Stunning Matched Pair of Gilt & Silver Senior Officer's Aiguillette Points - Edward VIII, 1936 only

An extremely scarce set of high quality aiguillette points in great condition with only slight tarnishing here and there to the gilt. Circa 11.3cm long. They carry the cypher of EDVIII who abdicated before his Coronation. These were made for a senior officer who would no doubt have been attending the Coronation. Lovely items in their own right, but a poignant reminder of a dramatic even in the history of the Royal family.

Aiguillettes distinguish special and senior appointments, such as Army officers of General rank, Chief of Army, Deputy Chief of Army, members of the Chief of Army’s Senior Advisory Committee, Military Attaché and Aide-de-camp. They were a throw back to metal ended leather points which were used to secure a pauldron (a piece of armour) to a knight's arming jacket.

Edward became king on his father's death in early 1936. He showed impatience with court protocol, and caused concern among politicians by his apparent disregard for established constitutional conventions. Only months into his reign, he caused a constitutional crisis by proposing marriage to Wallis Simpson, an American who had divorced her first husband and was seeking a divorce from her second. The prime ministers of the United Kingdom and the Dominions opposed the marriage, arguing that the people would never accept a divorced woman with two living ex-husbands as queen consort. Edward abdicated. He was succeeded by his younger brother Albert, who chose the regnal name George VI. With a reign of 326 days, Edward was one of the shortest-reigning monarchs in British history.

Code: 55187