English monarch King Edward VIII, latterly the Duke of Windsor, was BOTD in 1894. Born in London, he was the eldest son of George, Duke of York and the great-grandson of Queen Victoria. Following his father’s ascension to the throne in 1910, he was invested as the Prince of Wales and heir to the throne. During World War One, he served in the British Army and made several overseas tours on behalf of the Crown, becoming popular for his charisma and dapper dress sense. A central figure in post-war high society, his reluctance to marry and indiscreet affairs were a growing concern to the Royal family and British government. He became King on his father’s death in 1936, causing further concern over his twin loves: the Nazi Party and the American divorcée Wallis Simpson, his mistress of five years. The affair put him in conflict with his role as monarch and leader of the Church of England, creating a constitutional crisis. Later that year, he abdicated the throne to marry “the woman I love”, requiring him and Wallis to leave the country. Styled as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, they settled in Paris, living as socialites, amassing Cartier jewellery and exploiting the charity of their celebrity friends. Widely admired for his dress sense, Edward’s penchant for bright plaids and casual sportswear became highly influential on 20th century men’s fashion. The Windsors’ pro-Nazi leanings, including a high profile meeting with Hitler in 1937 and Wallis’ possible affair with Nazi minister Joachim von Ribbentrop made them controversial figures in Britain, particularly after the 1957 publication of documents indicating the Duke’s support for a Nazi victory during World War Two. He and Wallis had an open marriage, pursuing a number of affairs separately and in ménages-a-trois, with Wallis reportedly playing the sadistic top to Edward’s submissive bottom. In his 2012 memoir, Hollywood hustler Scotty Bowers claimed to have slept with the Duke and procured women for Simpson while visiting California. In later life, he and Wallis gave a series of television interviews, in an attempt to rehabilitate their public image. He died in 1972, aged 77. He has been portrayed frequently onscreen, notably by Guy Pearce in the 2010 film The King’s Speech and by Alex Jennings and Derek Jacobi in TV drama series The Crown.