Edward VIII doesn't abdicate

[IronBrig4]

So let's say Edward VIII gives up Wallis Simpson. With her out of the picture, there's no abdication crisis and probably no George VI.

Do you think it would have done anything to shake up British politics post-1936? Even during his brief reign, he refused to impose sanctions on Italy after it invaded Ethiopia. How do you think he would have reacted to appeasement or to the start of WW2? Granted, the monarch is constitutionally bound to support the prime minister. But Edward was rumored to be sympathetic to fascists. If so, do you think his sympathies may have changed his stance during the war or his ability to motivate the British public?

[Cyclops]

Certainly he was a very different figure to his dour withdrawn and speech-impeded brother, although both exhibited a quite courage when placed in positions of moral difficulty.

While many Britons flirted with Fascism or at least approved of its strong anti-communist message the UK was not as volatile as most European states at this time. The visible and invisible earnings of Empire definitely softened the blow of the Depression (for example Australia was made to pay through the nose the debts owed to the mother country) to an extent, and while there was industrial unrest in the 1930's it was on par with the 1920's rather than an escalating spiral. Mosley was a fringe figure rather than a threat to the centre of power like Hitler or Mussolini had been.

That said the power of the monarch as a unifying figure is fairly important in Britain: they have got by with madmen (George III who lost the 13 colonies but resisted Napoleon) twits (George IV) playboys (Edward VII) and drug addict sex fiends (Victoria) but typically a strong and sympathetic king or queen has given a national focus for loyalty and concerted effort.

If David had not given Bertie the throne he would have been chucked out anyway but that would have led to more bad blood than the actual course of events. As it was David went relatively quietly and tried to remain uncontroversial: even then he blundered into giving a Nazi salute to Hitler, being suspected of leaking war plans and being a focus for possible discontent. He caused a kerfuffle whatever he did., maybe in this AH he causes a little more kerfuffle, but he was not an insane Nazi warlord tyrant trying to sell out his homeland, more an upper class twit with a bit of sympathetic feeling to go with the usual racism. He was like Prince Charles (another member of the awkward squad interested in other men's wives), except a bit sympathetic to Hitler.

David was too inconstant and impulsive a person to head a serious opposition to his brother or if he failed to abdicate to overthrow the government that decided to get rid of him. The Dominions were unified in their opposition to his coronation as were the majority of all parties in the UK parliament.

I cannot see an alternate course of events where his decision not to abdicate sees him remain in power. Had he fought instead of going quietly it would have stirred some bad blood but not enough to prevent opposition to Hitler or full participation in WWII.

[IronBrig4]

Edward VIII also lived into the 1970s and died without issue. British tabloids would have been bored silly with him.