Edward VIII of England History & Culture King Edward VIII of England (1894-1972), full name Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David, was the eldest son of King George V and Queen Mary. He became King of England on January 20, 1936 after the death of his father. However, the royal family situation turned sour when Edward VIII decided to marry a divorced woman, Wallis Simpson, who was not accepted as queen because she had been married twice before. .
