Edward VIII, then Prince of Wales, with Freda Dudley Smith and her husband, William Dudley-Ward. Fort Belvedere is best known as being the residence of the future King Edward VIII / Duke of Windsor. READ MORE: Why Edward VIII Abdicated the Throne to Marry Wallis Simpson Edward, born in 1894, was the eldest son of King George V, who became the British sovereign in 1910. Right, Prince John, the youngest child of King George V … King Edward VIII may have abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson, but according to biographer Andrew Morton’s latest book, Wallis in Love, their romance didn’t exactly have a happy ending. If fact, theres more written about his love life than his time as the king. King Edward VIII leaped into financial uncertainty the moment he signed the Instrument of Abdication on December 10, 1936. Edward being gay was rumored, but nothing all that substantial exists. That same day, Edward, now known as Duke of Windsor, entered into an agreement with his younger brother and successor, King George VI, that secured him £25,000 annually for … In this, the first of two extracts, Lascelles reveals his blisteringly unflattering verdict on his first royal employer, Edward VIII, who threw away his throne for the love of Wallis Simpson in 1936. Located in Windsor Great Park, adjoining Windsor Castle, Fort Belvedere is part of the Crown Estate. It was where he signed the Instrument of Abdication. However, there’s much more to the history of the Fort. Who is a matter of pure speculation. Prince Edward, the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II and the late Prince Philip, has lived a fascinating and varied life, even by royal standards.Currently 11th in line for the throne, Edward has dipped his toes into the world of television production, been instrumental in international outreach for at-risk youth, and managed to keep a 20-year marriage going, too. He immediately moved to France, where, on June 3, 1937, he married Wallis Simpson. She had changed her name by a deed poll to Wallis Warfield. Edward enjoyed life as a prince but dreaded becoming king. Edward VIII giving his abdication broadcast to the nation on December 11, 1936. Photo: The Print Collector/Getty Images. No marriage to Mrs Simpson would leave him free to wed someone else. Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII) Funeral 5/6/1972. Here’s the story of what happened to Edward VIII after he abandoned the throne of Great Britain for love. Their marriage at the Chateau de Cande was a private affair. That said, we know a ton about his romantic life. The first is that Edward VIII did give up the woman he loved. He married Wallis Simpson. Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII) Funeral 5/6/1972.