It has been formally announced this 27th day of November in the year 2017 that a British royal - Prince Henry of Wales (known to drinking buddies as Prince Harry) - is marrying an American divorcee.

The last time this happened - in 1936 when King Edward VIII decided to wed American socialite Wallis Simpson - it triggered a crisis inside Windsor Castle.

For one thing, Simpson was about to divorce for the second time. Also, she was from Baltimore.

The King faced a choice: Dump “that woman,” as Simpson became known, or dump the throne.

He dumped the throne.

The extraordinary moment in the history of the monarchy has been recounted in countless books, movies and TV shows - most recently in the hit Netflix series “The Crown,” which dramatizes Queen Elizabeth's rise to the throne.

It goes roughly like this: King Edward falls into forbidden love. King Edward abdicates. His brother George takes the throne. George dies. Elizabeth becomes queen. The End.

What the show, and history, often leave out was how this succession of events - which forever altered succession to the throne - culminated from a truly strange and unlikely love affair.

Simpson was born in Pennsylvania as Bessie Wallis Warfield. Her father was a wealthy flour merchant who died of tubericulosis a few months after she was born. Wallis and her mother moved to a Baltimore row house, living on meager monthly payments from her late father's brother.

It was “cheese-paring poverty,” historian Phillip Ziegler wrote, and Simpson was “resentfully aware that her friends could afford nicer clothes and more lavish holidays.”

Wallis decamped for Florida after her uncle declined to host her coming-out ball, according to Anna Sebba's 2012 biography, “That Woman.” There, in the early 1900s, she met husband number one: Win Spencer, a Navy pilot. They divorced 10 years later. He drank a lot. They fought a lot.

Next up: Ernest Simpson, a Harvard grad who renounced his U.S. citizenship and worked with his father in the British shipping industry, giving Wallis access to high society London. Simpson's New York Times obituary noted that he “ruefully” referred to himself as “The Forgotten Man,” the result of being dumped for a king.

Actually, Edward wasn't just a prince when he first met Wallis at a party in 1931, a year that represented a busy period in which the prince had two other girlfriends. But they didn't have what Wallis possessed: An American accent.

“Those who spoke with an American accent had a much easier chance of amusing the Prince,” Sebba wrote. “He liked almost everything that characterised as new and modern and much of it was American.”

It was not love at first sight, though.

Their courtship took place over a series of years and parties. Wallis became one of Edward's three main squeezes. Then, in 1934, the Prince settled on Wallis as his favourite - or favourite, as the British biographers spell it - dumping the other two.

In deference to the royal family, the British press largely avoided much mention of their relationship, even after George became king when his father died in early 1936.

Wallis was still married to Simpson.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures Show all 55 1 /55 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures September 2017 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada. The Invictus Games is an international sport event for wounded, injured and sick (WIS) servicemen and women, both serving and veteran. It was created by the Duke of Sussex and aims to use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding of all those who serve their country Invictus Games Foundation/Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures November 2017 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose for a photograph in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace following the announcement of their engagement AFP/Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures November 2017 Meghan Markle shows off her engagement ring AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures December 2017 Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend Christmas Day Church service at Church of St Mary Magdalene in King's Lynn Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures January 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan during a visit to Reprezent 107.3FM in Pop Brixton. 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Under the theme 'Making a Difference Together', the event showcased the programmes run or initiated by The Royal Foundation Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures March 2018 Prince William, Kate, Meghan and Prince Harry attend a Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures March 2018 Meghan Markle greets well-wishers after a visit to one of Belfast's most historic buildings, The Crown Liquor Saloon, a former Victorian gin palace, now run by the National Trust. 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BeachPatrol is a network of volunteers who are passionate about keeping Melbourne's beaches and foreshores clear of litter to reduce the negative impact of litter on the marine environment and food chain, and provide a safe environment for the public to enjoy their local beach Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures October 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan join a circle during a "Fluro Friday" session run by OneWave, a local surfing community group who raise awareness for mental health and wellbeing, at Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach AFP Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures October 2018 The British royals kicked off their shoes and donned tropical garlands on Bondi Beach AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures October 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan visit an exhibition of Tongan handicrafts, mats and tapa cloths at the Fa'onelua Convention Centre in Nuku'alofa, Tonga Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures October 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan laying a wreath at the National War Memorial in Wellington, New Zealand Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures October 2018 Prince Harry and his wife Meghan visit Redwoods Tree Walk in Rotorua AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures November 2018 Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at a service marking the centenary of WW1 armistice at Westminster Abbey Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures February 2019 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, visit the Kasbah of the Udayas near the Moroccan capital Rabat AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures March 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan speak on stage during WE Day UK 2019 at The SSE Arena in London Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures March 2019 Meghan and Prince Harry react as they are presented with baby gifts by Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Janice Charette, at Canada House, during an event to mark Commonwealth Day, in central London AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures May 2019 A congratulatory banner message circling the BT Tower reading "Congratulations Harry and Meghan It's a Baby Boy!" 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The historic two-game series marked the sport's first games ever played in Europe and The Invictus Games Foundation was selected as the official charity of Mitel and MLB London Series 2019 Invictus Games Foundation/Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures July 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan meet cast and crew, including US singer-songwriter Beyonce and her husband, US rapper Jay-Z as they attend the European premiere of the film The Lion King in London AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures September 2019 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex dance as they arrive for a visit to the "Justice desk", an NGO in the township of Nyanga in Cape Town, as they begin their tour of the region. Their first official family visit in the coastal city AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures September 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan pose with members of "Waves For Change" NGO at Monwabisi Beach outside of Cape Town. "Waves For Change" NGO fuses surfing with child-friendly mind and body therapy to provide mental health services to vulnerable young people living in challenging communities AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures September 2019 The royals arrive to visit the oldest mosque of Cape Town in Dorp Street in Bo Kaap district AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures September 2019 The Duchess of Sussex visits Auwal Mosque on Heritage Day with the Duke of Sussex during their royal tour of South Africa. Auwal Mosque is the first and oldest mosque in South Africa and for the Muslim community, this mosque symbolises the freedom of former slaves to worship Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures September 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan hold their baby son Archie as they meet with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his wife Leah at the Tutu Legacy Foundation in Cape Town AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures September 2019 The British royal couple were on a 10-day tour of southern Africa -- their first official visit as a family since their son Archie was born AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in pictures October 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan meet Graca Machel, widow of the late Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, South Africa. 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And then, on October 15, 1936, the following headline appeared above an Associated Press story in The Washington Post, setting off chaos in the monarchy: “Path Cleared for ex-Baltimorean, Friend of King Edward, to Gain Freedom; Case Will Be Heard in London October 27.”

“Freedom” meant divorce.

“The actual divorce action,” the AP story said, “under ordinary circumstances, is a mere formality, consisting of only a few minutes testimony.” These circumstances were not ordinary, for the cause of the divorce - adultery - was the king.

Negotiations over the divorce, however, resulted in an agreement between the parties that “under no circumstances,” the AP reported, “will the name of King Edward be mentioned in court, nor will any reference be made to him.”

Their relationship could not be left officially unsaid forever, especially because King Edward wanted to marry the Baltimorean. The king, however, could not reasonably do so. For one thing, he was the head of the Church of England, which did not allow remarriage. And the government would have collapsed over the matter.

So, he abdicated, telling the world in a radio broadcast that:

“A few hours ago I discharged my last duty as king and emperor, and now that I have been succeeded by my brother, the Duke of York, my first words must be to declare my allegiance to him. This I do with all my heart.

“You all know the reasons which have impelled me to renounce the throne. But I want you to understand that in making up my mind I did not forget the country or the empire, which, as Prince of Wales and lately as king, I have for twenty-five years tried to serve.

“But you must believe me when I tell you that I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.

“And I want you to know that the decision I have made has been mine and mine alone. This was a thing I had to judge entirely for myself. The other person most nearly concerned has tried up to the last to persuade me to take a different course. I have made this, the most serious decision of my life, only upon the single thought of what would, in the end, be best for all.”

Edward ended his address, “God save the King!”

Only now, the king was a duke.