Here is the audio clip of Edward's abdication speech. Scroll
down for the transcript.
It follows the full text transcript of
Edward VIII's Abdication Speech, delivered via
radio broadcast, London, UK - December 11, 1936.
At long last I am
able to say a few words of my own.
I have never
wanted to
withhold anything, but until now it has not been
constitutionally possible for
me to speak.
A few hours ago I discharged my last duty as
King and Emperor, and now that
I have been succeeded by my brother, The Duke of
York, my first words must
be to declare my allegiance to him. This I do
with all my heart.
You all know the reasons which have impelled me
to renounce the Throne.
But I want you to understand that in making up
my mind I did not forget the
country or the Empire which as Prince of Wales,
and lately as King, I have for
twenty-five years tried to serve. But you must
believe me when I tell you that I
have found it impossible to carry the heavy
burden of responsibility and to
discharge my duties as King as I would wish to
do without the help and
support of the woman I love.
And I want you to know that the decision I have
made has been mine and
mine alone. This was a thing I had to judge
entirely for myself. The other
person most nearly concerned has tried up to the
last to persuade me to take
a different course. I have made this, the most
serious decision of my life, only
upon the single thought of what would in the end
be best for all.
This decision has been made less difficult to me
by the sure knowledge that
my brother, with his long training in the public
affairs of this country and with
his fine qualities, will be able to take my
place forthwith, without interruption or
injury to the life and progress of the Empire.
And he has one matchless
blessing, enjoyed by so many of you and not
bestowed on me - a happy home
with his wife and children.
During these hard days I have been comforted by
Her Majesty my mother and
by my family. The Ministers of the Crown, and in
particular Mr. Baldwin, the
Prime Minister, have always treated me with full
consideration. There has
never been any constitutional difference between
me and them and between
me and Parliament. Bred in the constitutional
tradition by my father, I should
never have allowed any such issue to arise.
Ever since I was Prince of Wales, and later on
when I occupied the Throne, I
have been treated with the greatest kindness by
all classes of the people,
wherever I have lived or journeyed throughout
the Empire. For that I am very
grateful.
I now quit altogether public affairs, and I lay
down my burden. It may be some
time before I return to my native land, but I
shall always follow the fortunes of
the British race and Empire with profound
interest, and if at any time in the
future I can be found of service to His Majesty
in a private station I shall not
fail.
And now we all
have a new King.
I wish him, and you, his
people, happiness
and prosperity with all my heart.
