After long and anxious consideration, on this day in 1936, less than a year after he became King of England, Edward VIII (1894–1972) chose to abdicate his throne in order to marry the woman he loved, Wallis Warfield Simpson (1896–1986). In a quiet but remarkable radio broadcast, he told his people he could not carry the weight of royal responsibility without the help and support of the woman he loved.

Their story has often been retold as both romance and caution, a reminder that the choice of the heart can alter the course of a life. The twice-divorced Simpson, born in Baltimore, was deemed unacceptable as queen. Reflecting on her own path, she once said that a woman’s life can unfold in a series of distinct chapters, each shaped by some compelling situation or challenge and marked by a defining experience.

Edward’s brother, King George VI, granted him the title Duke of Windsor. In June 1937, Edward and Wallis were married, becoming the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. They lived most of their years in voluntary exile, finding a measure of home in Paris while the world continued to wonder what might have been if the crown and the love story had found a way to coexist.

The fascination never quite faded. Letters, jewels, and personal mementos have been displayed and auctioned, each piece offering another glimpse into a relationship that softened family rifts over time and reshaped the modern monarchy.

Simpson, clear in her convictions, once said, “Nobody has made me do anything that I have not wanted to do.” Her voice remains steady, grounded in the resolve that shaped her life.