Which actor plays the Duke of Windsor in The Crown?

Alex Jennings plays the Duke of Windsor in The Crown. The character is Edward VIII, who abdicated the British throne in December 1936 so he could marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcée. His short reign lasted less than a year, making the abdication one of the defining events in the royal family’s modern history.

Jennings portrays Edward in the series’ early timeline, including his uneasy relationship with his younger brother, King George VI, and his niece, Princess Elizabeth. The Duke remains a recurring presence as Elizabeth becomes queen and navigates the family’s expectations.

A common mix-up comes from the role being recast later. Derek Jacobi portrays the Duke of Windsor in season 3, while Jennings returns in later-period appearances. John Lithgow, another prominent early-season performer, plays Prime Minister Winston Churchill—not Edward VIII. Jennings is therefore the canonical answer for the original portrayal asked about here.