Object of the Day: A Souvenir of the Coronation That Never Happened, Edward VIII

King George V wasn’t too keen on the idea of his eldest son, known as “David” to the family, becoming king after his death. He and his Queen, Mary of Teck, both thought that David was too flighty and wild to be a good monarch. George V hoped that his son, “Bertie” would one day be king, but wasn’t quite sure how that would come to pass.


When George V died, David was next in line for the throne. He styled himself King Edward VIII and got about to business. Actually, he got about to keeping company with Wallis Simpson. That was the problem. Could this questionable divorcee possibly be the Queen Consort? Everyone had an opinion—especially Edward VIII.

In November of 1936, King Edward VIII (who had only been “King” since January) called the Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin, to Buckingham Palace to express his desire to marry Wallis Simpson (when her divorce was final, of course). Baldwin informed the King that the British people would never accept the marriage and advised him to give up his foolish notions. Edward stated that if he couldn’t marry Mrs. Simpson, he would abdicate. Edward was given three choices: he could give up Mrs. Simpson, abdicate, or marry without the minister’s consent. He made his decision.

On the evening of December 11, 1936, King Edward VIII made his final broadcast as King. Addressing his people, he stated, "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."

With his abdication, “Bertie” would become King—as George V wished. Bertie, unprepared for the throne and not really wanting to be king in the first place, styled himself as King George VI. This made his daughter, Elizabeth, the next in line for the throne. And, we all know how that worked out.

Since coronation plans for Edward VIII were already underway and since the British are a practical people, they kept the same coronation date for George VI. King George VI and his consort, Elizabeth (the Queen Mum), were crowned on May 12, 1937.

As was the case with any coronation, a variety of commemorative souvenirs had already been produced with the likeness of King Edward VIII. The majority of these were scrapped as new merchandise was manufactured with the faces of George VI and Elizabeth. Some of these pieces of Edward VIII memorabilia still survive, but they’re rare. Here’s one!

I find this mug, and its brother which also bears the grim face of Edward VIII, very amusing. I display it next to a commemorative mug of George V and Mary of Teck and the coronation mug of George VI and Queen Elizabeth which shows the same coronation date. To me, it’s a reminder that one should always be prepared for change.