 The matter became public knowledge on 2 December 1936 when the Bishop of Bradford made an indirect comment on the king 's " need for Divine Grace " . By then the king had unalterably decided that he would abdicate rather than give up Wallis Simpson . All attempts to dissuade him failed , and on 11 December he gave up his throne in favour of his brother , George VI . Two days later Lang broadcast a speech , in which he said : " From God he received a high and sacred trust . Yet by his own will he has ... surrendered the trust . " The king 's motive had been " a craving for private happiness " that he had sought " in a manner inconsistent with the Christian principles of marriage " . The speech was widely condemned for its lack of charity towards the departed king and provoked the writer Gerald <unk> to publish a satirical rhyme : 
