Trivia

Edward VIII
 
Born in 1894 
Ascended in 1936 
Abdicated in 1936 
Reigned for 325 days 
Married to Mrs. Wallis Simpson 

Edward VIII came to power on the 22nd January 1936, but he only reigned for part of that year before abdicating on the 12th of December. In total, he was in power for 325 days and was never publicly crowned.

Edward VIII was a reluctant king, finding matters of state tedious. Even in his short reign he neglected some of his duties, spending too much time with the divorcee, Mrs Wallis Simpson. Both the Prime Minister and his own father, the king, had been worried about him before he came to power. They believed that he would not survive long because he did not seem to have the diplomatic powers necessary for kingship. 

Edward was accused of having pro-German sympathies and, indeed, made some rather controversial statements on the subject. He believed that Germany was like a protective bulwark against the Russian communists and thought that England should proffer the hand of friendship.

It must be remembered, however, that his time before coronation as the Prince of Wales was a popular one. He had served in the army overseas throughout the war and was seen as a champion of the ex-servicemen. When he returned he was very concerned about unemployment in his country after the war.
 
In the end it was love that made Edward leave his throne. Mrs Simpson was divorced in October of that year and, in September, Edward announced his plans to marry her. This caused a constitutional crisis, as the King is not allowed to marry a divorcee. The government decided that Edward would have to renounce his crown and hand it over to his brother, Albert, if he wanted to marry Mrs. Simpson. On the 10th December he signed the abduction papers and, on the 11th December, the former King spoke on the wireless, telling the country of his plans to marry and his allegiance to the new king. I have for twenty-five years tried to serve, he said, 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... God bless you all. God save the King.