King Edward VIII abdicated on 11 December 1936, so that he could marry the American divorcée
Wallis Simpson. At the time of the abdication, there was controversy as to how the former king should be titled. The new monarch, King
George VI, apparently brought up the idea of a title just after the abdication instrument was signed, and suggested using "the
family name". Neither the Instrument of Abdication signed by Edward VIII on 10 December 1936 nor its enabling legislation,
His Majesty's Declaration of Abdication Act 1936, indicated whether the king was renouncing the privileges of
royal birth as well as relinquishing the throne. On 12 December 1936, at the Accession Council of the
Privy Council of the United Kingdom, George VI announced he would make his brother the "Duke of Windsor" with the style of
Royal Highness. That declaration is recorded in the
London Gazette. The dukedom was formalised by letters patent on 8 March 1937. Edward, as a
royal duke, could neither stand for election to the
House of Commons nor speak on political subjects in the
House of Lords. On 3 June 1937, Edward married Simpson, who upon their marriage became the Duchess of Windsor. As the duke died without issue on 28 May 1972, the title became extinct upon his death. Queen
Elizabeth II banned the title from being recreated during her reign. ==Royal arms==