A Very Royal Crisis: Countdown to Abdication A Very Royal Crisis: Countdown to Abdication

Documentary · 2023 · 50 min BBC Select
Available on Prime Video, BritBox

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.

Documentary · 2023 · 50 min
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.

    49 min · Sep 21, 2023
  • 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.

    49 min · Sep 21, 2023
  • 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.

    50 min · Sep 21, 2023

Trailers

  • A Very Royal Crisis: Countdown to Abdication Trailer

    Documentary · 1 min

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 and Subtitles
English (United Kingdom) (AAC, CC)

Accessibility

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