Edward
Bartender
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- 25,082
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- London, UK
There were political reason's for the abdication, but the Nazi sympathies aren't quite as pronounced as many point - he certainly met and to a certain extent admired Hitler, but the full horror's of the regime were far off, and many other politicians of the era felt rather the same as he at the time. It was more due to the fact he was a pretty rubbish King - too willing to voice his political views (a big no no) and a general immaturity regarding the responsibilities of the role. In all honesty, though, the real reason was due marrying a divorcee. You have to remember this was the 1930's, not the 21st Century, and times have certainly changed, and Royal protocol has changed with it.
It certainly was a very different time in that the country did see it as a scandal, whereas now (not least due to much more media-driven awareness of the Royals and what they do) it wouldn't be an issue the same. Any opposition to Charles becoming King as a divorcee as well as having married one seems more rooted in Diana's ongoing popularity than moral objection to his marital status. Still, I've seen quite a lot of stuff in recent years that leans towards Edward VIII's Nazi sympathies being at least as significant factor behind the scenes,albeit not the one they chose to run with publicly. I suppose had they tried to out him as a Nazi sympathiser back then it would have been seen as tantamount to treason. [huh]
The Royal family may seem to be stuck in the past, but really it's closer to a link to the past. If a problem arises, they change; if the newly engaged couple were to have a daughter as the firstborn, then the rule on male ascension would likely change - there's just no point in changing the rules until it becomes an issue, which I feel is a fairly sensible and pragmatic approach.
I agree about the inevitability of change if the institution wants to maintain itself. The inevitable hoopla over the looming wedding will certainly focus much more public attention on the monarchy again, both for and against.