He did come across as very weak and incompetent, and as horrified as the British were by his abdication it must have a relief to many to have him gone - and obviously, the Monarchy did survive.
I don't know...
The few biographies I've read suggest that Edward was well-liked. He was good looking and confident. He has a great time as the Prince of Wales representing the monarch and meeting crowds of people. He didn't seem to resent the role that was coming, as far as I can remember reading.
The younger brother who eventually became king was not very handsome and had a crippling lack of confidence. He was very glad that his older brother and not he was born to be king.
The books I read suggested that his wife Queen Elizabeth ostracised Edward and Wallis for the rest of their lives mainly because she so resented their forcing her H to take on the role. He was thrust into the limelight with all his insecurities on view. She had been good at giving him confidence and support, but she would not be able to shield him from public duties and she hated that he was so exposed by his brother's weak will.
They married and had their kids never expecting Bertie to become king. It seems to have come as extremely bad news to both of them that this role would fall to him.
Elizabeth does seem to have steered him into popularity, though. He seemed to bring the public out of their disappointment at losing the real king and getting poor compensation in his less gifted brother. The couple and their daughters were eventually much liked.
Actually, come to think of it, I read a lot of this in that scandalous book by the American author Kitty Kelly. Do you remember that? It was never published in Britain because it was bound to attract a libel suit.
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