Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
(1894-1972), Reigned 1936Sitter in 437 portraits
Eldest son of George V and Queen Mary. Prince Edward was commissioned into the Guards in 1914, but as heir to the throne his request for active service was denied. He spent the war abroad, visiting troops. During the 1920s and 1930s, his concern for unemployment and successful tours throughout the Empire made him a popular figure. He was King Edward VIII from January to December 1936, but abdicated following insoluble constitutional problems raised by his proposed marriage to the American socialite and divorcée, Wallis Simpson. They married in June 1937 and lived abroad, mainly in France. He was Governor of the Bahamas from 1940 to 1945.
Explore the portrait of King Edward VIII from all angles
by Percy Lewis Pocock, for W. & D. Downey
albumen print, 16 July 1894
NPG P1700(8a)
Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by W. & D. Downey
albumen print, 1895
NPG P1700(14d)
by Sir William Quiller Orchardson
oil on canvas, circa 1897
NPG 4536
by John Chancellor
albumen panel card, 1899
NPG P232
by Frederick William Ralph
albumen print, 1901
NPG P1700(57a)
Royal Group including King George V and four of his children
by Lafayette
glossy purple brown-toned bromide print on green mount, 9 November 1902
NPG P500
Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII); Prince George, Duke of Kent
by Frederick Ralph
albumen print, 1903
NPG P1700(67d)
The Royal Family at Buckingham Palace, 1913
by Sir John Lavery
oil on canvas, 1913
On display in Room 19 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 1745
Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by Solomon Joseph Solomon
oil on panel, 1914
NPG 5425
Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII) as Prince of Wales
by Frank Salisbury
oil on board, 1917
On display in Room 25 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 7006
Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by Harry Lawrence Oakley
silhouette, 1919
NPG 4534
Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by Reginald Grenville Eves
chalk, circa 1920
NPG 4169
Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by Reginald Grenville Eves
oil over photograph laid on board, circa 1920
NPG 4138
Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
vintage cream-toned bromide print, 1925
NPG P503
Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by Leonard Jennings
bronze statuette, 1991, based on a work of 1930s
On display in Room 19 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 6138
Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by Leonard Jennings
plaster cast of statuette, 1930s
NPG 6138a
Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by Bertram Park
bromide print, 26 June 1931
NPG P140(2)
by Bertram Park
bromide print, 26 June 1931
NPG P140(3)
Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by Edmond Xavier Kapp
lithograph, 1932
NPG 4908
Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by Fred Kormis
bronze medal, 1975, based on a work of 1936
NPG 5051
Related People
- Queen Alexandra (grandmother)
- Princess Alexandra, Lady Ogilvy (niece)
- King Edward VII (grandfather)
- Queen Elizabeth II (niece)
- King George V (father)
- King George VI (brother)
- Prince George, Duke of Kent (brother)
- George Henry Hubert Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood (nephew)
- Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (brother)
- Prince John (brother)
- Prince Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick, Duke of Kent (nephew)
- Princess Margaret (niece)
- Queen Mary (mother)
- Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood (sister)
- Prince Michael of Kent (nephew)
- Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester (nephew)
- Queen Victoria (grandmother)
- Prince William of Gloucester (nephew)
- Wallis, Duchess of Windsor (wife)
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