This is the story of an almost impossible choice – a choice between love and duty. A choice to be made by the King of England, Edward VIII. To choose love is to deny his birthright and throw an Empire into constitutional crisis, to choose duty is to deny himself. This compelling and award-winning seven-part drama covers the period between 1928 and the King’s abdication in December 1936. A series of events that are truly global in their impact, the drama unfolds as desperate attempts are made to bring the King to understand his duty and obligation – a situation...

This is the story of an almost impossible choice – a choice between love and duty. A choice to be made by the King of England, Edward VIII. To choose love is to deny his birthright and throw an Empire into constitutional crisis, to choose duty is to deny himself.

This compelling and award-winning seven-part drama covers the period between 1928 and the King’s abdication in December 1936. A series of events that are truly global in their impact, the drama unfolds as desperate attempts are made to bring the King to understand his duty and obligation – a situation which polarised the Cabinet, the Church of England and politicians across the Empire.

Based on Frances Donaldson’s definitive biography of Edward VIII, Edward and Mrs Simpson was filmed on location in places as disparate as Kenya (on safari) and South Wales (down a coal mine). The whole atmosphere of the 1930s was painstakingly re-created, winning the serial BAFTAs for both Best Design and Best Drama Serial in 1978. For his outstanding performance as the King, Edward Fox won a BAFTA for Best Actor, as well as awards from the Broadcasting Pres Guild, the Royal Television Society and the TV Times.