David and Bertie - Destined to be Parted

Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David and Albert Frederick Arthur George were the first and second born children of the Duke and Duchess of York who would later rule as King George V and Queen Mary. King George V was a King more like his grandmother, Victoria, was a Queen than like his father, Edward VII. His family was quietly off leading a life of sheltered privilege in a world that was changing very quickly around them. This was not the case with David, as his family always called King Edward VIII. David was the glamorous, worldly type like his grandfather, Edward VII, who is credited with bringing pomp and circumstance back into the monarchy after the death of Queen 'Victoria a virtual recluse during the last decades of her long life and reign.

David was born destined to be King. He was third in line following his grandfather and his father and the last four of his seven names were Patron Saints of the British Isles; George for England, Andrew for Scotland, Patrick for Ireland and David for Wales. No such fanfare was ever accorded to his younger brother, Bertie. It seemed Bertie would forever stand in the shadow David. They were born a year and a world apart. While David was being groomed for the throne, Bertie was overlooked. Both studied in a make shift classroom with an assortment of tutors, both were taught to ride and shoot, both knew the seasons by the home they found themselves in. By all accounts they were very close.

Queen Victoria passed away on January 2, 1901. King Edward VII passed away nine years later on May 6, 1910 making David the heir apparent to the throne now occupied by their father, George V. Though Bertie was now second in line after David, little attention was ever paid. David was strong, healthy, personable, photographed well and became the idol of his generation often referred to as Prince Charming. It was assumed that he would marry and produce heirs to continue the lineage. Upon his father's ascension his formal education took second place to his duty to crown and country. Bertie on the other hand was allowed to continue on with his naval duty. Both brothers served in WWI. It is post-war that their paths diverged.

In 1923 Bertie married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyons, a lovely debutante from Scotland. The newly created Duke and Duchess of York settled into a life of family welcoming Princess Elizabeth in 1926 and Princess Margaret Rose four years later. In between the couples life was filled in with rounds of official duties. David, on the other hand, continued to have affairs with older, married women and doing the nightclub circuit while circling the globe on his official visits to the many countries of the Common Wealth. It was said during Queen Victoria's reign that the sun never set on the United Kingdom so it is no surprise that the young Prince of Wales racked up 41,000 miles during his eight-month tour of 1921 even though his modes of transportation were mainly elephants and horses when on land.

Their choice of living arrangements was also quite different. In his book King George VI and Queen Elizabeth A Portrait by Christopher Warwick he describes the York's choice; "A London home was thus considered essential.. the Duke and Duchess acquired No. 145 Piccadilly". This decision was driven by the increasing demand of their workload. David's workload and nightlife would seem like a perfect reason for him to want to be in town as well, however, we know from his autobiography A King's Story The Memoirs of The Duke of Windsor, he became quite excited to find that Fort Belvedere near Windsor Great Park had fallen vacant in 1929 and that he asked his father for it in 1930 at the end of his African Tour. He was as happy to find a place to retreat to, as his brother and his wife were to find a place that would put them home in the shortest time once their duty had been performed.

Though their lives were going in different directions, the brothers remained close visiting with each other regularly. David was known to be a great favorite of his nieces, Elizabeth and Margaret. All of that changed in 1936 the year there were three kings on the throne. On January 20, King George VI died leaving the throne to his son, David, who ascended it as King Edward VIII. Even before he became King, David had fallen in love with a married woman, Wallis Simpson. Once King, he realized that he could either marry the woman he loved in an attempt to create the personal happiness found with a loving, life partner or put it all aside in the name of duty. We all know now that he chose love over duty abdicating in favor of his brother signing the Instrument of Abdication on December 10, 1936. He gave a moving speech about it the following evening before he headed into exile.

Now as Duke of Windsor, David thought his exile would be temporary. He dreamed of returning to England, his family and The Fort, but this was not to be. As his brother, Bertie, now King George VI, struggled to steady the rocking throne World War II broke out. The Duke was sent to Nassau to become Governor of the Bahamas by Sir Winston Churchill in an attempt to keep him out of Hitler's way. (It seems Hitler was planning to kidnap the Duke and Duchess but his plot had been foiled by the interception of some of Germany's intelligence on the matter.) After the war, the nation was in a state of grave depression so it wasn't deemed an appropriate time for a return. Then George VI passed away in his sleep at Sandringham on February 6, 1952. Their mother, Queen Mary, passed away in early 1953 - shortly before the coronation of her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II. The Duke passed away in 1972 and his remains were placed in Frogmoor at Windsor Castle. The Duke was finally able to return to the country that meant so much to him that he was unwilling to compromise its government and constitution for the sake of his personal happiness. I like to think he is finally reunited with his brother and mother as well.