Alexander Larman
Days That Rocked the House of Windsor
In the annals of history, there are moments that redefine nations, shape destinies, and captivate the world's attention. Throughout the years, there have been several moments when the House of Windsor experienced great turmoil: the behind-the-scenes drama, scandals, triumphs, and crises that have tested the resilience of one of the most renowned royal families in history. From dazzling coronations to captivating love stories, from contentious family disputes to shocking betrayals, these are the moments that shaped the monarchy, leaving an indelible mark on the pages of British history.
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Edward & Harry: Giving Up the Crown
They say history often repeats itself. And when we look at the lives of Edward VIII, the King never crowned, and his great grandnephew Prince Harry, the unconventional spare, you can’t help but notice the surprising parallels between the two. Both modern in how they approached royal life, with personal lives full of gossip and scandal, it was ultimately love, for American socialite Wallis Simpson & actress Megan Markle that drew Edward & Harry away from their duty.
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Heir & Spare: Charles & Anne
Heavy is the head that wears the crown, but heavier is the burden of being next in line. The British Royal family is built on the traditional duty until death. For every heir to the throne, there is a spare. Charles knew he’d become King, following in his mother's footsteps, leaving his sister Anne behind. Despite their close childhood bond, becoming the reigning Monarch would definitely divide the pair. When one steps up, the other must step back.
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King Charles III: Portrait of a King
On the 8th of September 2022, Charles’s life would change forever. At the exact moment of his mother’s death, the Prince of Wales became King Charles III. The extraordinary reign of Queen Elizabeth II ended, and the day he had spent a lifetime preparing for had arrived. A moment he would later say he had dreaded his whole life. Buckingham Palace announced the Queen was under medical supervision, and one by one members of the royal family were making their way to Balmoral to see the Queen. Charles and Anne made it back to Balmoral to be with their beloved mother as she peacefully passed away. The end of the second great Elizabethan era, and a time of tremendous sadness for the family. Broadcasters announced her death, and stated the King and Queen will return to London the following day. There is no pause in the continuity of the monarchy, and following his mother’s example, Charles stepped into his duties as king.
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The Exiled Windsors
The year; 1936. Behind the doors of 10 Downing street. Controversy. Suspicion. Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin has a difficult decision to make. The King of England, and of Great Britain, is infatuated with divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson. The King has been showering his mistress with extravagant gifts, a warning to the security services of possible blackmail. Fears grow, too, of his association with fascist sympathisers, and the possibility the king could attempt to overthrow the government to keep his seat of power on the throne. At the very least, would the affair trigger civil unrest and turmoil in an already unstable country. The Prime Minister must make that difficult decision. To spy on the head of state, the monarch, is an extraordinarily controversial and intrusive act, but Baldwin finally gives the order. The British intelligence service began to spy on the King. And so began one of the greatest constitutional crises in centuries… Edward and Wallis - The Exiled Windsors.
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By Royal Proclamation
The Queen Is Dead. Long Live the King! The death of a monarch has inevitable ramifications for the line of royal succession, and following the death of the great Queen Elizabeth II, a new era of monarchy has begun under King Charles III. Though his accession is immediate, councils must convene, oaths must be sworn, and proclamations made in accordance with centuries old pomp and pageantry. Let the dynastic bureaucracy begin!
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Charles I: King on the Edge
The absolute believer in the divine right of king, the rightful king of Great Britain. Not born into favour, but with the pride of an innate king, he was the only king in British history to be beheaded by his own people, and he led a turbulent and legendary life, setting off the English Civil War and even sending Britain briefly into the republican era.
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Finding the King's Voice
He came into power when the crown was in a time of crisis, and steered the country through a turbulent period when the world was in the midst of change. With Hitler’s Nazi regime threatening the very freedom of Europe, George VI mustered the courage to combat his personal ailments, inspire the British people, and prove that he did in fact have a voice.
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Edward & Wallis: Forbidden Love
The story of the man who gave up being king in order to marry the woman he fell in love with. The dramatic relationship between Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson is what you can call a forbidden romance in the real definition of the word - a king and a twice-divorced American woman who were ready to show the world that love really does conquer all. Having each other gave them the courage to face all of the consequences that came with their decisions.
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A Princess at War
In the wake of his brothers abdication, King George VI, became king on May the 12th, 1937. This meant that his young daughter, Elizabeth, who was just 11 years old at the time - would one day succeed him as queen. 2 years later… WWII broke out. This set a tone for the monarchy going forward. The indomitable spirit of the Royal Family helped the people of the United Kingdom through their darkest times. Princess Elizabeth was only 13 years of age, when the outbreak of war occurred on September 3rd, 1939. King George VI died in 1952, only just 7 years after the end of WWII. Elizabeth was taught from such a young age, what a monarch should be about. She put in the forthright dedication just as much as her father did. The influence of her surroundings, and the very nature of her family, shaped her into becoming the longest-reigning monarch in all of British History.
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King Charles III: A New Era
In a never-before-seen interview, King Charles' former butler Grant Harrold, now a social media sensation, paints an intimate portrait of the new monarch.
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Edward VIII: Never Crowned King
Edward VIII, the king never crowned, abandoned his throne for the woman he loved and went from being a man of honour to a man of nothing and even scorned man. His life was a tumultuous one, full of romance and mystery. He was a milestone in the British monarchy's turning point, and his abdication ushered in the Elizabethan era. Allowing his unlikely brother George VI to become king and the then Princess Elizabeth, later becoming the monarch of England, Elizabeth II. Edward VIII is arguably one of the best representations of absolute romance in Royal history.
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George VI: Reluctant but Rightful
He came into power when the crown was in a time of crisis, and fought hard to gain popularity with his public. Through the chaos of war and the founding of the Commonwealth of Nations, King George VI became a figure of hope and stability for peoples throughout the world.
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The Year of Three Kings
1936 saw three kings of England, in a year that greatly unsettled the monarchy. Following the death of George V, he was succeeded by his eldest son, Edward VIII, who a few months later abdicated and was exiled to France, and his younger brother George VI ascended to the throne. This was a time of great crisis and instability for the English royal family, calling into question the role and relevance of the monarchy in a world in the midst of change.
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Crown in Crisis: Abdication
After ruling for less than one year, Edward VIII became the first British monarch to voluntarily abdicate the throne. He made this choice after the British government and the Church of England condemned his decision to marry the American divorcee Wallis Simpson. On the evening of December 11th, 1936, Edward gave a radio address to the public, in which he explained his reasoning for leaving behind the throne. The broadcast was expected but still shocking.
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On the Brink: WWII & King George VI
Forced to step up and meet his royal responsibilities unexpectedly, George VI saw the nation through some difficult times and witnessed the changing landscape of Britain.
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Wallis Simpson: Kingmaker
Wallis Simpson was an American socialite who had been married twice when she met Edward, Duke of Windsor (then the Prince of Wales), at a party. She became Edward's mistress, leading to the "abdication crisis" in which he stepped down as king in order to be with her. Hearsay and conjecture have clouded the assessment of the Duchess of Windsor's life. There is no document which proves directly that she was anything other than a victim of her own ambition, who lived out a great romance that became a great tragedy. The Duchess is reported to have summed up her life in a sentence: "You have no idea how hard it is to live out a great romance."
Apple TVApple iTunesKing Charles III: A New Era
In a never-before-seen interview, King Charles' former butler Grant Harrold, now a social media sensation, paints an intimate portrait of the new monarch.
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The Late Queen's Father
In our late Majesties’ stead, one doesn’t need to look far to find the influence of her father. A conscientious king who ruled, despite anxiety and public pressure. He carried his own burdens. As he carried Great Britain through the chaos of the second world war. Overcoming the Nazi regime, which threatened the freedom of the people. Never straying from the path of his duties…The reluctant yet headstrong Bertie. Known to us... As King George VI.
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