Full name:  Edward VIII Born:  23rd June 1894 Place of Birth:  White Lodge, London Ascended to the throne:  20th January 1936, aged 41 years Crowned:  Uncrowned Reign:  10 months Died:  28th May 1972, Paris, France

As the only British sovereign to abdicate the throne voluntarily, Edward VIII was born 23 June 1894, the eldest child of the Duke of York.

Edward became Prince of Wales in 1910, when his father became King George V.

Edward was extremely popular because of his many public visits, both foreign and around Britain. He was also liked because he actively joined the World War I efforts even though he was not allowed to fight on the front line.

Edward had a reputation as a playboy due to many affairs with married woman. In 1930, he met, and subsequently fell in love with, Wallis Simpson, a married American woman.

In 1936, Edward became King. Mrs Simpson obtained a divorce from her husband soon after this, and it became obvious the King wanted to marry her. To the public, and Edward's advisors, it seemed Wallis was trying to advance her social status and wealth through using the king. She was seen as an unsuitable queen.

It became clear Edward would have to choose between marrying Mrs Simpson or continuing his reign as King.

Edward was never crowned, and was king for less than a year when he officially abdicated from the throne in December 1936. His brother George became king, and Edward moved to Europe.

Edward married Wallis Simpson in 1937, and they became the duke and duchess of Windsor. He lived outside Britain until he died in 1972.