Newly examined Cabinet documents reveal that during the peak of the crisis, Wallis Simpson's lawyer actually proposed the idea of a monetary settlement to remove the twice-divorced American from the situation.
If such a deal had been reached, it could have altered the course of history, potentially leading to a different monarch on the throne today – not King Charles.
Fortunately, the proposed settlement did not come to fruition.
However, for a brief moment, it seemed that “The woman I love” might have been persuaded to leave the troubled king in exchange for a substantial sum and disappear into the distance.
The revelation emerges from the contemporary account of Sir Horace Wilson, the senior Whitehall official tasked by Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin to manage the influx of information as the crisis unfolded.
While the abdication appeared as a seismic event to the public, the hurried departure of the king and the installation of a replacement seemed like a well-executed and dignified process.
Yet, according to Wilson's documents, the reality was far from orderly – the situation was chaotic, and it could have resulted in the present Duke of Kent, now 88, ascending to the throne.
The timeline was swift, with just 25 days passing from when Edward informed the prime minister of his intention to marry Mrs.
Simpson to his eventual retreat from the limelight when he signed the Instrument of Abdication on December 11.
Despite warnings of a constitutional crisis due to the marriage between the head of the Church of England and a divorcee, the king was determined to proceed, assuring Wallis of grand titles and privileges.
Meanwhile, Whitehall officials naively believed that financial pressure alone could dissuade Edward from taking the unprecedented step.
Edward's struggle for the throne was a battle that he was ill-equipped to handle, despite his vast resources.
On the other hand, the opposition, comprising the Church, Parliament, and courtiers, also found it challenging to navigate the rapidly evolving narrative.
From Wilson's records emerges a different perspective from the historical narrative that has prevailed for the past eight decades.
It was known from the start of Edward's reign in January 1936 that his relationship with Mrs.
Simpson posed a problem.
The lack of contingency planning became evident in Wilson's papers as the crisis unfolded.
Sudden alerts about Edward ordering planes for an escape and his desire to broadcast his love for Wallis added to the chaos.
The possibility of abdication and Edward's sudden flight alarmed officials, leading to frantic efforts to prevent his departure without signing the necessary paperwork.
The situation reached a tipping point when Edward was confronted about his escape plan, and the planes were eventually canceled.
Amidst concerns about Edward's mental state and support waning, the crisis continued to escalate.
Proposals and rumors circulated, including sending Edward on a long naval tour to avert a public spectacle.
However, these desperate measures failed to materialize, and Edward's abdication became inevitable.
The aftermath left both sides tarnished.
Winston Churchill, who had hoped for a different outcome, saw his political stature diminish as the king fled.
The authorities struggled to comprehend the depth of the king's attachment to Mrs.
Simpson and lacked a coherent strategy to address the crisis.
Prime Minister Baldwin, though empathetic towards Edward's predicament, prioritized the public interest over the crown.
The repercussions of those tumultuous three weeks in December 1936 would cast a long shadow over the British monarchy, lingering to this day.