On this day - 11 December

King Edward VIII was one of the shortest reigning monarchs in the history of the United Kingdom. He took the throne on January 20th 1936 following the death of his father, King George V. Shortly after the start of his reign, he stated his intent to marry Wallis Simpson. She was an American who had been married twice and divorced her first husband and was pending a divorce from her second husband. The prime minister and government opposed this marriage due to her status as having been divorced. There was also a conflict between King Edwards position as the head of the Church of England and the marriage, as the Church of England disapproved of remarriage following a divorce with a living previous spouse.

In order to marry Wallis, King Edward VIII abdicated the throne on December 11th 1936 which went to his brother King George VI. Wallis and Edward married after her second divorce was completed. They remained married until Edward's death in 1972."