Ribbentrop did not understand the limited role in government exercised by 20th-century British monarchs. He thought that King Edward VIII, Emperor of India, could dictate British foreign policy if he wanted. He convinced Hitler that he had Edward's support, but that was as much a delusion as his belief that he had impressed British society. In fact, Ribbentrop often displayed a fundamental misunderstanding of British politics and society. During the abdication crisis in December 1936, Ribbentrop reported to Berlin that it had been precipitated by an anti-German Jewish-Masonic-reactionary conspiracy to depose Edward, whom Ribbentrop represented as a staunch friend of Germany, and that civil war would soon break out in Britain between supporters of Edward and those of Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin. Ribbentrop's civil war predictions were greeted with incredulity by the British people who heard them.Bloch, pp. 121–123. Duke Carl Alexander of Württemberg had told the Federal Bureau of Investigation that Wallis Simpson, Edward's lover and a suspected Nazi sympathizer, had slept with Ribbentrop in London in 1936; had remained in constant contact with him; and had continued to leak secrets.
Ribbentrop did not understand the limited role in government exercised by 20th-century British monarchs He thought that King Edward VIII Emperor of India could dictate British foreign policy if he wanted He convinced Hitler that he had Edward's support but that was as much a delusion as his belief that he had impressed British society In fact Ribbentrop often displayed a fundamental misunderstanding of British politics and society During the abdication crisis in December 1936 Ribbentrop reported to Berlin that it had been precipitated by an anti-German Jewish-Masonic-reactionary conspiracy to depose Edward whom Ribbentrop represented as a staunch friend of Germany and that civil war would soon break out in Britain between supporters of Edward and those of Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin Ribbentrop's civil war predictions were greeted with incredulity by the British people who heard themBloch pp 121–123 Duke Carl Alexander of Württemberg had told the Federal Bureau of Investigation that Wallis Simpson Edward's lover and a suspected Nazi sympathizer had slept with Ribbentrop in London in 1936; had remained in constant contact with him; and had continued to leak secrets