The British Empire was plunged into a constitutional crisis in 1936 when Edward VIII was torn between his kingdom and the woman he loved. The King was eager to marry the twice-divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson, to the strong objections of government ministers, who deemed her unsuitable for the role of Queen. As monarch, Edward also held the position of Supreme Governor of the Church of England. A Wedding to Wallis would not have been acceptable in the eyes of the Church, which forbade remarriage for divorced people while their former spouse was still alive. So, less than a year after he ascended the throne, Edward chose his wife over his crown, and abdicated. He was replaced by his younger brother George, father of the reigning Queen Elizabeth II, and Edward was henceforth known as the Duke of Windsor.
Prince Harry’s Crown Jewels and King Henry VIII’s Wives: Top 10 Royals Behaving Badly
The nearly-nude, self-censored photos of the young Prince Harry are hardly an embarrassment for the oft-spotlighted British Royal Family. Past royal dynasties have witnessed illicit affairs, illegitimate children and plenty of acrimonious marital breakdowns.