Who Would Be King of England Today if Edward VIII Had Not Abdicated?

Explore the hypothetical current king of England if Edward VIII had not abdicated, including implications for the royal succession line.

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If Edward had not abdicated, his descendants would follow in the line of succession. Assuming Edward had children, his eldest son or daughter would be in line. Without children, the crown would have passed to his younger brother, George VI's descendants, meaning Queen Elizabeth II would still likely be the monarch today, followed by her descendants in the current line of succession.

FAQs & Answers

  1. Why did Edward VIII abdicate the throne? Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcée, which was opposed by the Church of England and the government.
  2. Who succeeded Edward VIII after his abdication? Edward VIII was succeeded by his younger brother, George VI, who became king following the abdication.
  3. Would Queen Elizabeth II still be queen if Edward VIII hadn’t abdicated? If Edward VIII had children, the throne would have passed to them, but without children, it would have eventually reverted to George VI’s line, including Queen Elizabeth II.