Seventy-five years ago, Portsmouth's newspapers detailed the city's role in the secret departure of the former king, Edward VIII, into exile. Edward abdicated on December 10, 1936, to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson, passing the throne to his brother, the Duke of York, who became George VI.
In his final radio speech, Edward stated: '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.' While the nation listened, a tarpaulin-covered truck removed his possessions from Fort Belvedere, and the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Wolfhound was ordered to Portsmouth.
The archives of the Portsmouth Evening News recount how the former king slipped away. An eyewitness, George Hale, 36, was asked for directions to the naval base by a driver; a voice from the back of the car thanked him, making him 'the last civilian in England to be spoken to by the ex-king Edward VIII.'
The cars arrived at Unicorn Gate shortly after midnight with blinds drawn. The newspaper reported: 'The ex-King was sad and pensive. Indeed he looked deeply moved. He scarcely spoke a word as he went up the gangway of the destroyer.' HMS Fury, accompanied by HMS Wolfhound, departed at around 02:00 GMT.
Edward stood on the port side, gazing towards the beach where Lord Nelson left for Trafalgar, with a 'strained face' fixed on the fading lights of Portsmouth. The ship took him to Boulogne, France, where he began his exile as the Duke of Windsor. The edition of December 14, 1936, also covered the proclamation of King George VI in Guildhall Square, cheered by hundreds of sailors from HMS Nelson.
