June 22 was the wedding anniversary of my late parents, Jack and Lorraine, and so almost in spite of them it has always since my childhood been a day on which I have thought about marriage. Originally I looked at their experience with marriage and announced to myself and anyone else who might be interested that I was not "the marrying type." Later I married the first person to whom I had made that pronouncement, and then deciding after about 20 years that I had not gotten that exactly right I married again, thinking I might get better with practice. But try or try again, it is clear that I am never entirely done with thinking of it.
King Edward VIII, later the Duke of Windsor, was not anyone I would wish to emulate in any respect, except with regard to love and marriage. In that sphere, a sphere where one must put first things first or surely doom oneself to death in life, he was a champion for all time. On December 11, 1936, Edward appeared on the BBC to deliver the following speech moments after he abdicated his throne in so that he might be entirely free to marry the woman he loved, Mrs. Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee:
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 twenty-five 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 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.
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