Edward VIII grave concern that the couple were followed by members of the Metropolitan Police Special Branch, who examined in secret the nature of their relationship. An undated report detailed a visit by the couple to an antique shop, where the proprietor later noted "that the lady seemed to have POW [Prince of Wales] completely under her thumb." The prospect of having an American divorcée with a questionable past having such sway over the heir apparent led to anxiety among government and establishment figures. King George V died on 20 January 1936, and Edward ascended the throne as King Edward VIII. The
Records of Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom office of Prime Minister has coincided with the reigns of 11 British monarchs (including a Regency during the incapacity of George III from 1811 to his death in 1820), to whom the Prime Minister has been constitutionally head of government to the sovereign's headship of state. Until 1837 the death of a sovereign led to Parliament being dissolved within six months which led to a general election. Results of such elections were: Stanley Baldwin is the only Prime Minister to have served three sovereigns in successionKing George V, King Edward VIII and King George VI. Through being in office at