Edward VIII was King of Great Britain, Ireland, the British Dominions beyond the Seas, and Emperor of India from the death of his father, George V , on 20 January 1936, until his abdication on 11 December 1936. He was the second monarch of the House of Windsor, his father having changed the name of the Royal house from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in 1917.

Before his accession to the throne, Edward VIII held the titles of Prince Edward of York, Prince Edward of Cornwall and York, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, and Prince of Wales . As a young man he served in World War I, undertook several foreign tours on behalf of his father, and was associated with a succession of older married women.