abdication crisis

An abdication crisis occurs when a monarch, such as a king or queen, chooses to relinquish their throne, often due to personal, political, or health reasons. This decision can lead to constitutional uncertainty, especially if succession laws are unclear or contested. One historic example is the 1936 British abdication crisis, when King Edward VIII stepped down to marry a divorced woman, prompting constitutional debates about royal authority and succession. Such crises challenge the stability of the monarchy and require legal, political, and public adjustments to maintain continuity of the state.