The relationship between Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII has been debated by historians for decades, many with their own theories on why Edward chose Simpson over the crown. For many at the time, the abdication was seen as the King’s dereliction of duty. But could past experiences have had a part to play in Edward’s decision to marry Wallis? 

Anne Sebba, Wallis Simpson biographer and author of ‘That Woman: The Life of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor’, told Express.co.uk about the defining moments in Edward’s life that could have led to the abdication and his marriage to Wallis. 

Many people questioned why Edward, as an eligible monarch, decided Wallis was the one for him.

Ms Sebba said: “Why did Edward marry this woman who they thought offered nothing in the way of conventional beauty? 

“She must have been a gold digger. She must have been the one who led him astray. 

“But actually her witty Americanism, her fun and her lack of deference were all really appealing.”

It is thought Wallis was very resentful of receiving the blame for Edward’s abdication, and Sebba says Wallis would take her frustration out on phone calls with the king. 

“I’m not a psychologist, but honestly I think Edward was looking for punishment. 

“And if you try and unpick their relationship, there is definitely some level of sadomasochism, that she was punishing him and yet then he was forgiven. 

“I think he sort of craved that humiliation, that punishment. It seemed to answer some deep need in him.” 

Ms Sebba also highlighted a number of the king’s past experiences that could have driven his decision to abdicate.

She said: “I don’t think the abdication was really planned, but equally I think Edward felt at some deep level that he had failed. 

“He’d failed to live up to the sort of macho views of his father George V, he failed at the deepest level to produce an heir. 

“The other reason why he’d felt he’d failed is because he wasn’t allowed to serve at the front at World War One. 

“That was something that really fed his sort of guilty complexes.” 

After the abdication crisis, Wallis and Edward married in 1937. 

The marriage is regarded to have been a happy one, with the pair remaining married until Edward’s death in 1972. 

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