Film and television
The abdication of Edward VIII was featured in the multi-award-winning historical drama film The King’s Speech , in which his decision to stand down was depicted solely upon his desire to marry Wallis Simpson. [2]
The abdication is mentioned frequently in the first season of the Netflix television series The Crown , in which the former King, now titled the Duke of Windsor, returns to London for the funeral of King George VI and accession of Elizabeth II. Queen Mary is depicted as continuing her condemnation of his marriage to Mrs Simpson and his decision to abdicate, [3] and faces animosity towards his attendance of Elizabeth's coronation, subsequently declining his invitation . [4] His abdication is also cited as a factor in the opposition to the marriage of Princess Margaret and Group Captain Peter Townsend. [5]
The sixth episode of the second season features the Duke returning to London in a bid to ask Queen Elizabeth II for forgiveness of his abdication and to allow him to work for the monarchy. However, following her informing of The Marburg Files, detailing facts of the Duke's relationship with Nazi Germany and further damning information from former private secretary Tommy Lascelles, and continuing animosity from the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Prince Philip, she admonishes him and asks him to return to Britain only at the request of the monarch. [6]
Edward has been portrayed by:
- John Greenidge in the silent film The Scarlet Woman: An Ecclesiastical Melodrama (1925)
- Richard Chamberlain in the American television drama The Woman I Love (1972), which focused on the love between Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson
- Peter Barkworth in the LWT adaptation of the Royce Ryton play Crown Matrimonial (1974)
- Ian Ogilvy in the BBC television drama The Gathering Storm (1974), based on the book by Winston Churchill
- Edward Fox in the Thames Television drama series Edward & Mrs Simpson (1978), based on the 1974 biography Edward VIII by Frances Donaldson
- David Yelland in Chariots of Fire (1981); during a meeting with the committee regarding the status of British runner Eric Liddell, Lord Birkenhead (Nigel Davenport) calls him 'David' - he was known to close friends and family by this name.
- Madison Mason in the episode of the American television series Tales of the Gold Monkey , entitled "God Save the Queen" (1983)
- John Standing in the television drama To Catch a King (1984), based on the novel by Jack Higgins
- Anthony Andrews in the HTV drama The Woman He Loved (1988)
- Peter Sands in the LWT drama Beryl Markham: A Shadow on the Sun (1988)
- Andrew Ray in the television drama Passion in Paradise (1989), about the murder of Sir Harry Oakes; Ray had previously portrayed Edward's brother (the future George VI) in both Crown Matrimonial and the television series Edward and Mrs Simpson (above)
- Jonathan Weightman in the Portuguese film Passagem por Lisboa (1994)
- William Boyde in the television series A Dance to the Music of Time (1997), based on the novels by Anthony Powell
- Charles Edwards in the Carlton Television drama Bertie and Elizabeth (2002)
- Julian Firth in the BBC television series Cambridge Spies (2003)
- Stephen Campbell Moore in the television drama Wallis & Edward (2005), billed as the first scripted account of the romance from Mrs Simpson's point of view. [7]
- Guy Pearce in the 2010 Oscar-winning film The King's Speech , a film about his brother Bertie's battle to overcome a stammer, a task made still more imperative when Bertie (played by Colin Firth) ascended to the throne because of Edward's abdication.
- Tom Hollander in the 2010 television adaptation of Any Human Heart .
- James D'Arcy in the 2011 film W.E. , directed by Madonna.
- Oliver Dimsdale in the 2013 Christmas episode of the ITV Studios/Carnival Films period drama Downton Abbey .
- Alex Jennings (seasons 1 & 2) and Derek Jacobi (season 3) in the 2016 Netflix series The Crown .
He has also been used as a cultural reference. In Lady of the Night , Chunky reads a paper which proclaims Edward "The Best Dressed Man in the World", prompting him to go to a tailor with his suits and demand: "You fix these! I want to look like that Wales guy!". [8]
Mrs. Simpson has been portrayed by:
- Faye Dunaway in The Woman I Love (1972, television drama)
- Cynthia Harris in Edward & Mrs. Simpson (1978, television miniseries)
- Barbara Parkins in To Catch a King (1983, television movie)
- Jane Seymour in The Woman He Loved (1988, television movie)
- Jane Hartley in Always (1997, West End musical)
- Amber Sealey in Bertie and Elizabeth (2002, television film)
- Joely Richardson in Wallis & Edward (2005, television film)
- Gillian Anderson in Any Human Heart (2010, television mini-series)
- Emma Clifford in Upstairs, Downstairs (2010, television mini-series)
- Eve Best in The King's Speech (2010)
- Andrea Riseborough in W.E. (2011)
- Lia Williams (seasons 1 & 2) and Geraldine Chaplin (season 3) in The Crown (2016, television series).
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