Souvenir - King Edward VIII Coronation 1937 tankard

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1936

Subcollections

Overview

White porcelain tankard with handle. One side of tankard (mug) is a portrait image of a man. The other side is the Royal cypher. Gold edged border.

Historical information

The planned coronation of King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom was scheduled to take place at Westminster Abbey on 12 May 1937, a date that had been selected and widely publicised well in advance. In anticipation of the historic event, extensive preparations were underway, and a variety of commemorative souvenirs had already been produced and made available for sale. However, the coronation never occurred. On 11 December 1936, Edward abdicated the throne amid a constitutional crisis triggered by his determination to marry Wallis Simpson, an American socialite and divorcée. His decision met with strong political and public resistance, ultimately leading to his renunciation of the throne. The abrupt cancellation of the coronation left manufacturers and retailers with large stocks of now-obsolete memorabilia, and coins bearing Edward’s image, which were scheduled for release in January 1937, were withdrawn and melted down. Edward's brother George VI and sister-in-law Elizabeth were crowned on the same date instead.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-124-2026.111

Item type

Objects

Souvenirs

Themes

Food & Beverage

Art and Design

Social History

Material

Porcelain

Inscriptions and markings

"ER. 1937"

When the reigning monarch is a king, the cypher uses "R" for Rex (Latin for "king"), eg., "E R" would mean "Edward Rex." A personal monogram of a reigning monarch, typically consisting of their initials and title, often surmounted by a crown, used to signify their authority and identity.

"England" on base of tankard

Contextual information

This mug was produced in 1936 in advance to commemorate the coronation of Edward VIII. Earlier that year, George V had died after a reign of more than a quarter of a century - his son and successor was Edward, Prince of Wales. Edward VIII was effectively King from the moment his father was pronounced dead on 20 January 1936. Edward was never crowned; his reign lasted only 325 days. He abdicated in December 1936.

Keywords

King Edward VIII

British Royal Family

Royal Souvenirs

Place made

England, United Kingdom

Year

1936

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Social or spiritual significance

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