all --
no gesture, no compromise,
no subterfuge, no legislation --
whereby he can stay on the
throne unless you release him.
I always thought
something would turn up.
I always thought someone
would think of a formula.
I thought he had the power
to insist.
I fear you don't understand
the nature of his position.
He cannot, never could insist.
There isn't and never has been
a formula.
I understand.
At last, I understand.
Then you must let him
and everyone else know
that you understand.
We must draft a statement
making it clear to the world
and to the king
that you have his best interests
at heart
and are now absolutely offering
to withdraw.
Very well.
A declaration that you have no
intention of marrying the king.
I should never have left
England.
I should never have left him
on his own.
EDWARD: No. My mind
is definitely made up, Bertie.
But in London,
they think I'm still deciding.
Despite the statement
from Cannes?
Mm.
Could you not have told me
earlier?
Well, there have been
complications, Bertie.
But I'm going anyway.
I didn't tell you before
because I wanted to
settle everything first.
Yes.
I'm sorry if I seemed
so impatient.
But, David...
...it isn't all settled for me,
is it?
Well, at least it's now certain
that I'm going.
Yes, David.
But there are still
a lot of things to be discussed.
Like where
you're going to live...
what you're going to be
known as...
...the titles.
We shall have to do something
about all that.
Mrs. Simpson's renunciation,
Walter.
It's plain, and now it's public.
But has it got
the king's approval?
Yes, but only because
it may stem her unpopularity.
But it'll make no difference.
Well, everybody's reading it.
A lot of people are saying this
means the end of the crisis.
She's renounced him,
they're saying,
and now she'll just disappear.
The king has no intention
of being renounced.
If she disappears,
so will he with her.
So he still means to marry her,
Walter.
Yes.
In which case he should know
that yet another affidavit
is to be served
by a private individual
who says that he can prove
that the evidence
for the Simpson divorce
was obtained by fraud
and collusion.
Can you disprove it?
Very probably.
But I shall have to go to Cannes
to consult with Mrs. Simpson.
The king won't like that.
Why not?
I am, after all,
Mrs. Simpson's solicitor.
I'm trying to ensure
that her divorce goes through.
No divorce for her, Walter,
no marriage for him.
The king won't want to see her
harried, T.G.
He'll simply see it
as more fodder for the press.
If the king wants her free,
the king must permit me
to go to her.
He cannot have it both ways.
[ Sighs ]
Well, you try telling him.
I was hoping you would.
Oh, just tell him I'm going,
Walter,
in the normal course
of professional duty.
[ Telephone ringing ]
Yes, Walter.
Well, tell Goddard
that she mustn't be harassed
and he's to leave her alone.
Now, please, Walter,
don't argue.
She's to be left quite alone.
Come down here
and I'll tell him myself.
I know the king forbids it,
but the relationship
between a lawyer and his client
is the most sacred
in English law.
Even the king
cannot come between them.
Do you consider it your duty to
follow Mrs. Simpson to Cannes?
I do.
Then don't ask my advice,
Mr. Goddard.
Do your duty to your client
and take no notice of the king.
Thank you, Prime Minister.
Just one thing more,
Mr. Goddard.
After all, the lady has issued
a statement to the press
in which she states that she is
ready to give up the king.
That being the case,
surely the simplest thing to do
and the easiest way to cope
with this new affidavit
would be to withdraw her suit
for divorce altogether.
If when you get to Cannes you
find her to be of that mind,
what will you do then,
Mr. Goddard?
I shall obey her instructions,
Mr. Baldwin.
Now, I forbade Mr. Goddard
going to see you.
I don't want you worried
anymore.
Well, a-apparently there are
complications with your divorce,
but they don't warrant him
visiting you in Cannes.
Well, no.
It...
He feels --
You see, he feels that your
press statement compromised him,
and he wanted to consult you
about that.
I told him
that you were to be left alone,
and he finally agreed.
Wallis, I --
No.
I wanted to spare you
any more worries.
It could be that just a little
more pressure from Goddard
would make her say not only
that she's willing to withdraw,
but that she is now withdrawing.
The king wouldn't accept that.
One final effort, Walter.
He must wrestle with himself
as he never has before.
And if he'll let me,
I will help him.
-Good evening, Mr. Baldwin.
-Good evening, sir.
-Do come on in, won't you?
-Thank you, sir.
-Good evening.
-Good evening, sir.
Don't much like the look
of that suitcase, Walter.
He's ready to stay the night,
sir,
but I can get rid of him
if you like.
No, no.
Let him spend the night.
Still, since he's been so kind
to come here,
he must stay to dinner.
Can't let him leave
without some sort of a hearing.
BALDWIN:
For the sake of the country,
for the sake of everything
that the Crown stands for,
give up this marriage
and stay with your people.
Mr. Baldwin, we've been
through this many times before.
My mind is made up to go.
And by your leave, I should like
to be spared any more advice.
If you will allow me
one last word, sir.
Very well, Prime Minister.
One last word.
And then we shall talk no more
of this,
and you shall stay to dinner.
I know, Prime Minister.
I have absolute faith
that the Welsh problem
can be happily solved.
But we must show two things --
good sense and goodwill.
We have plenty of both,
and they are being applied.
Yes, but they don't know this.
Not yet, because they've seen
no evidence of it.
They will in time, sir.
Rome wasn't built in a day.
But meanwhile, Mr. Baldwin,
they feel they're just being
neglected and shrugged off,
that all we care for
is their coal
and we want to pay as meanly
as possible even for that.
God knows they have grievances.
Well, you've possibly not been
to Monmouth
or the Rhondda lately.
Now it's just streets
of empty, shuttered shops.
Men stand on the roads
all day long in dole queues
against a background
of slag heaps.
These men are short of food
and clothing as well as work.
I went to a Bessemer steelworks.
They tell me a few years ago
9,000 men were employed there.
Now it's just a vast,
derelict area.
The men were sitting there,
waiting for me.
Just sitting on piles
of twisted metal.
BALDWIN:
Thank you, sir.
[ Whispers ] This is the man
we're going to lose.
Well, that was it, you see.
I like to think
that they felt I cared...
this gave some hope.
I know that you and Mrs. Baldwin
do not approve
of what I'm doing.
But I belong
to a different generation.
Sir, there are no two people
among your subjects
more grieved at what
has happened than we are.
But there are no two people
who hope more sincerely
that you may find happiness
where you believe
it is to be found.
Goodbye, Mr. Baldwin.
Goodbye, sir.
But I've already been through
what you're suggesting
only a few days ago with Perry.
We prepared a statement
in which I said
I was willing to withdraw.
The king refused
to accept it then.
Why should he accept it now?
Well, if the statement were
stronger and more forthright,
he would have to accept it.
But you finally understand
the position you are both in.
-Yes, I understand.
-Are you sure?
Yes.
I understand that I can
n-never -- never be accepted
as the wife
of the king of England,
that I can never be queen.
No.
More than that, Mrs. Simpson.
You can never be any kind
of wife to the king of England.
If he persists in marrying you,
he will have to abdicate.
Yes.
I-I understand.
Well, there can be
no compromises or evasions.
He must give up you
or give up his throne.
I don't think
the king will give me up.
Then if you do not wish
to cost him his kingdom,
you must give him up.
I don't think he'll accept it.
Well, he would have no choice
if you were to instruct me
to withdraw your petition
for divorce.
Yes.
It could be canceled,
making the marriage impossible.
Yes.
If only I could make him believe
I was willing to withdraw
my petition.
You must.
Now, supposing we drafted
a statement, Mrs. Simpson.
Something like this.
"I have today discussed
the whole position
with Mrs. Simpson.
Her own,
the position of the king...
and the country -- the empire."
MONCKTON:
"Mrs. Simpson tells me she was
and still is perfectly willing
to instruct me
to withdraw her petition
for divorce
and willing to do anything
to prevent the king
from abdicating.
I am satisfied that this is
Mrs. Simpson's genuine
and honest desire.
I have read this note over
to Mrs. Simpson,
who in every way confirmed it."
Signed Theodore Goddard.
Countersigned Brownlow.
So in view of this declaration,
sir,
Mr. Baldwin has asked me
to convey to you
that your ministers
are reluctant to believe
that Your Majesty's decision
is irrevocable...
...and still venture to hope
that...
To get Goddard to cancel
your petition!
But would you really go through
with it?
Yes, I suppose so.
Well, a day or two ago, you were
still urging me to fight,
broadcast to the people...
Mr. Baldwin wouldn't let you.
...stand up for my rights,
count on my popularity
with the country.
I thought you still believed
in it.
Now you say you're backing down,
what?
One thing I know now, David --
Either you can have me
or the throne.
Not both.
You know that, too.
So I'm offering to back down
and leave you the throne.
-Wallis?
-[ Static ]
Wallis?
It's too late.
So it's final.
Absolutely final, Mama.
He's giving up all this...
for that.
There's nothing at all
that you...or any of us can do.
Go home to your wife, Bertie.
Ask her to pray with you
for grace and strength.
BERTIE: So David will have
what he wants.
Or what he thinks he wants.
Sir...certain assurances
would be appreciated.
Do you agree that your brother
may retain his royal rank
after he has gone?
I think that would be fitting.
Secondly, do you agree that he
may retain the fort to live in
if and when he should be allowed
to return to England?
If and when, Walter...
yes, he may have the fort.
Thank you, sir.
Well, we can now go ahead
and prepare the act
and instrument of abdication.
EDWARD: I, Edward VIII
of Great Britain, Ireland...
and the British Dominions
beyond the seas,
king, emperor of India...
do hereby declare
my irrevocable determination
to renounce the throne
for myself and my descendants...
...and my desire
that effect should be given
to this instrument of abdication
immediately.
In token whereof
I have hereunto set my hand
this 10th day of December 1936
in the presence of the witnesses
whose signatures are subscribed.
SPEAKER: "I will not enter now
into my private feelings,
but I would beg
that it should be remembered
that the burden
which constantly rests
upon the shoulders
of a sovereign
is so heavy that it can only
be borne in circumstances
different from those
in which I now find myself.
I conceive
that I am not overlooking
the duty that rests on me
to place in the forefront
the public interest
when I declare
that I am conscious
that I can no longer discharge
this heavy task
with efficiency
or with satisfaction to myself.
I have accordingly this morning
executed an instrument
of abdication."
[ Murmuring ]
"I am most anxious that there
should be no delay of any kind
in giving effect to the
instrument which I have executed
and that all necessary steps
should be taken immediately
to secure that my lawful
successor, my brother,
His Royal Highness the Duke of
York, should ascend the throne."
Signed Edward Rex Imperator.
[ Murmuring ]
No more grave message has ever
been received by Parliament.
And no more difficult --
I may say repugnant -- task
has ever been imposed
upon a prime minister.
[ Murmuring ]
My last words on the subject
are that I am convinced
that where I have failed,
no one could have succeeded.
-Hear, hear.
-Hear, hear.
BALDWIN:
His mind was made up,
and those who know His Majesty
best will know what that means.
This House today is a theater
which is being watched
by the whole world.
Let us conduct ourselves
with that dignity
which His Majesty is showing
in this hour of his trial.
Whatever our regret
at the contents of the message,
let us fulfill his wish.
Do as he asks,
and do it with speed.
Let no word be spoken today
that the utterer of that word
will regret in days to come.
Let no word be spoken
which causes pain to any soul.
And let us not forget
the revered and beloved figure
of Queen Mary,
what all this terrible time
has meant to her,
and remember her when we speak,
if speak we must,
during this debate.
Above all, let us look forward
and remember our country
and the trust imposed
by our country.
And let us rally behind
the new king...
-Hear, hear.
-Hear, hear.
...stand behind him,
and help him.
And let us hope that whatever
the country has suffered
by what we are passing through
may soon be repaired
and that we may take
what steps we can
in trying to make this country
a better country
for all the people in it.
-Hear, hear.
-Hear, hear.
-Hear, hear.
-Hear, hear.
Grief-stricken as we are today,
it is our duty
to face the future
with clear eyes
and firm resolve.
This, at any rate, is certain --
that the prompt action
which the king himself
has enjoined upon us
will best serve
the dignity of the throne,
the reputation of our
parliamentary institutions,
and peace, happiness,
and prosperity
of the British people.
-Hear, hear.
-Hear, hear.
Mr. Churchill.
Nothing is more certain
or more obvious
than recrimination
or controversy at this time
would not only be useless
but harmful and wrong.
What is done is done.
What has been done or left
undone belongs to history.
And to history, as far as I am
concerned, it shall be left.
The gendarmes have assured me
there'll be no more occurrences
from photographers
climbing the walls.
-But they're still at the gates?
-I'm afraid they are.
So I'm a prisoner
in a five-star prison.
Shall I look for somewhere else?
No.
What's the point?
It would soon be the same
wherever we went.
David says
that we can't see each other
until the decree is absolute.
We mustn't even be
in the same country.
They've taken his kingdom
from him,
and yet there are some people
who would like to take
our future happiness as well.
Thank you, Winston,
for all your kind advice
and helpful suggestions
and very much
for the very gallant efforts
you've made for me.
I only wish I'd been allowed
to speak before
and not just
as a condemned man's privilege.
Condemned men have made
memorable speeches.
[ Voice breaking ]
Well...goodbye, sir.
Goodbye, Winston.
"He nothing common did or mean
upon that memorable scene."
Oh, there is one more thing,
sir.
Reith wants to know
by what title shall he introduce
your brother
before he makes his broadcast
tonight.
Well, I had in mind for him
His Royal Highness
the Duke of Windsor.
Uh, y-yes.
But what about tonight, sir?
Your brother's not yet created
the Duke of Windsor.
Reith has suggested
he should be introduced
as Mr. Edward Windsor.
No, Walter, he can't be called
plain Mr. Edward Windsor.
He can't be announced as
His Royal Highness
Mr. Edward Windsor.
No.
If he's to be royal
after he's gone,
he's still royal at this moment.
Yes, sir.
This is Windsor Castle.
His Royal Highness
Prince Edward.
At long last I am able to say
a few words of my own.
I have never wanted to withhold
anything.
But until now
it has not been constitutionally
possible for me to speak.
A few hours ago, I discharged my
last duty as king and emperor.
And now that I have been
succeeded by my brother,
the Duke of York...
my first words must be
to declare my allegiance to him.
This I do with all my heart.
You all know the reasons
which have impelled me
to renounce the throne.
But I want you to understand
that in making up my mind,
I did not forget the country
or the empire
which, as Prince of Wales
and lately as king,
I have for 25 years
tried to serve.
But you must believe me
when I tell you
that 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.
And I want you to know
that the decision I have made
has been mine and mine alone.
This was a thing I had to judge
entirely for myself.
The other person
most nearly concerned
has tried up to the last
to persuade me to take
a different course.
I have made this, the most
serious decision of my life,
only upon the single thought
of what would in the end
be best for all.
This decision has been made
less difficult to me
by the sure knowledge
that my brother,
with his long training in the
public affairs of this country
and with his fine qualities,
will be able to take my place
forthwith
without interruption or injury
to the life and progress
of the empire.
And he has
one matchless blessing
enjoyed by so many of you
and not bestowed on me...
...a happy home with his wife
and children.
During these hard days,
I have been comforted
by Her Majesty, my mother,
and by her -- by my family.
The Ministers of the Crown
and in particular Mr. Baldwin,
the prime minister,
have always treated me
with full consideration.
There has never been
any constitutional difference
between me and them
and between me and Parliament.
Bred in the constitutional
tradition by my father,
I should never have allowed
any such issue to arise.
Ever since I was Prince of Wales
and later on,
when I occupied the throne,
I have been treated
with the greatest kindness
by all classes of the people
wherever I have lived or
journeyed throughout the empire.
For that, I am very grateful.
I now quit altogether
public affairs,
and I lay down my burden.
It may be some time before
I return to my native land,
but I shall always
follow the fortunes
of the British race and empire
with profound interest.
And if at any time in the future
I can be found of service
to His Majesty
in a private station,
I shall not fail.
And now we all have a new king.
I wish him and you, his people,
happiness and prosperity
with all my heart.
God bless you all.
God save the king.
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Music continues ]
[ Music continues ]
[ Music continues ]
But...
Well, I suppose that we shall be
able to come back to the fort
some time after we're married.
And I shall want to know
what job is intended for me.
Sir, I think you should give up
any idea of returning to England
in the foreseeable future.
But surely there must be work
for me to do.
Well, I don't want to waste
the rest of my life, Walter.
Well, I'll do what I can, sir.
But you see, there is a strong
feeling in many quarters
that the people of Britain
do feel let down.
I don't believe that.
Not the ordinary people.
Uh, there is something
rather difficult
I have to tell you, sir.
You've been in the habit
of telephoning constantly
to your brother.
I think that these calls
will have to stop.
But why?
The king is beginning
to find his feet, sir,
but apparently it is difficult
if you, sir, give him advice
which is not always the same
as the advice he gets
from his ministers.
It all seems very odd to me.
After all,
the king is my brother.
I must be able to speak to him.
For instance,
I wanted to discuss with him
the arrangements
for our wedding.
As this will be
a royal marriage,
I expect my two
youngest brothers to come
and act as my supporters.
I don't think
you should expect them, sir.
Why ever not?
[ Tapping ]
My mother, my sister --
I mean, they will be coming,
too.
Walter, do you --
do you mean to say
that when Wallis becomes
a member of the family
that not one of them will be
there to welcome her into it?
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
I want you to give him
this letter.
The Duke of Windsor is to have
the title His Royal Highness.
But his wife is not.
A nice wedding present.
Wallis is not to have
royal rank.
Well, this is
a nice wedding present.
But tomorrow, sir,
she will be your wife.
She will be
the Duchess of Windsor.
I think it's particularly mean
of them not to give her that.
I shall never admit that Wallis
is not Her Royal Highness.
[ Slow introduction plays ]
♫ I've danced with a man
who's danced with a girl ♫
♫ Who's danced
with the Prince of Wales ♫
♫ I'm crazy with excitement ♫
♫ Completely off the rails ♫
♫ And when he said to me
what she said to him ♫
♫ The prince remarked to her ♫
♫ "It was simply grand,"
he said ♫
♫ "Topping band" ♫
♫ And she said,
"Delightful, sir" ♫
♫ Glory, glory, alleluia ♫
♫ I'm the luckiest of females ♫
♫ For I've danced with a man
who's danced with a girl ♫
♫ Who danced
with the Prince of Wales ♫
♫ My word, I've had a party ♫
♫ My word, I've had a spree ♫
♫ Believe me or believe me not ♫
♫ It's all the same to me ♫
♫ I'm wild with exultation ♫
♫ I'm dizzy with success ♫
♫ For I've danced with a man ♫
♫ I've danced with a man ♫
♫ Who --
Well, you'll never guess ♫
♫ I've danced with a man
who's danced with a girl ♫
♫ Who's danced
with the Prince of Wales ♫
♫ I'm crazy with excitement ♫
♫ Completely off the rails ♫
♫ And when he said to me
what she said to him ♫
♫ The prince remarked to her ♫
♫ "It was simply grand,"
he said ♫
♫ "Topping band" ♫
♫ And she said,
"Delightful, sir" ♫
♫ Glory, glory, alleluia ♫
♫ I'm the luckiest of females ♫
♫ For I've danced with a man
who's danced with a girl ♫
♫ Who danced
with the Prince of Wales ♫
[ Up-tempo music plays ]
♫ I've danced with a man
who's danced with a girl ♫
♫ Who's danced
with the Prince of Wales ♫
♫ "It was simply grand,"
he said ♫
♫ "Topping band" ♫
♫ And she said,
"Delightful, sir" ♫
♫ Glory, glory, alleluia ♫
♫ I'm the luckiest of females ♫
♫ For I've danced with a man
who's danced with a girl ♫
♫ Who danced
with the Prince of Wales ♫
[ "God Save the King" plays ]
[ Up-tempo music plays ]
David, if you'll only fight
for your rights.
You're the king of England
and immensely popular
with your people.
If you stand up to Mr. Baldwin
and the rest of them,
your popularity will carry
the day.
Yes.
Well, I hope you're right.
[ Static ]
The people are on your side,
David --
the ordinary men and women
you spoke to in Wales.
The prime minister
can't ignore them.
No, but I mustn't set them
against him.
And nor must I divide
the nation.
But short of that, there's still
a certain amount to be done,
and you may be sure
that we're doing it.
How are you in Cannes?
Well, but very lonely
without you.
I know you must be in England
now, but...
...well, i-it's so sad that I
can't be there to help you.
I know that life was impossible
before I left,
but it's all so very difficult
without you.
Yes. Well, it was the only thing
that we could do, wasn't it?
Yes.
I know it had to be.
He won't see me, Alec.
He keeps putting me off,
saying tomorrow...tomorrow.
But he never sends for me.
Could you put in a word?
Well, I'm afraid that he doesn't
listen to me anymore, sir.
To Walter Monckton, yes.
To Winston Churchill
these last few days.
And, of course, that woman,
on the telephone.
Endlessly on the telephone.
But, uh, not to me.
The thing is, I m-must know
what's going on.
Of course I do understand --
My wife and I must be warned
as soon as possible!
You see, Alec...
the whole fabric may give way
under the strain.
If I'm to hold it together,
I must be warned.
When will this statement
of yours appear, Winston?
Tomorrow, in the Sunday papers.
A plea asking for time --
no more.
That is just what Baldwin
and the rest don't want.
But you must have time, sir.
If they refuse it,
you should imitate
your ancestor George III,
retire to Windsor Castle
and lock yourself in,
placing the royal physicians
at the entrances
to refuse access to your person.
[ Laughs ]
It's a charming idea, Winston,
but I think it might be
overdoing it a bit.
Still, if your statement
would achieve a little delay,
I should be very grateful.
CHURCHILL:
I plead for time and patience.
The nation must realize
the character
of the constitutional issue.
There is no question
of any conflict
between king and Parliament.
Parliament has not been
consulted in any way,
nor allowed to express
any opinion.
The question is whether the king
is to abdicate
upon the advice
of the ministry of the day.
No such advice has ever before
been tended to a sovereign
in parliamentary times.
-[ Knock on door ]
-Come in.
Mr. Winston Churchill, sir.
Ah.
Winston.
Good of you to come so quickly.
Well, Prime Minister?
This statement of yours
to the press --
What do you hope to achieve
by it?
Time for the king
and for Parliament.
There is no time.
One way or another,
the thing must be settled now,
before it poisons
the whole nation.
He is not fit to decide
just now.
I had dinner with him
last night --
as a friend, Prime Minister.
And as a friend, I urged
his staff to call in the doctor.
And did they?
His Majesty appeared to me
to be under a very great strain.
He had two prolonged periods
of blackout
in which he completely lost
the thread of the conversation.
Oh, he was very gallant
and debonair at the onset,
but it soon wore off.
And his mental exhaustion
was painful to see.
It would be a most cruel
and wrong thing
to extort a decision from him
in his present state.
-[ Knock on door ]
-Come in.
Will you see
Mr. Walter Monckton, sir?
Yes.
Of course.
-Prime Minister.
-Walter.
Winston.
What's your news?
He means to go, sir.
He sent me here
to tell you formally
that he intends to abdicate.
I was with him last night,
and he said nothing.
I was with him this morning,
Winston.
Will you accompany me to the
fort, please, Prime Minister?
Very well, Walter.
So you see, sir...
there is a possibility
that you could lose
both the throne and Wallis.
How, Walter?
Well, the moment
you cease to be king,
you become subject to
the ordinary laws of the land.
Now, there is a chance that
the decree nisi may be quashed,
thereby invalidating
the divorce.
But to make sure
that this does not happen,
Walter has a proposal, sir.
And with your approval,
I have undertaken
to try to put it through.
Yes.
What is it?
Well, that there should be
two bills, sir --
one giving effect to your wish
to renounce the throne
and the other one
making the decree nisi absolute
immediately.
In this way,
we should leave no loose ends.
But I must warn you, sir,
that we can expect some
opposition from my colleagues,
on the grounds that it would
injure the marriage laws
and give wrongful privilege
to the monarch.
But you will support the plan,
Mr. Baldwin?
Yes, sir. It seems to me
a very reasonable accommodation.
If the Cabinet rejects it,
I shall resign.
No.
Still no answer?
None from him.
They say he's in conference,
speak to me later.
They said that yesterday.
He'll talk to you later,
they said.
They said it again this morning.
I wish he'd be straight with me.
The Cabinet won't agree, Walter.
The Abdication Bill, certainly.
But declined to allow a bill
to make the divorce absolute
immediately.
There was an outcry
about it being one law for the
rich and another for the poor
and that to rush
the decree through
would publicly confirm the worst
about Mrs. Simpson.
Who spoke against it?
Chamberlain, really, largely.
He said the thing would be
denounced as an unholy bargain,
that it would damage the moral
authority of the government,
be looked on as a blow
to the marriage laws in general,
and injure respect
for the monarchy.
Yes.
I hadn't expected
such opposition.
No more had I, Walter.
And now I have my promise
to keep.
I must resign.
No. The king won't allow that,
I assure you.
But what he will want is more
time to consult his advisers.
How long?
Well, a few days.
I don't know.
Perhaps weeks.
It's intolerable, Walter.
The affair must be finished
by Christmas.
Give him time, Prime Minister.
It's not possible, Walter.
Many members of the Cabinet
want the thing settled
long before then --
Chamberlain in particular.
They feel it's holding up
important government business.
It's even damaging
the Christmas trade.
And any further delay
just gives the Simpson press
added opportunity to
misrepresent what is happening.
Every day that passes
before the thing is settled
brings fresh perils.
You must see
that he should be denied
these weeks that you speak of.
And who is to deny them to him?
His own conscience?
[ Telephone ringing ]
Wallis?!
[ Static ]
How are you?
WALLIS:
How are you, David?
What's happening?
Well, Walter's proposal
didn't work.
The Cabinet threw it out.
It's all an unholy mess here.
But you said Baldwin was certain
they would waive the six months.
No.
I said he'd do what he could.
But it's misfired.
So now we shall have to wait.
Wait for what?
Well, to see what happens next.
David, they've turned down
the morganatic proposal
and your request for
a direct appeal to the people
and now this.
You're letting them
tie your hands completely.
W-Wallis, it's not as simple
as that.
I realize I'm out of touch here,
but, David, please,
you mustn't give up the fight.
No.
Well, are you happy to stay on
in Cannes?
It seems I have no choice.
Well, why don't you ask
Aunt Bessie to join you there?
Perhaps I will.
Oh, do, Wallis.
I hate the thought
of you being so isolated,
and she'd be a marvelous support
for you.
I tell you, I feel like chucking
it all and joining you.
No, David.
You mustn't.
You must stay
as long as there's hope.
We both have to accept that.
Yes.
Wallis?
[ Static ]
Wallis, I've made up my mind.
David?
David, I can't hear you.
What did you say?
[ Static ]
David?
David!
Mr. Speaker, it is now my duty
to ask the right honorable
gentleman, the prime minister,
whether he has anything to add
to his statement
of Friday, December 4th
on the possibility
of constitutional difficulties
arising from the private wishes
or intentions
of His Majesty the king.
Mr. Speaker.
Yes, sir.
I am glad to have the occasion
to make a further statement
on the position.
I should tell the House
that I have twice had audience
of the king since last Friday
and that I have also had
a meeting with the Cabinet.
While I am anxious for the
matter to be finally settled,
I am reluctant
to force a decision
from one who is as delicately
and painfully situated
as is His Majesty.
The king is at present
still consulting
with his own conscience
in an effort to reconcile
his private
and personal obligations
as he sees them
with his public duty
and the country's good.
When His Majesty has arrived
at a conclusion
as to the course
he wishes to take,
he will no doubt communicate it
to his governments
both here and in the Dominions.
It will then be
for those governments to decide
what advice, if any,
they feel it their duty
to tender to His Majesty
in the light of his conclusion.
I cannot end this statement
without expressing
what the whole House feels --
our deep and respectful sympathy
with His Majesty at this time.
-Hear, hear.
-Hear, hear.
SPEAKER:
Mr. Churchill.
Mr. Speaker.
May I ask
my right honorable friend
whether he could give us
an assurance
that no irrevocable step --
[ Indistinct shouting ]
...that no irrevocable step
will be taken
before the House has received
a full statement,
not only upon the personal,
but upon the constitutional
issues involved.
-[ Shouting continues ]
-Order! Order!
If the House resists my claim,
it will only add more importance
to any words
that I might wish to use.
May I say the right honorable
gentleman has spoken of rumors.
If he is able to give
an assurance that the House
will have the constitutional
issue laid before it
and that no irrevocable decision
will be taken
before at least a statement
is made to Parliament,
then this anxiety
would not persist.
[ Shouting continues ]
You won't be satisfied until you
have broken him, will you?
[ Shouting continues ]
Order!
Order!
[ Shouting stops ]
Mr. George Lambert.
Mr. Speaker, may I ask whether
the prime minister realizes
that there is a great personal
sympathy for him
from all sections of the House.
-Hear, hear!
-Hear, hear!
[ Murmuring,
indistinct conversations ]
So you must see
that as things now stand,
there's no way at all --
no gesture, no compromise,
no subterfuge, no legislation --
whereby he can stay on the
throne unless you release him.
I always thought
something would turn up.
I always thought someone
would think of a formula.
I thought he had the power
to insist.
I fear you don't understand
the nature of his position.
He cannot, never could insist.
There isn't and never has been
a formula.
I understand.
At last, I understand.
Then you must let him
and everyone else know
that you understand.
We must draft a statement
making it clear to the world
and to the king
that you have his best interests
at heart
and are now absolutely offering
to withdraw.
Very well.
A declaration that you have no
intention of marrying the king.
I should never have left
England.
I should never have left him
on his own.
EDWARD: No. My mind
is definitely made up, Bertie.
But in London,
they think I'm still deciding.
Despite the statement
from Cannes?
Mm.
Could you not have told me
earlier?
Well, there have been
complications, Bertie.
But I'm going anyway.
I didn't tell you before
because I wanted to
settle everything first.
Yes.
I'm sorry if I seemed
so impatient.
But, David...
...it isn't all settled for me,
is it?
Well, at least it's now certain
that I'm going.
Yes, David.
But there are still
a lot of things to be discussed.
Like where
you're going to live...
what you're going to be
known as...
...the titles.
We shall have to do something
about all that.
Mrs. Simpson's renunciation,
Walter.
It's plain, and now it's public.
But has it got
the king's approval?
Yes, but only because
it may stem her unpopularity.
But it'll make no difference.
Well, everybody's reading it.
A lot of people are saying this
means the end of the crisis.
She's renounced him,
they're saying,
and now she'll just disappear.
The king has no intention
of being renounced.
If she disappears,
so will he with her.
So he still means to marry her,
Walter.
Yes.
In which case he should know
that yet another affidavit
is to be served
by a private individual
who says that he can prove
that the evidence
for the Simpson divorce
was obtained by fraud
and collusion.
Can you disprove it?
Very probably.
But I shall have to go to Cannes
to consult with Mrs. Simpson.
The king won't like that.
Why not?
I am, after all,
Mrs. Simpson's solicitor.
I'm trying to ensure
that her divorce goes through.
No divorce for her, Walter,
no marriage for him.
The king won't want to see her
harried, T.G.
He'll simply see it
as more fodder for the press.
If the king wants her free,
the king must permit me
to go to her.
He cannot have it both ways.
[ Sighs ]
Well, you try telling him.
I was hoping you would.
Oh, just tell him I'm going,
Walter,
in the normal course
of professional duty.
[ Telephone ringing ]
Yes, Walter.
Well, tell Goddard
that she mustn't be harassed
and he's to leave her alone.
Now, please, Walter,
don't argue.
She's to be left quite alone.
Come down here
and I'll tell him myself.
I know the king forbids it,
but the relationship
between a lawyer and his client
is the most sacred
in English law.
Even the king
cannot come between them.
Do you consider it your duty to
follow Mrs. Simpson to Cannes?
I do.
Then don't ask my advice,
Mr. Goddard.
Do your duty to your client
and take no notice of the king.
Thank you, Prime Minister.
Just one thing more,
Mr. Goddard.
After all, the lady has issued
a statement to the press
in which she states that she is
ready to give up the king.
That being the case,
surely the simplest thing to do
and the easiest way to cope
with this new affidavit
would be to withdraw her suit
for divorce altogether.
If when you get to Cannes you
find her to be of that mind,
what will you do then,
Mr. Goddard?
I shall obey her instructions,
Mr. Baldwin.
Now, I forbade Mr. Goddard
going to see you.
I don't want you worried
anymore.
Well, a-apparently there are
complications with your divorce,
but they don't warrant him
visiting you in Cannes.
Well, no.
It...
He feels --
You see, he feels that your
press statement compromised him,
and he wanted to consult you
about that.
I told him
that you were to be left alone,
and he finally agreed.
Wallis, I --
No.
I wanted to spare you
any more worries.
It could be that just a little
more pressure from Goddard
would make her say not only
that she's willing to withdraw,
but that she is now withdrawing.
The king wouldn't accept that.
One final effort, Walter.
He must wrestle with himself
as he never has before.
And if he'll let me,
I will help him.
-Good evening, Mr. Baldwin.
-Good evening, sir.
-Do come on in, won't you?
-Thank you, sir.
-Good evening.
-Good evening, sir.
Don't much like the look
of that suitcase, Walter.
He's ready to stay the night,
sir,
but I can get rid of him
if you like.
No, no.
Let him spend the night.
Still, since he's been so kind
to come here,
he must stay to dinner.
Can't let him leave
without some sort of a hearing.
BALDWIN:
For the sake of the country,
for the sake of everything
that the Crown stands for,
give up this marriage
and stay with your people.
Mr. Baldwin, we've been
through this many times before.
My mind is made up to go.
And by your leave, I should like
to be spared any more advice.
If you will allow me
one last word, sir.
Very well, Prime Minister.
One last word.
And then we shall talk no more
of this,
and you shall stay to dinner.
I know, Prime Minister.
I have absolute faith
that the Welsh problem
can be happily solved.
But we must show two things --
good sense and goodwill.
We have plenty of both,
and they are being applied.
Yes, but they don't know this.
Not yet, because they've seen
no evidence of it.
They will in time, sir.
Rome wasn't built in a day.
But meanwhile, Mr. Baldwin,
they feel they're just being
neglected and shrugged off,
that all we care for
is their coal
and we want to pay as meanly
as possible even for that.
God knows they have grievances.
Well, you've possibly not been
to Monmouth
or the Rhondda lately.
Now it's just streets
of empty, shuttered shops.
Men stand on the roads
all day long in dole queues
against a background
of slag heaps.
These men are short of food
and clothing as well as work.
I went to a Bessemer steelworks.
They tell me a few years ago
9,000 men were employed there.
Now it's just a vast,
derelict area.
The men were sitting there,
waiting for me.
Just sitting on piles
of twisted metal.
BALDWIN:
Thank you, sir.
[ Whispers ] This is the man
we're going to lose.
Well, that was it, you see.
I like to think
that they felt I cared...
this gave some hope.
I know that you and Mrs. Baldwin
do not approve
of what I'm doing.
But I belong
to a different generation.
Sir, there are no two people
among your subjects
more grieved at what
has happened than we are.
But there are no two people
who hope more sincerely
that you may find happiness
where you believe
it is to be found.
Goodbye, Mr. Baldwin.
Goodbye, sir.
But I've already been through
what you're suggesting
only a few days ago with Perry.
We prepared a statement
in which I said
I was willing to withdraw.
The king refused
to accept it then.
Why should he accept it now?
Well, if the statement were
stronger and more forthright,
he would have to accept it.
But you finally understand
the position you are both in.
-Yes, I understand.
-Are you sure?
Yes.
I understand that I can
n-never -- never be accepted
as the wife
of the king of England,
that I can never be queen.
No.
More than that, Mrs. Simpson.
You can never be any kind
of wife to the king of England.
If he persists in marrying you,
he will have to abdicate.
Yes.
I-I understand.
Well, there can be
no compromises or evasions.
He must give up you
or give up his throne.
I don't think
the king will give me up.
Then if you do not wish
to cost him his kingdom,
you must give him up.
I don't think he'll accept it.
Well, he would have no choice
if you were to instruct me
to withdraw your petition
for divorce.
Yes.
It could be canceled,
making the marriage impossible.
Yes.
If only I could make him believe
I was willing to withdraw
my petition.
You must.
Now, supposing we drafted
a statement, Mrs. Simpson.
Something like this.
"I have today discussed
the whole position
with Mrs. Simpson.
Her own,
the position of the king...
and the country -- the empire."
MONCKTON:
"Mrs. Simpson tells me she was
and still is perfectly willing
to instruct me
to withdraw her petition
for divorce
and willing to do anything
to prevent the king
from abdicating.
I am satisfied that this is
Mrs. Simpson's genuine
and honest desire.
I have read this note over
to Mrs. Simpson,
who in every way confirmed it."
Signed Theodore Goddard.
Countersigned Brownlow.
So in view of this declaration,
sir,
Mr. Baldwin has asked me
to convey to you
that your ministers
are reluctant to believe
that Your Majesty's decision
is irrevocable...
...and still venture to hope
that...
To get Goddard to cancel
your petition!
But would you really go through
with it?
Yes, I suppose so.
Well, a day or two ago, you were
still urging me to fight,
broadcast to the people...
Mr. Baldwin wouldn't let you.
...stand up for my rights,
count on my popularity
with the country.
I thought you still believed
in it.
Now you say you're backing down,
what?
One thing I know now, David --
Either you can have me
or the throne.
Not both.
You know that, too.
So I'm offering to back down
and leave you the throne.
-Wallis?
-[ Static ]
Wallis?
It's too late.
So it's final.
Absolutely final, Mama.
He's giving up all this...
for that.
There's nothing at all
that you...or any of us can do.
Go home to your wife, Bertie.
Ask her to pray with you
for grace and strength.
BERTIE: So David will have
what he wants.
Or what he thinks he wants.
Sir...certain assurances
would be appreciated.
Do you agree that your brother
may retain his royal rank
after he has gone?
I think that would be fitting.
Secondly, do you agree that he
may retain the fort to live in
if and when he should be allowed
to return to England?
If and when, Walter...
yes, he may have the fort.
Thank you, sir.
Well, we can now go ahead
and prepare the act
and instrument of abdication.
EDWARD: I, Edward VIII
of Great Britain, Ireland...
and the British Dominions
beyond the seas,
king, emperor of India...
do hereby declare
my irrevocable determination
to renounce the throne
for myself and my descendants...
...and my desire
that effect should be given
to this instrument of abdication
immediately.
In token whereof
I have hereunto set my hand
this 10th day of December 1936
in the presence of the witnesses
whose signatures are subscribed.
SPEAKER: "I will not enter now
into my private feelings,
but I would beg
that it should be remembered
that the burden
which constantly rests
upon the shoulders
of a sovereign
is so heavy that it can only
be borne in circumstances
different from those
in which I now find myself.
I conceive
that I am not overlooking
the duty that rests on me
to place in the forefront
the public interest
when I declare
that I am conscious
that I can no longer discharge
this heavy task
with efficiency
or with satisfaction to myself.
I have accordingly this morning
executed an instrument
of abdication."
[ Murmuring ]
"I am most anxious that there
should be no delay of any kind
in giving effect to the
instrument which I have executed
and that all necessary steps
should be taken immediately
to secure that my lawful
successor, my brother,
His Royal Highness the Duke of
York, should ascend the throne."
Signed Edward Rex Imperator.
[ Murmuring ]
No more grave message has ever
been received by Parliament.
And no more difficult --
I may say repugnant -- task
has ever been imposed
upon a prime minister.
[ Murmuring ]
My last words on the subject
are that I am convinced
that where I have failed,
no one could have succeeded.
-Hear, hear.
-Hear, hear.
BALDWIN:
His mind was made up,
and those who know His Majesty
best will know what that means.
This House today is a theater
which is being watched
by the whole world.
Let us conduct ourselves
with that dignity
which His Majesty is showing
in this hour of his trial.
Whatever our regret
at the contents of the message,
let us fulfill his wish.
Do as he asks,
and do it with speed.
Let no word be spoken today
that the utterer of that word
will regret in days to come.
Let no word be spoken
which causes pain to any soul.
And let us not forget
the revered and beloved figure
of Queen Mary,
what all this terrible time
has meant to her,
and remember her when we speak,
if speak we must,
during this debate.
Above all, let us look forward
and remember our country
and the trust imposed
by our country.
And let us rally behind
the new king...
-Hear, hear.
-Hear, hear.
...stand behind him,
and help him.
And let us hope that whatever
the country has suffered
by what we are passing through
may soon be repaired
and that we may take
what steps we can
in trying to make this country
a better country
for all the people in it.
-Hear, hear.
-Hear, hear.
-Hear, hear.
-Hear, hear.
Grief-stricken as we are today,
it is our duty
to face the future
with clear eyes
and firm resolve.
This, at any rate, is certain --
that the prompt action
which the king himself
has enjoined upon us
will best serve
the dignity of the throne,
the reputation of our
parliamentary institutions,
and peace, happiness,
and prosperity
of the British people.
-Hear, hear.
-Hear, hear.
Mr. Churchill.
Nothing is more certain
or more obvious
than recrimination
or controversy at this time
would not only be useless
but harmful and wrong.
What is done is done.
What has been done or left
undone belongs to history.
And to history, as far as I am
concerned, it shall be left.
The gendarmes have assured me
there'll be no more occurrences
from photographers
climbing the walls.
-But they're still at the gates?
-I'm afraid they are.
So I'm a prisoner
in a five-star prison.
Shall I look for somewhere else?
No.
What's the point?
It would soon be the same
wherever we went.
David says
that we can't see each other
until the decree is absolute.
We mustn't even be
in the same country.
They've taken his kingdom
from him,
and yet there are some people
who would like to take
our future happiness as well.
Thank you, Winston,
for all your kind advice
and helpful suggestions
and very much
for the very gallant efforts
you've made for me.
I only wish I'd been allowed
to speak before
and not just
as a condemned man's privilege.
Condemned men have made
memorable speeches.
[ Voice breaking ]
Well...goodbye, sir.
Goodbye, Winston.
"He nothing common did or mean
upon that memorable scene."
Oh, there is one more thing,
sir.
Reith wants to know
by what title shall he introduce
your brother
before he makes his broadcast
tonight.
Well, I had in mind for him
His Royal Highness
the Duke of Windsor.
Uh, y-yes.
But what about tonight, sir?
Your brother's not yet created
the Duke of Windsor.
Reith has suggested
he should be introduced
as Mr. Edward Windsor.
No, Walter, he can't be called
plain Mr. Edward Windsor.
He can't be announced as
His Royal Highness
Mr. Edward Windsor.
No.
If he's to be royal
after he's gone,
he's still royal at this moment.
Yes, sir.
This is Windsor Castle.
His Royal Highness
Prince Edward.
At long last I am able to say
a few words of my own.
I have never wanted to withhold
anything.
But until now
it has not been constitutionally
possible for me to speak.
A few hours ago, I discharged my
last duty as king and emperor.
And now that I have been
succeeded by my brother,
the Duke of York...
my first words must be
to declare my allegiance to him.
This I do with all my heart.
You all know the reasons
which have impelled me
to renounce the throne.
But I want you to understand
that in making up my mind,
I did not forget the country
or the empire
which, as Prince of Wales
and lately as king,
I have for 25 years
tried to serve.
But you must believe me
when I tell you
that 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.
And I want you to know
that the decision I have made
has been mine and mine alone.
This was a thing I had to judge
entirely for myself.
The other person
most nearly concerned
has tried up to the last
to persuade me to take
a different course.
I have made this, the most
serious decision of my life,
only upon the single thought
of what would in the end
be best for all.
This decision has been made
less difficult to me
by the sure knowledge
that my brother,
with his long training in the
public affairs of this country
and with his fine qualities,
will be able to take my place
forthwith
without interruption or injury
to the life and progress
of the empire.
And he has
one matchless blessing
enjoyed by so many of you
and not bestowed on me...
...a happy home with his wife
and children.
During these hard days,
I have been comforted
by Her Majesty, my mother,
and by her -- by my family.
The Ministers of the Crown
and in particular Mr. Baldwin,
the prime minister,
have always treated me
with full consideration.
There has never been
any constitutional difference
between me and them
and between me and Parliament.
Bred in the constitutional
tradition by my father,
I should never have allowed
any such issue to arise.
Ever since I was Prince of Wales
and later on,
when I occupied the throne,
I have been treated
with the greatest kindness
by all classes of the people
wherever I have lived or
journeyed throughout the empire.
For that, I am very grateful.
I now quit altogether
public affairs,
and I lay down my burden.
It may be some time before
I return to my native land,
but I shall always
follow the fortunes
of the British race and empire
with profound interest.
And if at any time in the future
I can be found of service
to His Majesty
in a private station,
I shall not fail.
And now we all have a new king.
I wish him and you, his people,
happiness and prosperity
with all my heart.
God bless you all.
God save the king.
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Music continues ]
[ Music continues ]
[ Music continues ]
But...
Well, I suppose that we shall be
able to come back to the fort
some time after we're married.
And I shall want to know
what job is intended for me.
Sir, I think you should give up
any idea of returning to England
in the foreseeable future.
But surely there must be work
for me to do.
Well, I don't want to waste
the rest of my life, Walter.
Well, I'll do what I can, sir.
But you see, there is a strong
feeling in many quarters
that the people of Britain
do feel let down.
I don't believe that.
Not the ordinary people.
Uh, there is something
rather difficult
I have to tell you, sir.
You've been in the habit
of telephoning constantly
to your brother.
I think that these calls
will have to stop.
But why?
The king is beginning
to find his feet, sir,
but apparently it is difficult
if you, sir, give him advice
which is not always the same
as the advice he gets
from his ministers.
It all seems very odd to me.
After all,
the king is my brother.
I must be able to speak to him.
For instance,
I wanted to discuss with him
the arrangements
for our wedding.
As this will be
a royal marriage,
I expect my two
youngest brothers to come
and act as my supporters.
I don't think
you should expect them, sir.
Why ever not?
[ Tapping ]
My mother, my sister --
I mean, they will be coming,
too.
Walter, do you --
do you mean to say
that when Wallis becomes
a member of the family
that not one of them will be
there to welcome her into it?
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
I want you to give him
this letter.
The Duke of Windsor is to have
the title His Royal Highness.
But his wife is not.
A nice wedding present.
Wallis is not to have
royal rank.
Well, this is
a nice wedding present.
But tomorrow, sir,
she will be your wife.
She will be
the Duchess of Windsor.
I think it's particularly mean
of them not to give her that.
I shall never admit that Wallis
is not Her Royal Highness.
[ Slow introduction plays ]
♫ I've danced with a man
who's danced with a girl ♫
♫ Who's danced
with the Prince of Wales ♫
♫ I'm crazy with excitement ♫
♫ Completely off the rails ♫
♫ And when he said to me
what she said to him ♫
♫ The prince remarked to her ♫
♫ "It was simply grand,"
he said ♫
♫ "Topping band" ♫
♫ And she said,
"Delightful, sir" ♫
♫ Glory, glory, alleluia ♫
♫ I'm the luckiest of females ♫
♫ For I've danced with a man
who's danced with a girl ♫
♫ Who danced
with the Prince of Wales ♫
♫ My word, I've had a party ♫
♫ My word, I've had a spree ♫
♫ Believe me or believe me not ♫
♫ It's all the same to me ♫
♫ I'm wild with exultation ♫
♫ I'm dizzy with success ♫
♫ For I've danced with a man ♫
♫ I've danced with a man ♫
♫ Who --
Well, you'll never guess ♫
♫ I've danced with a man
who's danced with a girl ♫
♫ Who's danced
with the Prince of Wales ♫
♫ I'm crazy with excitement ♫
♫ Completely off the rails ♫
♫ And when he said to me
what she said to him ♫
♫ The prince remarked to her ♫
♫ "It was simply grand,"
he said ♫
♫ "Topping band" ♫
♫ And she said,
"Delightful, sir" ♫
♫ Glory, glory, alleluia ♫
♫ I'm the luckiest of females ♫
♫ For I've danced with a man
who's danced with a girl ♫
♫ Who danced
with the Prince of Wales ♫