By Gráinne Ní Aodha, Press AssociationIrish civil servants concluded Winston Churchill was “unscrupulous” as they discussed how the crisis over King Edward VIII’s proposed marriage to an American divorcee could be used to the Irish Free State’s advantage. Historical files show how Irish authorities reacted to the constitutional crisis in Britain. The monarch decided to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson months into his reign, despite then-British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin and his cabinet opposing the move. He abdicated on December 10th 1936, and married Mrs Simpson in June 1937, while his younger brother became King George VI. A handwritten addition indicated that the note was exchanged between Eamon de Valera, pictured, and his finance minister.

Source: The Herald December 30, 2025 10:24 UTC