From the Anglotopia Podcast: Episode 25 – Interview with Author Jane Tippett

Welcome back to the Anglotopia Podcast for a very special episode exploring one of the most controversial figures in 20th-century British royal history: King Edward VIII, the man who gave up the throne for love—or was it for other reasons?

Today we’re joined by author Jane Tippett, who has recently published Once a King, a groundbreaking book that draws on previously unpublished memoirs and materials from Edward VIII’s collaboration with his ghostwriter Charles Murphy. This isn’t just another book about the abdication crisis—it’s based on primary source materials that offer an entirely new perspective on Edward, his relationship with Wallis Simpson, and the questions that have haunted his legacy for decades.

Before we dive into our conversation with Jane, let’s establish some context for those who may not be familiar with the abdication crisis and why it matters so much to British history.

The Abdication Crisis: A Brief Overview

The abdication crisis took place in 1936 and represented one of the most significant constitutional crises in modern British history. If you’ve seen the Oscar-winning film The King’s Speech, you’ve seen a dramatization of these events, though the crisis itself happens mostly off-screen in that narrative.

The Basic Story:

King Edward VIII fell in love with Wallis Simpson, an American woman who was twice divorced. In 1936, being divorced—let alone twice divorced—carried enormous social stigma, particularly for someone associated with the monarchy. The Church of England, of which the monarch is Supreme Governor, did not recognize divorce, and the idea of the King marrying a divorced woman whose previous husbands were still living was unthinkable to the British establishment.

Edward wanted to marry Wallis. The government, led by Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin, said no—or at least made it clear that such a marriage would be unacceptable while Edward remained king. Edward chose Wallis over the crown and abdicated on December 11, 1936, after reigning for less than a year.

The Consequences:

Edward’s abdication passed the throne to his younger brother Albert, who became King George VI—Queen Elizabeth II’s father. This meant that Princess Elizabeth, who had been born third in line to the throne with little expectation of becoming queen, suddenly became heir presumptive.

Edward became the Duke of Windsor and married Wallis Simpson in France in 1937. They remained together until his death in 1972, but were essentially exiled from Britain and from royal duties. The rift this created in the royal family lasted decades.

An Important Caveat:

Jane Tippett offers an interesting historical correction to the standard narrative: While we often say Elizabeth’s path to the throne was unexpected, there was actually speculation from her birth that she might inherit. Edward VIII was considered something of a confirmed bachelor by the time Elizabeth was born. More significantly, Jane’s research suggests that Edward likely couldn’t have had children due to a medical condition (mumps at age 13), meaning Elizabeth probably would have become queen eventually anyway—just perhaps in 1972 instead of 1952.

Beyond the Abdication: Why Another Book About Edward VIII?

With so many books, documentaries, and films about Wallis and Edward already existing, why write another one? Jane’s answer reveals the gap in our understanding of this controversial figure.

The Underrated Royal Career:

“His royal career is vastly underrated and underappreciated,” Jane explains. Edward’s biographical afterlife has been entirely swept up in narratives about the abdication and, later, his interactions with Nazi Germany. This has prevented anyone from seriously examining the ways in which he, as Prince of Wales for over 20 years, revolutionized that role.

Creating the Modern Prince of Wales:

Edward VIII essentially created the modern office of Prince of Wales as we understand it today. The way Prince Charles operated, the way Prince William operates now—much of that template comes from Edward’s innovations. He modernized the role, made it more public-facing, more engaged with social issues, more internationally visible.

“He is so much the creator of the modern office,” Jane says. Yet this achievement has been almost entirely forgotten because of what came later.

The Unplanned Book:

Interestingly, this wasn’t the book Jane originally intended to write. She had something very different in mind when she stumbled across the papers of Charles Murphy, Edward’s ghostwriter. What she found in those papers created a U-turn in her research and ultimately became Once a King.

Charles Murphy: The Ghostwriter Who Preserved a King’s Voice

Central to Jane’s book is the relationship between Edward VIII and Charles Murphy, an American journalist who helped Edward write his memoirs in the late 1940s.

Who Was Charles Murphy?

Charles Murphy was a longtime correspondent for Time, Inc., working across multiple publications including Fortune, Life, and Time magazine. He began at Time, Inc. in 1935 and was introduced to the Duke of Windsor in 1946 by a mutual acquaintance.

The Connection:

Edward was returning from the Bahamas, where he’d served as Governor-General for five years during World War II. During a stopover in New York, he read an article Murphy had written about Winston Churchill for Life magazine and thought, “That could be something. I could do something like that.”

They met in 1946, but nothing came of it immediately. Edward still hoped for an official job from the British government. When it became clear a year later that no such job would materialize, Edward renewed his interest in having Life magazine facilitate the writing of his memoirs.

The Working Relationship:

What developed was a relationship that lasted until Edward’s death and produced:

• Seven articles for Life magazine between 1947 and 1950
• A King’s Story, the published memoir released in 1951
• Extensive unpublished material that forms the basis of Jane’s book

Not a Traditional Ghostwriter:

Jane emphasizes that Murphy wasn’t a ghostwriter in the traditional sense—he didn’t draft the text. His role was to organize Edward’s ideas, push him into understanding how to start reminiscing, and craft the narrative structure.

“The book,” Jane explains, “both the unpublished one that’s in Once a King and the published one—these are very much Edward’s words. Murphy was a curator, a crafter of the narrative. He made it all work together, but they are Edward’s words. Murphy induced him to produce.”

This distinction is crucial. We’re not reading Murphy’s interpretation of Edward’s life—we’re reading Edward’s own words, organized and structured by Murphy’s editorial skill.

The Murphy Papers: A Historian’s Dream

Jane describes finding the Murphy papers as discovering “a historian’s dream”—primary source materials that offer direct access to Edward’s thoughts and perspectives.

What’s in the Papers:

The materials include extensive drafts, notes, correspondence, and alternate versions of chapters that never made it into the published memoir. They cover every major event in the Duke and Duchess of Windsor’s lives:

• The romance with Wallis
• The abdication itself
• Edward’s role as Prince of Wales
• His modernization of royal duties
• The question of Wallis’s title (or lack thereof)
• His interest in Germany and interactions with the Nazi regime
• His time as Governor-General of the Bahamas
• His post-abdication life in exile

Through Their Own Voices:

What makes these materials so valuable is that they present these events through Edward and Wallis’s own voices. We’re not reading historians’ interpretations or biographers’ analyses—we’re reading what they themselves wrote about these experiences.

“Their humanity, their individuality comes forth in a way that is entirely fresh and different,” Jane notes, “and really runs counter to all the prevailing narratives that are circulating about them.”

The Surprise: Edward Could Write:

One of Jane’s most surprising discoveries was that Edward was himself a writer—capable, insightful, and at times remarkably self-critical.

“Edward had the ability, the capability, and the insight to be able to write about his life, to write about it reflectively, insightfully, and with a capacity for, at times, self-criticism, which I think is not something you would expect of him.”

This challenges the prevailing image of Edward as shallow, self-absorbed, and incapable of serious reflection.

The Big Question: Was Edward VIII a Nazi?

This is the question that hangs over Edward’s legacy like a dark cloud. Let’s examine what we know and what Jane’s research reveals.

The Historical Context:

In the late 1930s, after his abdication, Edward and Wallis visited Nazi Germany. They met with Adolf Hitler. Photos exist of Edward giving what appears to be a Nazi salute. During World War II, there were concerns about Edward’s loyalties, which is partly why he was sent to the Bahamas as Governor-General—a prestigious-sounding position that was essentially gilded exile.

After the war, captured German documents suggested that the Nazis had plans to restore Edward to the throne if they successfully invaded Britain, believing he was sympathetic to their cause.

The Nuance:

Jane’s research suggests the answer is more complicated than a simple yes or no. Edward was certainly naive about Nazi Germany. He visited in 1937 at a time when many British elites were still hoping to avoid war and saw Hitler as someone they could potentially do business with.

Edward had expressed interest in Germany as a modern, efficiently run state. In the 1930s, before the full horrors of the Nazi regime were understood (or at least publicly acknowledged), some British aristocrats and politicians viewed Germany as a bulwark against communism and admired aspects of its economic recovery.

Was He a True Believer?

The evidence doesn’t suggest Edward was an ideological Nazi or that he supported Nazi racial ideology. What the evidence does suggest is that he was:

• Politically naive
• Easily impressed by displays of efficiency and modernity
• Desperate to seem important and relevant after losing the throne
• Potentially used by the Nazi regime for propaganda purposes
• Someone who failed to understand the implications of his actions

Jane’s research provides Edward’s own perspective on these events—his explanations, his rationalizations, his understanding of what happened. Whether readers find those explanations convincing is up to them, but having Edward’s own words on these matters is invaluable for historical understanding.

Winston Churchill’s Complicated Role

Winston Churchill’s involvement in the abdication crisis adds another fascinating layer to the story, and Jane’s research reveals aspects of his role that complicate the narrative.

Churchill as Supporter:

Churchill was one of the few political figures who supported Edward publicly during the abdication crisis. He didn’t advocate for Edward’s right to marry Wallis Simpson, but he advocated for what he called “time and patience”—allowing Edward to come to his own decision without the pressure of Baldwin’s government forcing the issue.

Churchill even flirted with the idea that Edward might call forth popular support—that the British people might rally behind their king. On December 4, 1936, after dining with Edward at Fort Belvedere (Edward’s home), Churchill said as he departed: “Must give time to the battalions to mass”—meaning public support needed time to organize and push back against Baldwin’s position.

The Strategy:

Churchill’s strategy was actually predicated on a belief that Edward would lose interest in Wallis Simpson if things could be delayed. He thought that with enough time, “the thing would simply evaporate.”

Interestingly, this “time and patience” strategy eventually worked brilliantly for Prince Charles and Camilla in the 1990s and early 2000s when they wanted to legitimize their relationship. What failed for Edward in 1936 succeeded for Charles decades later.

The 1949 Rejection:

What’s particularly poignant is what happened when Edward tried to involve Churchill in writing his memoirs in 1949.

By this time, Churchill’s political situation had changed dramatically. In 1936, he was in his “wilderness years”—a political outsider, a Tory upstart taking controversial positions. Supporting Edward had been unpopular. By 1949, Churchill was thinking about returning to power (which he did in 1951), and he didn’t want his involvement in the abdication crisis recalled.

When Edward drafted the abdication chapters and brought them to Max Beaverbrook (the press baron) in the south of France, where Churchill happened to be staying, Churchill refused to read them or offer any opinion. As Jane puts it:

“Beaverbrook has to go back to Edward and say, look, he’s not going to read these and he’s not going to give you any opinion about them. He’s adamant about not being involved.”

The Humiliation:

Imagine the humiliation for Edward—former Prince of Wales, former King-Emperor, now being told by a former prime minister that Churchill didn’t want anything to do with him or his project. It’s one of those moments where the human dimension of history becomes painfully clear.

The Modern Prince of Wales: Edward’s Forgotten Legacy

Perhaps the most underappreciated aspect of Edward’s life is what he accomplished as Prince of Wales before he became king.

Twenty Years of Service:

Edward served as Prince of Wales for over 20 years (1911-1936). During this time, he fundamentally transformed what the role meant and how it functioned.

The Innovations:

• Public engagement: Edward made the Prince of Wales a much more public-facing role
• International tours: He traveled extensively, representing Britain around the world
• Social awareness: He engaged with social issues, visiting slums and showing concern for working-class conditions
• Media savvy: He understood and utilized modern media in ways previous royals hadn’t
• Modernization: He made the monarchy seem more relevant and accessible to ordinary people

The Template:

The template Edward created is essentially what we now expect from the Prince of Wales. Prince Charles’s extensive charitable work, his public engagements, his international travel, his willingness to speak on social issues—all of this follows patterns Edward established.

Yet this achievement has been almost entirely forgotten because of the abdication and the Nazi associations that followed.

What the Unpublished Materials Reveal

If readers are hoping for one salacious revelation, Jane warns, they won’t find it. The importance of the material is collective rather than singular.

Comprehensive Coverage:

The unpublished materials address virtually everything the Windsors did that we still discuss today:

• The romance
• The abdication
• Wallis’s lack of title (she was Duchess of Windsor but was denied the “Her Royal Highness” designation)
• Edward’s interest in Germany
• Their life in exile
• Their relationship with the royal family

Fresh Perspectives:

What emerges is “an entirely new perspective on not only these events, but who they were as individuals.” We see Edward’s capacity for reflection, his ability to be self-critical at times, his understanding of what happened and why.

We also see the relationship between Edward and Wallis through their own words and their perspectives on each other.

Historical Value:

For historians and readers, these materials provide what Jane calls “an entirely new lens on these consequential moments of history.” They don’t necessarily overturn our understanding of events, but they add dimension, nuance, and the invaluable element of hearing from the principals themselves.

The Human Element: Beyond the Headlines

One theme that emerges repeatedly in Jane’s discussion is the human dimension of these historical events.

Real People, Real Emotions:

The abdication crisis, the exile, the Nazi associations—these weren’t just political or constitutional matters. They were experiences lived by real people with real emotions, relationships, and consequences.

Edward wasn’t just “the king who abdicated”—he was a man who loved someone, made choices he thought were right, faced consequences he perhaps didn’t anticipate, and lived with those choices for the rest of his life.

The Queen’s Strategy:

Jane contrasts Edward’s approach with Queen Elizabeth II’s famous policy: never complain, never explain, never give interviews. Edward did the opposite—he wrote extensively about his experiences, tried to explain himself, sought vindication.

Having both approaches represented in historical materials is valuable. We can see the consequences of each strategy. Elizabeth’s silence preserved her dignity and mystique. Edward’s explanations provided historical materials but also opened him to ongoing criticism and reinterpretation.

Lessons for Understanding Royal History

Jane’s work on Edward VIII offers several broader lessons for understanding royal history and the monarchy’s evolution through the 20th century.

The Modern Monarchy:

The British monarchy we know today—media-savvy, socially engaged, internationally active—owes more to Edward VIII than is generally acknowledged. His innovations as Prince of Wales set patterns that continue today.

The Cost of Change:

Edward’s story also illustrates the costs when royals push too hard against constitutional and social constraints. His desire to marry Wallis was, in some ways, ahead of its time—what was impossible in 1936 became possible for later generations (Charles and Camilla, for instance).

Primary Sources Matter:

Jane’s work demonstrates the value of primary source materials. Reading Edward’s own words doesn’t necessarily make us like him more or change our fundamental judgments, but it adds dimension and complication to our understanding.

Ongoing Relevance:

The questions Edward’s life raises—about duty versus personal happiness, about the role of monarchy in modern democracy, about how much privacy and autonomy royals should have—remain relevant as we watch the current royal family navigate similar tensions.

Jane’s Next Project

While Jane can’t reveal too much, she’s working on a new book that continues her interest in analyzing how British monarchy has evolved over the 20th century and how it has changed at the behest of certain members.

It’s still within the world of British royalty but something very different from the Edward VIII story. She approaches it, as all new projects require, with “cautious optimism.”

Given what she accomplished with Once a King, there’s good reason for more than cautious optimism.

Final Thoughts: Reassessing a Controversial King

Edward VIII remains one of the most controversial figures in British royal history. The questions about his loyalties, his judgment, and his character persist nearly a century after the abdication crisis.

Jane Tippett’s Once a King doesn’t settle all these questions—perhaps they can never be fully settled. But it provides something invaluable: Edward’s own voice, his own perspective, his own understanding of the events that defined his life and continue to shape how we view the monarchy.

Was Edward VIII a Nazi? The evidence suggests he was politically naive, badly advised, desperate for relevance, and used by the Nazi regime for propaganda purposes. Whether he was an actual ideological Nazi is less clear and perhaps less important than understanding how his actions were perceived and what consequences they had.

Was the abdication crisis really about love? Edward certainly believed it was, and the unpublished materials show the depth of his feelings for Wallis. But it was also about power, duty, constitutional principles, and clashing values between tradition and modernity.

What’s clear from Jane’s research is that Edward VIII was more complex, more capable, and more reflective than the standard narratives suggest. He created lasting changes to the role of Prince of Wales. He could write with insight and self-awareness. He was more than just “the king who abdicated.”

Understanding Edward more fully—not to excuse his failures but to see him as a complete human being—enriches our understanding of 20th-century royal history and the forces that shaped the monarchy we know today.

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Jane Tippett’s “Once a King: The Lost Memoir of Edward VIII” is available now. For a chance to win a signed copy, check the show notes for contest details.

Thank you to Jane Tippett for joining us on the Anglotopia Podcast! For more interviews with authors, historians, and experts on British history and culture, subscribe to the podcast.

Have questions about Edward VIII, the abdication crisis, or British royal history? Leave them in the comments or email us at editor@anglotopia.net.

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