A Very Royal Crisis: Countdown to Abdication
TV Show · Documentary · Biography

This is the true tale of the biggest scandal ever to engulf the British Royal Family. A forbidden love affair, which had a devastating impact. This new three-part documentary series recounts the story behind the ten days leading to Edward VIII abdicating his throne to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. It would change the royals, the press and British history forever.

2023 · 49m
Starring Fiona McGarvey, Hugh Bonneville

Season 1

  • EPISODE 1
    The Secret Scandal
    In the 1930s, the Prince of Wales met and fell in love with an American socialite, Wallis Simpson. Their affair was an open secret. But, as this BBC Select Original Documentary reveals, things changed dramatically when the prince’s father died and he was to be crowned King Edward VIII. Edward was determined to have Wallis as his Queen. Soon, as the story breaks, his life would lie in tatters.
    49m
  • EPISODE 2
    Collision Course
    Edward VIII’s monarchy hung in the balance. His desire to marry an American divorcee had set him on a collision course with the British press, the Royal Household, and the government. The prime minister was desperate to prevent a constitutional crisis by stopping the king from marrying. But the King believed Wallis had to be the nation’s Queen.
    49m
  • EPISODE 3
    The Fall of a King
    The British nation was divided as the crisis concerning Edward VIII and his relationship with divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson rumbled on. In the eye of the storm, Edward battled with his aides and family members before making his famous broadcast to the nation and relinquishing the crown.
    50m

Trailers

  • A Very Royal Crisis: Countdown to Abdication
    1m

Related

Cast & Crew

  • F‌M
    Fiona McGarvey
    Wallis Simpson
  • Hugh Bonneville
    Narrator
  • B‌R
    Bridie Riley
    Producer
  • E‌T
    Emily Thompson
    Producer
  • C‌P
    Claire Paterson
    Producer
  • M‌M
    Marion Milne
    Writer
  • E‌F
    Edward Farmer
    Music

About

A Very Royal Crisis: Countdown to Abdication

Documentary

This is the true tale of the biggest scandal ever to engulf the British Royal Family. A forbidden love affair, which had a devastating impact. This new three-part documentary series recounts the story behind the ten days leading to Edward VIII abdicating his throne to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. It would change the royals, the press and British history forever.

Information

Studio
BBC Studios
Released
2023
Rated
TV-G
Region of Origin
United Kingdom
© 2023 BBC Studios

Languages

Original Audio
English (United Kingdom)
Audio

English (United Kingdom) (AAC)

Subtitles

English (United Kingdom) (CC)

Accessibility

Closed captions (CC) refer to subtitles in the available language with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.
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Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Cambodia
  • Fiji
  • 香港 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • 대한민국
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Turkmenistan
  • Vietnam

Europe

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  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
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  • Hungary
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  • Venezuela (Español)

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  • Estados Unidos (Español México)