King Edward VIII's Abdication For A Widow Wallis Simpson

Ilustrasi (Raga Granada / YOU)

The resignation of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle because of the "harshness" of life at Buckingham Palace, as described earlier, is not the first time that has happened. As we have mentioned a little bit in "A Look At the Life of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry after Leaving the British Empire", in the history of the founding of Buckingham Palace, a similar story has occurred in the early 20th century. The next Article Series of VOI "Love Opera at the British Palace", is about how a king is willing to give up his throne for love.

Living as a king or being part of the palace residents, almost everyone's dream. However, this does not apply to Prince Harry who prefers to live "freely" with his wife, Meghan Markle.

Recently, the world has been stirred up by the resignation of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from the British Empire. The decision, which came out on Friday, February 19, was final. In that sense, both of them have officially relinquished their honorary titles and officially become ordinary people.

“The Queen has written a confirmation that by resigning from her job as a member of the Royal family. It is impossible to continue the following responsibilities and duties to serve the public," said an official statement from Buckingham Palace as quoted by the BBC.

With that breath, Prince Harry reveals that his decision to become a commoner is none other than because of the pressures of life in the kingdom. This condition is exacerbated by the coverage of the British media which often misrepresent their household. The news, said Harry, made him even more depressed. As a form of love for his partner, being a commoner is the wisest choice for Prince Harry.

"We all know what the press is like in the UK, and it's destroying my mental health. It's not healthy. So I did what any husband and father would do," said Prince Harry as quoted from CNN.

After that, Prince Harry and his family then moved to Los Angeles, United States (US). They also become more open to the world. Including the time they had an amazing interview with Oprah Winfrey recently. In the interview, the two of them revealed a lot about the picture of lifestyle, job pressure, racism, to service within the kingdom. As a result, not a few who support Prince Harry and Megan Markle. On the contrary, many also hate both of them.

The story of King Edward VIII's abdication

Perhaps if there is a ranking of the most romantic love stories of the century, Prince Harry and Megan Markle could be the champion. Because what could be more romantic than a future king who is willing to give up his throne for the sake of his idol? However, this story is not the first in the British Empire.

This story does not happen to a future king, like Prince Harry, but the "blind" love story of King Edward VIII. For his love for a divorcee, Wallis Simpson, King Edward was willing to give up the throne as number one in England in 1936. Here's the story.

As discussed in the previous article, one of the "forbidden" things from a king or future king is marrying someone who is divorced. Edward knew this was going to be a polemic. But he insisted on pursuing his love more and was willing to give up his throne.

Quoted from Robert Benchley in his article in The New Yorker Magazine entitled "A Royal Love Affair: How King Edward VIII Lost His Throne" (1936), before stepping down from his throne, King Edward VIII first discussed the intention with the British Prime Minister at that time, Stanley Baldwin. King Edward VIII believed Baldwin that he would not ask many things from his people when he abdicated. King Edward VIII only wanted his people to understand that he had the right to love and marry his partner.

“I don't ask anything from the people I serve. I have given a lot. I am asking for one favor now. I didn't ask. I demand it. I demand the right to marry the woman I love, and I will marry her," said King Edward VIII as quoted by Robert Benchley.

King Edward VIII and Walis Simpson (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Having listened to King Edward VIII's direct wishes, Baldwin burst into tears. Baldwin repeatedly emphasized that what his king did was wrong. King Edward, asked Baldwin to think at length first. However, he did not budge.

King Edward is determined to choose his idol. "I could not be king without the help of the woman I love," said King Edward.

At its peak, the news of the abdication of King Edward VIII was horrendous. The British monarchy was a major frenzy. Because of that, the whole world has been skeptical about Edward's blind love with a divorcee from the US. There are those who praise, others consider it a form of carelessness.

The news even reached Indonesia. Historian Ong Hok Ham confirmed this. It was not only the year that King Edward abdicated. Instead, the hubbub continued in the following years. Mainly, the news of King Edward VIII's abdication has made an impression on housewives who are hungry for information - as another way of saying they always want to know.

“Like most housewives, my mother was interested in the stories of kings and royal princesses, such as the story of King Edward VIII of England who abdicated in order to marry a US widow, Wallis Simpson, or the story of Queen Astrid of Belgium who was hit to death by a car that was driven by her husband, King Leopold II,” said Ong Hok Ham in the introduction of his book Dari Soal Priayi Sampai Nyi Blorong (2002).

Infographics (VOI/Raga Granada)

Blind love

Maybe you could say Prince Harry and King Edward VIII were two people who were hit by blind love. If so, how can love make even a king willing to sacrifice the most precious thing by renouncing the throne that many people dream of?

To answer this, we contacted a psychologist, Dya Adis Putri Rahmadanti. Before entering the stage of blind love, Adis first explained the narrative of the process of someone falling in love. When you fall in love, there are 3 parts of the brain that work directly according to the system.

"First, the reptilian brain system which regulates sexual arousal and drive. The second is the infatuation brain system that makes a person selects and obsesses about someone, in this system, dopamine - the happy hormone - is working. Third, the attachment brain system, the part that produces feelings of happiness, is stable and produces endorphins, which is also one of the happy hormones," said Adis to VOI, Tuesday, March 16.

Adis added that love generally occurs in the second system. In that system, a person is so obsessed with his potential partner. He feels quite satisfied with his partner and considers him the ideal partner.

In fact, it is not certain for other people. When that feeling gets higher, then someone enters the stage of blind love. A phase where a person is unable to think clearly and only relies on his emotions.

Adis said love is not without risks. Allowing your partner's bad behavior and refusing to listen to other people's advice is some of them. Moreover, blind love causes insecurity and so on.

In this position, many people see blind love as true love. Even though the two are far different. In fact, blind love, said Adis, can be the cause of the emergence of obsessive love (excessive sense of belonging) and Attachment Disorder (fear of being hurt).

However, the perception of blind love is not always negative. A group of scientists at University College London has proven this in a survey published in the journal Neurolmage. In research that specifically examines blind love, it is concluded that blind love has a positive value. Positive here means that blind love has given birth to feelings of sincere and unconditional love.

And King Edward VII's relationship with Wallis Simpson includes positive blind love. The relationship between the two lasted for 35 years, until the death of King Edward VIII in 1972. Even though Edward left him first, Wallis remained faithful as a widow, until she died in 1986.

Based on his will, Wallis was then buried next to the grave of her husband, King Edward VIII. Maybe this is the embodiment of what is called eternal love.

Follow other Article Series: Love Opera at the British Palace