He was the original national saint

Up until 1348, Edward the Confessor was considered as the national saint of England together with Edmund the Martyr and Gregory the Great. King Edward III, however, favoured Saint George at this time since he was a more aggressive warrior, and he named St. George the patron saint of the Order of the Garter. Early misfortune so taught Edward the foolishness of ambition, and he grew up innocently, enjoying mostly helping at Mass and the church offices, and being among religious, although not disliking the pleasures of the chase, or recreations appropriate to his station.

Harold, Canute's illegitimate son who was living in Denmark at the time of his father's death in 1035, ascended to the crown. He did not engage in any conflicts other from helping Malcom III of Scotland fight Macbeth, the man who had usurped his kingdom, and repelling a Welsh invasion. Edward had no personal ambitions; his only concern was for the wellbeing of his people. Although he was generous with alms to the needy and for religious reasons, he managed to make his own royal patrimony sufficient without levying taxes. He also abolished the abhorrent "Danegelt," which had been needlessly continued to be charged. Because "the wonderful St. Edward's laws" brought them such contentment, following generations constantly called for their implementation whenever they felt oppressed.