Duke of Windsor - Traitor

Are you sure the younger brother turned out ok? He had an appalling stutter and a dreadful temper. His smoking habit killed him.

I don't buy the "he had a rotten childhood" argument. So did his younger brother, but he turned out all right, didn't he?

Edward, or David as he was known before his accession apparently grew up with no idea at all that as Prince of Wales and the future king his duty was first and foremost to his country and that he had no right to either involve himself with women he could not marry, nor with political ideologies that would basically ruin both the country and the monarchy.

It is no excuse either to say that plenty of the aristocracy favoured either Nazism or Fascism - each and every one of us is responsible for having sufficient moral fibre to distingiíush right from wrong.

As to the fact that he seldom came to Britain. Surely it is a historical fact that the then Duke of York made it very clear to his elder brother that he would not be welcome in his brother's realm if he abdicated?

Fleurpepper

We take our own trip into the dark and deep depths of the Daily Mail’s racism and xenophobia through the last century.
Fanatical about fascism

Let us begin in 1930 when Adolf Hitler made considerable gains in the German elections. Mein Kampf had already been written, making clear Hitler’s ideas on the racial supremacy of the supposed ‘Aryan’ race. And yet, for the Daily Mail, Hitler, his party and their success represented the “birth of Germany as a nation”.

Fast forward a few years to January 1934, when they ran with the headline “Hurrah for the Blackshirts” with an article celebrating Oswald Mosley and the British Union of Fascists (BUF). Mosley was highly influenced by Benito Mussolini, so much so that members of the BUF were given the nickname of ‘Blackshirts’ as their uniform was modelled on that worn by those belonging to the National Fascist Party in Italy. Lord Rothermere, owner of the Daily Mail and author of the article, praised Mosley and the Blackshirts seeing them as the correct party to “take over responsibility for [British] national affairs”.

Lest we forget.

Exactly Fleurpepper. I think this paper should be banned in the UK.

It still holds an extreme right-wing bias and along with other right-wing media, holds a very strong sway over public opinion. An unhealthy one.

My parents were born in the first decade of the 20th century. Most definitely remember the rise of fascism in this country and many of my relatives took part in 1936 in the 'They Shall Not Pass' demonstration in London's East End to prevent the Blackshirts, Of Course, totally condemned by the fascist Daily Mail.

My mother actually told me that had the Nazi's invaded England she was intending to gas me and my brother to prevent us (jewish) falling into their hands.

So, many aunts and uncles involved in anti-fascist activities in the 30's and 40's in London, My brother very involved in similar in the 50's. Yes Mosley was still around, and I, my hubbie and our friends prevented them using Ridley Road for their soapbox meetings in several occasions in the 1960's AND they hated us, even set fire one night to our Labour Party rooms, which were in a terraced house with multi-occupied housed on both sides. Just sheer good luck that a couple of our members going home late that evening passed and noticed that the front door was not firmly closed!!!

So do not tell me that none of on GN can really have memories of these evil people and their evil philosophy

My parents lived through the abdication and they didn't have a good word to say about him. They always said he was a traitor, and thanked their lucky stars that he did abdicate.

This is an interesting and worthwhile thread and I’ll definitely look out for that programme but as usual it’s encouraged a few of the anti royal crowd to make irrelevant comments.

Grayling

Franbern - what was the name of the programme? I am having difficulty in finding it on catch-up?

It was Edward V111: Britain’s Traitor King, on Channel 4.

It was a repeat, I remember watching it before.

Yammy

Fleurpepper

Many in the UK were nazi sympathisers, including some of the favourite GN readers supporters.

I think Gransnet supporters would have had to be in a time warp to be Nazi supporters even my parents were not really old enough to know what it all really meant.

My parents were born in 1912 and 1915- they certainly remembered those days- and how sections of the Press supported Hitler in the 30s.

Blossoming

Fleurpepper

Many in the UK were nazi sympathisers, including some of the favourite GN readers supporters.

I don’t think anyone on GN was a Nazi sympathiser. What a strange post.

Yes, poor post. The Press they support, still now.

The photo shows Elizabeth Duchess of York making, and encouraging her children to make, the Nazi salute. At least she didn't betray the nation with her fascist sympathies unlike Uncle David. But then she knew her family was at risk because it was known that Hitler preferred David to King George and would have put him on the throne as a puppet king. That would have left the king, princesses and her in serious danger as you can't have two kings. If King George was killed then Elizabeth would have become a figurehead. Kill her and there was Margaret so it would have made sense for all of them to be killed. It would have been a rerun of the Princes in the Tower but this time it would have been Princesses in the Tower.

Fleurpepper, How dare you??? DO NOT put me in the category of being a Nazi sympathiser!!!!!

Franbern - what was the name of the programme? I am having difficulty in finding it on catch-up?

It's just one person but my late SiLs aunt wrote to Hitler in the 30s to congratulate him on how he was restoring Germany! I can't imagine that an old lady living in suburban London was the only person in the UK who felt that way. - She soon changed her mind but the family teased her about it for the rest of her life.

hollysteers

Haven’t seen the documentary but it was certainly a wasted selfish life. No charity work, hedonistic and the main thought of most days, clothes and cocktail parties.
Massive financial support from us, the British public and he made off with fistfuls of royal jewels.

All the Royals don't work they just attend and more times than not they are flying around in jets or helicopters for their own interests and pastimes spending public money and a huge environmental impact. Giving Evidence found that Royals have very little impact on Charities. Charities should not seek royal patronage.

Monarchy serves politicians and Royals not the people.

I think she meant that people who read the Daily Mail support an organ that supported Nazism?

Fleurpepper

Many in the UK were nazi sympathisers, including some of the favourite GN readers supporters.

Wow, accusing GN readers of being Nazi sympathisers!!!!!

Where is your evidence please?

Fleurpepper

Many in the UK were nazi sympathisers, including some of the favourite GN readers supporters.

I think Gransnet supporters would have had to be in a time warp to be Nazi supporters even my parents were not really old enough to know what it all really meant.

Fleurpepper

Many in the UK were nazi sympathisers, including some of the favourite GN readers supporters.

I don’t think anyone on GN was a Nazi sympathiser. What a strange post.

The Duke of Windsor scandal is especially bad as a royal duke should feel responsible for his nations's welfare, more so than any Tom Dick or Harry.

Elizabeth Bowes - Lyon , Queen Elizabeth II , and George V could not be accused of lack of responsibility for the nation's welfare. All of them strong people who when necessary could put personal desires aside for their duty to serve others.

We take our own trip into the dark and deep depths of the Daily Mail’s racism and xenophobia through the last century.
Fanatical about fascism

Let us begin in 1930 when Adolf Hitler made considerable gains in the German elections. Mein Kampf had already been written, making clear Hitler’s ideas on the racial supremacy of the supposed ‘Aryan’ race. And yet, for the Daily Mail, Hitler, his party and their success represented the “birth of Germany as a nation”.

Fast forward a few years to January 1934, when they ran with the headline “Hurrah for the Blackshirts” with an article celebrating Oswald Mosley and the British Union of Fascists (BUF). Mosley was highly influenced by Benito Mussolini, so much so that members of the BUF were given the nickname of ‘Blackshirts’ as their uniform was modelled on that worn by those belonging to the National Fascist Party in Italy. Lord Rothermere, owner of the Daily Mail and author of the article, praised Mosley and the Blackshirts seeing them as the correct party to “take over responsibility for [British] national affairs”.

Lest we forget.

Many in the UK were nazi sympathisers, including some of the favourite GN readers supporters.

I suspect that there is even more that is hidden.

No, but I’ll watch it on catch up.
I did always understand that he and Wallis were Nazi sympathisers, so it’ll be interesting to learn more.

Just as well he fell for an American divorcee and so felt obliged to abdicate.

Totally agree nanna8

This photo says it all.

Elizabeth, Margaret, their mother and Uncle David

Haven’t seen the documentary but it was certainly a wasted selfish life. No charity work, hedonistic and the main thought of most days, clothes and cocktail parties.
Massive financial support from us, the British public and he made off with fistfuls of royal jewels.