Also, am I right in thinking that Edward VIII is the only one of our monarchs who has abdicated? Most of our Kings and Queens have reigned until their death...
Not to go too off-topic but while Edward VIII was the first Monarch to voluntarily abdicate (and certainly the only British one), there have been a number of English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish Monarchs who didn't reign until their deaths (most often, because they were deposed). Also, Edward II of England abdicated in favour of of his son, Edward III, although it was anything but voluntary act. The following English, Scottish, Irish and British Monarchs were forced to abdicate or were deposed. The list includes Kings who reigns in separate Kingdoms that would later form England (Mercia, Wessex, Northumbria...). Those who abdicated, whether voluntarily or not, are in bold.
England and Scotland (during Union of Crowns), Great Britain and United Kingdom:
- James II and VII of England and Scotland (deposed during the Glorious Revolution: his fleeing the country was regarded as an abdication by the Parliament)
- Charles I of England and Scotland (deposed during the Civil War, executed in 1649)
- James II, King of England (deposed in 1689 in the Glorious Revolution)
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Edward VIII (abdicated in 1936 as King of the United Kingdom and of the Commonwealth Realms)
England (and its predecessor Kingdoms):
- Ceawlin, King of Wessex (deposed in 592)
- Cenwalh, King of Wessex (deposed)
- Hlothhere, King of Kent (exiled in 685)
-
Centwine, King of Wessex (abdicated in 686)
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Caedwalla, King of Wessex (abdicated in 688)
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Saebbi, King of Essex (abdicated in 694)
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Aethelred, King of Mercia (abdicated in 704)
- Eadwulf I, King of Northumbria (deposed in 705)
-
Coenred, King of Mercia (abdicated in 709)
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Offa, King of Essex (abdicated in 709)
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Ceolwulf, King of Northumbria (first deposed, then abdicated in 739)
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Ine, King of Wessex (abdicated in 726)
- Beornred, King of Mercia (deposed and flead in 757)
- Sigeberht of Wessex (deposed in 757)
- Wiglaf, King of Mercia (deposed)
- Aethelwaldm King of Northumbria (deposed in 765)
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Eadberht, King of Northumbria (abdicated in died 768)
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Sigeric, King of Essex (abdicated in 798)
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Sigered, King of Essex (abdicated by ceding his Kingdom to Wessex)
- Alhred, King of Northumbria (deposed and went into exile)
- Aethelred I, King of Northumbria (deposed)
- Osred II, King of Northumbria (deposed and went into exile)
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Osbald, King of Northumbria (went into exile)
- Eardwulf, King of Northumbria (deposed in 806)
- Eadberht III, King of Kent (deposed Coenwulf of Mercia)
- Ceolwulf I of Mercia, King of Kent and Mercia (deposed in 823)
- Baldred, King of Kent (expelled in 825 by Aethelwulf of Wessex)
- Burgred, King of Mercia (deposed in 874)
- Aelfwynn, Lady (Queen) of the Mercians (deposed in 918)
- Aethelred II, King of Northumbria (deposed)
- Amlaib Cuaran, King of Northumbria (deposed, later regained his Throne)
- Eric Bloodaxe, King of Northumbria (deposed)
- Aethelwulf, King of Wessex (gave up his power in favour of his son, Aethelbald)
- Edward II, King of England (forced to abdicate in 1327)
- Richard II, King of England (deposed 1399)
- Henry VI, King of England (deposed in 1461, reinstated in 1470, deposed again in 1471)
- Edward IV, King of England (deposed in 1470, reinstated in 1471)
- Edward V, King of England (deposed in 1483 by being proclaimed illegitimate)
Scotland:
- Duncan II, King of Scots (deposed in 1094)
- Donald III, King of Scots (deposed in 1097)
- John, King of Scots (deposed in 1296)
- Mary, Queen of Scots (deposed in 1567)
Ireland:
- Blacaire mac Gofrith, King of Dublin (deposed)
- Amlaib Cuaran, King of Dublin (deposed at least twice)
- Godred Crovan King of Dublin (driven out of Dublin)
- Domnall mac Muirchertaig, King of Dublin (deposed at least twice)
- Hasculf Thorgillsson, King of Dublin (deposed)
- Mael Seachlainn II, High King of Ireland (deposed in 1002, restored in 1014)