What SHOCKING event led Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini to send letters of ‘congratulation’ to King Edward VIII? New Mail podcast launches delving into the dark history of Royal assassination attempts

On the latest episode of The Mail’s ‘Queens, Kings, and Dastardly Things’ podcast, historian Kate Williams and Royal biographer Robert Hardman delve into the storied and shocking history of Royal assassination attempts.

From Queen Anne’s narrow escape from the hands of a kidnapper to Queen Elizabeth II’s unfazed response to an attack on her birthday parade, the pair of experts look across modern history and pullout the reactions of various Royals to staring death in the face.

Despite only reigning a mere eleven months before his infamous abdication, Edward VIII was the survivor of a lesser-known 1936 assassination attempt that would see the monarch receive personal messages of congratulations from dictators Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

The King played little part in his survival and if it was not for the quick thinking of a lone female bystander, the history of the Royal House of Windsor would have taken a very different turn.

The Failed 1936 Assassination of Edward VIII

By the summer of 1936, Edward VIII had only reigned for seven months. Surrounded by his entourage, the King was perched on top of a horse, riding through London’s Hyde Park.

The monarch had visited the park on his typical Royal duties, reviewing an army regimental ceremony.

Crowds lined the streets to catch a glimpse of their relatively new King. Amongst the throng, was George McMahon: a fraudster and gunrunner who had ties to fascist Italy.

He held a folded newspaper, which between the pages concealed a revolver meant to be used on the King. McMahon’s surprise attack would be thwarted, however, but through an unlikely source.

As Royal historian Kate Williams describes: ‘The King goes past and there’s this sightseer, a rather astonishing lady called Alice Lawerence, standing next to McMahon.

‘She thinks this man with his rolled-up newspaper is acting a bit strangely. McMahon starts getting agitated as the King approaches them.

‘Realising that he’s going to do something, Alice grabs his arm and shouts out. A policeman then turns around and punches McMahon in the arm, which sends his weapon flying.

‘Another member of the public then punches McMahon in the face and the Police are able to cart the man away – but it’s all thanks to this incredible woman, who was so fast with her reactions.’

Surviving his first assassination attempt as King, Edward VIII was summarily showered with praise in the press.

Leaders of nations from across the world also reached out, some more welcome than others.

‘He got a telegram from Germany’s dictator Adolf Hitler’, historian Williams told the podcast.

‘Who wrote – ‘I have just read about the abominable attempt on the life of your majesty and offer the heartiest congratulations on your deliverance from this danger.’

‘Mussolini also wrote, telling his charged affairs in London to present his heartfelt felicitations at the king’s escape from danger.’

McMahon later stood trial for unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition with the intention to endanger life.

The would-be assassins’ motives remain a mystery. Scotland Yard described him as a disgruntled Irish journalist who wanted to hurt the King to disgrace then Home Secretary Sir John Simon.

However, it has been reported that McMahon took cash from fascist Italy in exchange for information on British armaments.

McMahon himself claimed in court he had been put up to the assassination by an unnamed foreign power.

This claim was refuted by the judge as an attempt to muddy the waters of his own culpability in the crime.

To listen to more stories like this one, search for ‘Queens, Kings & Dastardly Things’ now, wherever you get your podcasts.