Edward VIII Essays

Just came across this story about essays and proofs for Canadian Edward VIII stamps in 1936. Thought you might find it interesting.

http://www.rpsc.org/cp/edward_viii_essay.html

Considering the problems Edward VIII created for just the various postal authorities in the realm, one can only imagine how it affected all other aspects of the kingdom. As an American, I've always thought that Great Britain and the Commonwealth nations were extremely fortunate to have had George V and Queen Mum on the throne during the dark days of WWII rather than Edward VIII. Great article by the way. Some fantastic philatelic history here.

This may be truer than we think. A recent documentary, based on recently released files, outline how much Edward VIII leaned toward Nazi ideology. I once read a quote from him in which he said "Every drop of blood in my veins is German" - stemming from Great Grampa Albert no doubt.
He was apparently good buds with Mr Hitler and his cronies. And when given a high ranking post during the war he proved quite incompetent, to the point of being dangerous to the cause.
Fortunate indeed.

I suppose you meant "George VI and Queen Mum on the throne during the dark days of WWII" , not V

It was George V (5th) who changed the family name from Saxe-Coburg/Gotha to Windsor...presumably he didn't want to appear too German during WW1 Other minor royals changed names around the same time...Battenberg became Mountbatten for instance.

I also believe that in WWI or WWII they changed the name of hamburger to Salisbury steak because it sounded too much like German.

And Berlin Ontario to Kitchener, and frankfurter to hotdog. Would you like freedom fries with that?

Good one jamesw.....

The current UK Queen, when she married Prince Philip, declined to take his name as was the norm as that would have reversed what George V did in taking the name of Windsor... Prince philip was of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg...