The parallels between Prince Harry and his great-granduncle Edward VIII, who left the British throne for an American divorcée, go far beyond their wives

Anneta Konstantinides,Darcy SchildMar 13, 2021, 04:25 IST

Prince Harry and his great-granduncle King Edward VIII both married American women.Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images/Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle decided to take a "step back" from the royal family in 2020.
King Edward VIII, Harry's great-granduncle, gave up the throne to marry Wallis Simpson in 1936.
Both Markle and Simpson found themselves at the center of constant scrutiny from the British press.

Once upon a time - in 1936, to be exact - a king who had once been a popular prince gave up the British throne to marry an American divorcée he had fallen madly in love with.

Fast-forward 84 years and a similar story played out in the British tabloids, albeit with a few different key details. Prince Harry is not a king, he was allowed to marry the American divorcée he loved, and his initial decision to take a "step back" from the royal family likely won't change the succession to the throne.

And yet, there are still many similarities in the stories of King Edward VIII and Prince Harry, both of whom watched as their popularity in the press turned to intense scrutiny as they fell in love with American women.

Before he was crowned king in 1936, and during his short reign on the throne, Edward had been well-liked by the public.

Edward poses while a young girl takes his photograph during his royal tour in 1919. Central Press/Getty Images

Prince Harry was voted the second most popular royal in 2019, only behind Queen Elizabeth.

Prince Harry pets a dog as he greets the crowds ahead of the Invictus Games on September 23, 2017 in Toronto, Canada Chris Jackson/Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation

Throughout his youth, Edward was more known for his love of dancing and music than any inclination towards school.

A drawing, based on a radio description, of Edward (center) dancing on board the liner Berengaria on his way to the US for a Royal Visit in September 1924. Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Prince Harry admitted he never enjoyed school, and became infamous for his partying ways during his youth.

British daily newspapers photographed on August 23, 2012 shows the front-page headlines and stories regarding nude pictures of Prince Harry. DANIEL SORABJI/AFP via Getty Images

But both princes changed their ways after they joined the army and became passionate about their military careers.

Edward pictured on the Italian Front during World War I. Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images

Prince Harry was likewise proud of his military career and, much like his great-granduncle, was outspoken about his desire to serve on the front lines.

Prince Harry sits on his camp bed in the Helmand province of Southern Afghanistan in 2008. John Stillwell - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images

Unlike their brothers, Edward and Prince Harry became known for their bachelor status and numerous relationships.

Prince Harry and British model Cressida Bonas attend a charity event together on March 7, 2014 in London. Karwai Tang/WireImage

Edward and Prince Harry both met the American woman who would change their life through mutual friends.

Edward and Simpson in Sussex, England, in 1939. Evening Standard/Getty Images

Edward and Simpson were friends for years before they tied the knot, while Harry and Markle had a whirlwind romance.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at their engagement photo call in November 2017. Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Edward, now king, had almost no support after he made it clear that he had every intention to marry Wallis.

King Edward VIII is pictured here just before giving his abdication speech to the people of Great Britain on December 11, 1936. Bob Thomas/Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images

While Markle - like Simpson - was a divorcée, she was swiftly accepted by Prince Harry's family, signaling to many that the royals were entering a new modern era.

Meghan Markle and Queen Elizabeth sit together during an official royal outing in July 2018. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

While Markle - like Simpson - was a divorcée, she was swiftly accepted by Prince Harry's family, signaling to many that the royals were entering a new modern era.

Edward and Simpson were married in a French chateau in June 1937 with relatively little fanfare. No member of the royal family attended.

Edward and Wallis Simpson posing at the Castle of Conde on their wedding day on June 3, 1937. Mondadori via Getty Images

Meanwhile, Harry and Markle's wedding was a major event, with celebrity guests including Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney, and Serena Williams in attendance.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their wedding day on May 19, 2018. Danny Lawson/AP

Simpson and Markle's relationships with British royalty turned them into bona fide celebrities. But it also brought intense - and often negative - scrutiny from the press.

Simpson's name dominated headlines during Edward's abdication. Keystone/Getty Images

Simpson and Markle's relationships with British royalty turned them into bona fide celebrities. But it also brought intense - and often negative - scrutiny from the press.

Markle was a runner-up for Time's Person of the Year in 2018. But as the magic of her royal wedding wore off, she found herself at the center of constant scrutiny by the British press.

A stack of Evening Standard newspapers features the eyes of Meghan Markle in London. Richard Baker/In Pictures via Getty Images Images

Markle was a runner-up for Time's Person of the Year in 2018. But as the magic of her royal wedding wore off, she found herself at the center of constant scrutiny by the British press.

Both Edward and Harry reportedly fell out with their brothers as their romantic relationships became more serious.

Prince Harry and Prince William in December 2019. Jack Taylor/Getty Images

Following his abdication, Edward and Simpson did not attend an official public ceremony with members of the royal family for 31 years.

Edward and Wallis Simpson (together left) with Queen Elizabeth II (right) attend a ceremony celebrating the centenary of the birth of Queen Mary on June 7, 1967. Keystone-France\Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Prince Harry and Markle attended their last official engagement as senior royal family members in March 2020, and the tension was obvious.

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Prince William, and Kate Middleton at the Commonwealth Service in March 2020. Getty/Phil Harris

In February 2021, the Queen revealed she was stripping Prince Harry and Markle of their royal patronages.

Queen Elizabeth II, left, and the Duchess of Sussex, right, are seen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on July 10, 2018. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Markle revealed to Winfrey that she began having suicidal thoughts after joining the royal family.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during their sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey. CBS

A family of 6 transformed a 60-square-foot van into a tiny home with bunk beds, a pop-up shower, and a 'movie theater'

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The parallels between Prince Harry and his great-granduncle Edward VIII, who left the British throne for an American divorcée, go far beyond their wives

Before he was crowned king in 1936, and during his short reign on the throne, Edward had been well-liked by the public.

Prince Harry was voted the second most popular royal in 2019, only behind Queen Elizabeth.

Throughout his youth, Edward was more known for his love of dancing and music than any inclination towards school.

Prince Harry admitted he never enjoyed school, and became infamous for his partying ways during his youth.

But both princes changed their ways after they joined the army and became passionate about their military careers.

Prince Harry was likewise proud of his military career and, much like his great-granduncle, was outspoken about his desire to serve on the front lines.

Unlike their brothers, Edward and Prince Harry became known for their bachelor status and numerous relationships.

Edward and Prince Harry both met the American woman who would change their life through mutual friends.

Edward and Simpson were friends for years before they tied the knot, while Harry and Markle had a whirlwind romance.

Edward, now king, had almost no support after he made it clear that he had every intention to marry Wallis.

While Markle - like Simpson - was a divorcée, she was swiftly accepted by Prince Harry's family, signaling to many that the royals were entering a new modern era.

Edward and Simpson were married in a French chateau in June 1937 with relatively little fanfare. No member of the royal family attended.

Meanwhile, Harry and Markle's wedding was a major event, with celebrity guests including Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney, and Serena Williams in attendance.

Simpson and Markle's relationships with British royalty turned them into bona fide celebrities. But it also brought intense - and often negative - scrutiny from the press.

Markle was a runner-up for Time's Person of the Year in 2018. But as the magic of her royal wedding wore off, she found herself at the center of constant scrutiny by the British press.

Both Edward and Harry reportedly fell out with their brothers as their romantic relationships became more serious.

Following his abdication, Edward and Simpson did not attend an official public ceremony with members of the royal family for 31 years.

Prince Harry and Markle attended their last official engagement as senior royal family members in March 2020, and the tension was obvious.

In February 2021, the Queen revealed she was stripping Prince Harry and Markle of their royal patronages.

Markle revealed to Winfrey that she began having suicidal thoughts after joining the royal family.