This is the first episode of our series on the Abdication crisis of 1936.  It forms season one of our "Royal Revolutions" podcast.

Royal commentator James Taylor once again joins RHG founder, Gareth Streeter.  They discuss:

 - The upbringing and early life of Edward and Wallis

 - Life in the early twentieth century Royal family

 - George V and Queen Mary's parenting skills

 - The character, personality and limits of the dashing but dangerous Edward, Prince of Wales

 - The Prince's love affairs with Freda Dudley Ward and Thelma Furness

 - Wallis and Edward's meeting and early relationship

 - The King and Queen's reactions

 - Wallis and her husband Ernest's motivations for tangling with the Prince

In this bonus episode, Catherine Ibbotson - the "Historical Collaborator" - goes behind the scenes with Gareth and James (the show creators) to hear more about the background to the show and why they wanted to jump straight in to the drama of the 1930s.

Edward VIII ascends the throne and immediately begins a subtle but determined campaign to position Wallis Simpson as his consort.

But even without the dangers posed by Wallis, Edward soon begins to ruffle feathers.  Among government, fears abound around the new King's reliability, capability and political instincts.

This episode again sees Royal commentator James Taylor team up with RHG founder, Gareth Streeter to discuss the unfolding crisis.  It also features a guest interview with Adrian Phillips, author of "The King who had to go".

We discuss:

• The circumstances of Edward's ascension and his immediate decision to break protocol by watching his own proclamation with Wallis
• Concerns about the new King's reliability and work ethic
• The early intervention of Cosmo Lang and Edward's relationship with this seasoned Archbishop of Canterbury
• The politics of the 1930s and the circumstances that made Edward's German sympathies more difficult to manage
• A potential plot to assassinate the King?
• Wallis Simpson's first steps in divorcing her husband Ernest

Unfortunately, there are a few moments in this episode where there is bit of feedback sound.  RHG apologies for this but wants to reassure you that such distractions only crop up a few times and last for just a few seconds.

In this episode, Royal commentator James Taylor joins RHG founder, Gareth Streeter to discuss: 

• Churchill's "failure" to tell the King and Wallis what they want to hear
• Edward's "sulky" attitude toward his duties
• Why someone, please, in the name of mercy, needs to think of the poor debutantes
• Whether Wallis was intelligent
• Observations of Edward and Wallis's behaviour on the Balkan trip, based on eye-witness testimony
• Wallis's attempt to break it all off
• The King abandoning his duties to collect Wallis from Aberdeen station

Gareth also embarks on a rant about Edward acting like a rebel within the system, rather than the head of the system with real agency to make change if only he had the courage to confront.

In the latest episode of our series on the abdication crisis, James Taylor and Gareth Streeter discuss:

• The King’s attitude toward the Prime Minister and the government
• Wallis’s divorce and the fallout
• The King’s dinner with Queen Mary, when he broke the news that he intended to marry Mrs Simpson
• The idea of a morganatic marriage and the attempts to find a compromise
• A controversial speech by an obscure Bishop
• The breaking of the story in the press

We were also joined by historian Adrian Phillips to learn more about Stanley Baldwin and his attitude toward the crisis.

In the latest episode of "Royal Revolutions", RHG founder Gareth Streeter and Royal commentator James Taylor discuss: 

• Wallis's tumultuous escape from Britain to France
• The motivations of the King's supporters
• The media reaction and hints of public support for the King
• Why Harry Enfield ruined a teenage Gareth's life back in the 90s
• Wallis's latest attempts to break it off with the King
• The King's planned broadcast appeal that never aired
• Baldwin's fears of the constitutional settlement being overturned
• Winston Churchill's outspoken role in the crisis
• Concerns about the legality of Wallis's divorce 

We are again joined by historian Adrian Phillips who helps us make sense of what the so-called "King's Party" was.

In this episode, RHG founder Gareth Streeter and Royal commentator James Taylor discuss:

• Queen Mary, her background and reaction to the crisis
• The Duke and Duchess of York's fears as they prepare to assume power
• The beginnings of the Duchess of York's (later Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother) feud with Wallis Simpson
• The closeness between Edward VIII and Princess Mary, the Princess Royal
• The wayward Duke of Kent and how some thought he should be King
• The cool relationship between Henry, Duke of Gloucester and his eldest brother

This episode also features comments by Elizabeth Basford, author of "Princess Mary: The First Modern Princess."

It this episode, RHG founder Gareth Streeter and Royal commentator, James Taylor explore:

• The "last supper" where the Prime Minister tries to convince the King to stay but is denied a bed for the night
• The Duke of York and his last-minute preparations for the crown
• The Cabinet's rush to prepare the legislation for Abdication
• Baldwin's surprisingly spectacular Commons performance and the beginnings of the romantic myth of the crisis
• Queen Mary's subtle sign of support for the government
• The arrangements for Edward's future including title and income
• Edward's master piece of a broadcast to the nation

Although Edward has now left the throne, this is not the end of the series.  Next week we shall explore the aftermath.

During this episode, RHG founder Gareth Streeter and Royal commentator James Taylor explore:

• The immediate 'logistics' around the Duke's relocation
• A glimpse of happiness at the end of the worst year of Queen Mary's life
• The controversy around the Windsor's wedding, the date and the lack of Royal attendance
• The (questionably legal) decision to deny Wallis the HRH style
• The Duke and Duchess's Nazi links and role in the war
• The "snub" to the Windsor's at Princess Elizabeth's wedding
• The ultimate death of the Duke and later the Duchess

With Royal History Geeks creator, Gareth Streeter and Royal commentator, James Taylor.