A new biography by historian Andrew Morton suggests that Edward VIII may not have been Wallis Simpson’s true love, even after he abdicated the throne in 1936 to marry her. The couple had to hold their nuptials at a location where Edward was a Nazi sympathizing king who followed his heart, no matter the cost. Wallis Simpson was derided and married an airman named Win Spencer in 1916, which was not a happy one.
Wallis and Edward entered a romantic and sexual relationship in 1934, sparking a media frenzy in the U.K. during his reign. They married six months later, after which she was formally known as the Duchess of Windsor but was not allowed to share her husband’s style of Royal Highness. The couple met and became friends in the early 1930s, with Wallis married to Ernest Simpson and Prince Edward in line to become king.
The marriage was the biggest constitutional crisis for the crown in the 20th century, and Edward VIII’s obsession with the divorced American actress set him on a collision course with the government, his brother, and the wider British public. Historian Andrew Lownie revealed in his book Traitor King: The Scandalous Exile of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor that their life was far from happy, with Wallis having multiple divorces and being American.
Despite their marriage, Wallis Simpson did not have any children at any point in her interesting life. Her association with Edward VIII inspired him to abdicate the throne in 1936 so he could marry the controversial American divorcee.
📹 The Heartbreak Behind The Marriage of King Edward VIII & Wallis Simpson | Secret Letters | Timeline
Rewriting the history of one England’s most famous love affairs Wallis Simpson found herself at the centre of a national scandal …
Did Edward regret abdicating?
In 1970, he gave an interview at his Paris home with BBC’s Kenneth Harris. He said he had no regrets over abdicating. He said he wasn’t part of the establishment, despite his background and role as King.
Why couldn’t King Edward marry Wallis?
The Canadian government did not support the union of Simpson and the King. Archives: 2:13 King Edward VII’s abdication speech.
Did Edward really love Elizabeth?
It’s hard to know what a person’s private life was like without letters or a diary. We can see that the marriage worked on a personal level and that Edward was able to keep it together despite Elizabeth’s family. Edward defied expectations by prioritizing love over diplomacy. He wanted Elizabeth and was willing to take risks to make her his queen. Read more: The secret intimacies of Edward IV: multiple marriages and a same-sex affair?; Yet Elizabeth’s feelings are less transparent. Some chroniclers say she resisted Edward’s advances at first, but he wanted her as his wife. But this wasn’t as planned as Anne Boleyn’s policy would be six decades later. Edward was a great catch for a knight’s widow. Besides being very attractive, marrying a king was the best thing that could happen to a woman’s career. The Woodvilles were very lucky. Elizabeth knew this. But this may have been a good move, not a bad one. The match was unique because of the attraction and advantage.
Why was Edward obsessed with Wallis?
Borman said Edward was fascinated with Americans, which made him fall for Wallis. He even practiced speaking with an American accent and had clothes shipped to him from the U.S., which reportedly upset his father, King George V. Borman said, “He admired the American dream of hard work leading to success.” “Edward fell in love with Americans because of their hope.” After they married, Edward and Simpson lived in Paris but wanted to go back to England, the New York Times said. In 1940, he became governor of the Bahamas, where he and his wife stayed for five years. Simpson worked for the Red Cross and raised money for charities. In 1961, she said sending the duke to the Bahamas was a way to get rid of him.
Did Edward and Wallis really love each other?
In 1930, Edward met Wallis, the wife of a friend. They fell in love and had a secret relationship. Simpson’s status as a married woman and a divorcée caused controversy, and the Royal Family refused to meet with her. The police followed the couple to keep an eye on them. In January 1936, King George died. Edward became king, and he and Wallis were married. However, Edward’s reign was short. He abdicated in less than a year. The new king was met with resistance. In November of his first year on the throne, he said he would wait until she finished her divorce. Then-Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin rejected the proposal because Edward was the head of the Church of England as king. He couldn’t marry someone he didn’t love. It was considered inappropriate to remarry while one’s ex-spouse was still alive. Simpson had two living ex-husbands. Edward suggested they get a morganatic marriage, where he would stay king but she wouldn’t get a royal title. The British Cabinet and Prime Minister rejected this plan again. Edward and his government were at an impasse. He threatened to abdicate if he couldn’t marry his love. On October 27, 1936, Edward proposed to Wallis, giving her an emerald ring with an engraved date. The color of emeralds is beautiful. This emerald was cut from a Grand Mogul’s stone and set in a stunning Cartier setting. To celebrate their 20th anniversary, the couple had the stone remounted by Cartier, resulting in the beautiful piece we see today. Learn about Cartier’s history and its influence on royal romances.
What happened to Wallis Simpson after Edward died?
The American widow of King Edward VIII was ill after her husband died in 1972. She lived alone in Paris until she died. She was cared for by nurses but taken advantage of by her lawyer, who took advantage of her financially. It was a strange, tragic end for someone who had once flirted with becoming Queen. Wallis Simpson was so ill in her final years that one of her closest friends was happy when she died. Above: The Duchess of Windsor at home in 1974, the year before she became seriously ill.
How old was Edward when he married Wallis?
A few weeks later, Edward gave up the throne to be with Wallis, who was 40 and still married. She thought she could become queen and told Edward, “You fool.” “You fool.” Morton’s biography includes 300 pages of letters, diary entries, and interviews about Wallis’s ascent.
Did the Queen go to Wallis Simpson’s funeral?
Wallis’ funeral was at Windsor’s St. George’s Chapel. The Queen, Prince Philip, and the Queen Mother were there, but her name wasn’t mentioned. She was buried with her husband at Windsor Castle. The royals came to the Duchess’s funeral after decades of conflict since Edward’s abdication. His shy younger brother, the Duke of York, became King George VI.
Why didn t the royal family like Wallis?
The royal family didn’t like Wallis because she’d been divorced. Divorced people weren’t allowed in the royal court. Upon George’s death, Wallis reportedly said, “I shall be Queen of England.” Wallis had already filed for divorce from her second husband Ernest on grounds of adultery, and it was granted on October 27, 1936. 4. Wallis made a great first impression on Edward. In his memoirs, Edward said Wallis teased him when they first met.
Did Queen Elizabeth like Wallis Simpson?
Edward was made Duke of Windsor by his brother King George VI before he married. However, letters from the new king prevented Wallis, now Duchess of Windsor, from sharing her husband’s style of Royal Highness. George VI and Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) agreed that the Duchess shouldn’t be given a royal title. At first, the British royal family didn’t accept Wallis and wouldn’t receive her formally. Some say Wallis’ sister-in-law Queen Elizabeth was bitter towards her because she helped George VI become king. Others say she was bitter because Wallis behaved like Edward’s mistress before they were married. Elizabeth’s friends said she never said anything bad about the Duchess of Windsor. They said she called her “that woman” and that Wallis called her “Mrs. Temple” and “Cookie,” which was her nickname. Wallis also called her daughter Princess Elizabeth “Shirley,” which was her nickname. Wallis was angry that she wasn’t called “Royal Highness” and that her relatives didn’t accept her. In 1687, the Duke and Duchess’s friends called her “Her Royal Highness.” Diana Mosley said that Elizabeth was jealous of her friendship with the Duchess. Lady Mosley wrote to her sister, the Duchess of Devonshire, after the Duke of Windsor died. Some think the Windsors thought the Queen Mother was in love with the Duke. This may explain why Wallis and Edward lived in France before the war. In 1937, they visited Germany and met Hitler at his retreat. After the visit, Hitler said Wallis would make a good queen. The visit confirmed suspicions that Wallis was a German agent. US FBI files from the 1930s also show she might have been a Nazi sympathizer. Duke Carl Alexander of Württemberg told the FBI that Wallis and Joachim von Ribbentrop had been lovers in London. There were even reports that she kept a signed photo of Ribbentrop on her bedside table during the Second World War.
Who would rule now if Edward had not abdicated?
Edward VIII would have been succeeded by Henry Duke of Gloucester upon his death. Henry would have become King Henry IX. However, this is just a guess because Edward VIII gave up the throne in 1936, so his brother Albert became King George VI.
Who would have been king if the Duke of Windsor hadn’t abdicated? Notes and Queries; Frequently Asked Questions.
📹 Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII: The Marriage that Changed History
On the 11th of December 1936, a man spoke on the BBC. Millions of listeners held their breath as he announced his resolve to go …
“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.” — The Great Gatsby. Describes Wallis and Ernest to a T. Also, the King.
I watched a documentary detailing their lives after the abdication. I can’t help but feel sorry for the both of them. He was dreadfully disappointed in her. She allegedly sent him home alone half the time they went out together. I heard her name was the last words he spoke, she wasn’t even in the room with him. As for her, she developed Alzheimer’s & since she had no close family, she was mistreated. Her lawyer assumes power of attorney & that was it. With the exception of a couple phone calls to acquaintances, she spent her last YEARS in a bed, while the lawyer sold her priceless possessions. There were no winners here, unfortunately. It’s not a love story, rather, a tragedy
Very dangerous game that Wallis and her husband played. I am sure she could have left Edward if she had really wanted to, because she didn’t love him even at that point, and I don’t think Edward would have committed suicide either. That is not a good enough reason to stay with someone for the rest of your lives. I wonder if Edward had mother issues with Wallis = substitute mother and abandonment issues? But Very, very sad situation for all of them.
It is fascinating that Wallis and Ernest were both involved in the loose morality of wife swapping and affairs and that Ernest saw the Edward affair as advantageous to him. That’s really off. She then starts to complain when he wants to shack up with his own girlfriend. The woman she brought in to keep him company. Just gross….🤢
I recommend that people also watch Edward VIII – The Traitor King Documentary and Behind The Crown, the story of Sydney Johnson. The Edward VIII documentary will further put who he was as well as her (Wallis) into perspective. IMO Britain dodged a bullet when he abdicated. As far as she is concerned, karma is a “B” (based on her final years) when you see what she did to Sydney Johnson following the death of his wife and the Duke of Windsor. And according to royal biographer Hugo Vickers, at the time of Sydney’s wife’s death a year after the Duke’s, Wallis wanted to dismiss him because he asked for more time off to care for his 4 young children. So she fired him (some say he resigned). In any event, 30 years he worked for the Windsors. She was truly a selfish piece of work. No sympathy for her whatsoever.
I never believed for five seconds that the abdication anything to do with love. I’ve always felt the Firm granted Edward a fairy tale ending because they knew that he would be an absolute disaster as King. This doc only serves to underscore that theory. They were both trapped, but as someone said earlier, Wallis was much more intelligent than Edward.
None of this people had a moral compass, Ernest ‘ loaning out ‘ his wife to the prince in exchange for a glamorous life, Wallis for thinking she was playing a game where she would make hay then return to her husband, and clearly the not very bright Prince believing that she was with him for his charming personality. Interesting how history is now repeating itself
I actually was assigned to write a paper on Wallis in College 1993. I can’t believe how much wasn’t in print or maybe just my 19 year old lack to attentive detail. I had two takeaways, she was very unhappy and he was quite dim and overtly simple minded. Reminds me of Harry. Always juvenile and lacking the bigger picture. I am not being mean spirited, just drawing similarities.
Imagine being the cause of a King abdicating….. how could she possibly walk away from that? To her it was excitement, but he fell head over heels for her. The love affair was one sided. Although maybe he didn’t really want to be King and this was his way out! Noone knows but the two people involved.
Even as an American, I can see that King Edward’s abdication was probably the best thing that could have possibly happened for Great Britain,. If Wallis Simpson wasn’t the reason, another woman whom King Edward had been involved with, could have easily been chosen as the reason why King Edward abdicated . This bachelor King was a partying playboy with many married mistresses,and a score of other women, whom he had been involved with It seems that he had constant parties, soirées, and dinner parties, but didn’t do anything else. . King Edward didn’t show any concern for the well being of the people of Great Britain. King Edward didn’t do any work at all, and he didn’t carryout the duties of a Royal Monarch, as the Governor of the Church of England,, Leader of the Royal Armed Forces, as a Benevolent Constitutional Monarch, communicating regularly to to the British people, . I’m sure that King Edward wouldn’t have done an 180 degree turn – to actually comfort his people in their losses and sacrifices in the face of World War II., and to show up at places of bombings, to visit military troops, and to inspire them, as his brother King George had done . Great Britain didn’t need a frivolous, partying, womanizing Bachelor King .That would have caused the end of the British Monarchy. His brother King George was the appropriate Royal Monarch . He was a responsible, mature, married family man. He was a faithful husband and a devoted father of two daughters. King George took his position and duties as Royal Monarch seriously .
She seems like a textbook narcissist and the worst thing you can do to a narcissist is ignore them. So her longing for Ernest might have been more of a reaction to his rejection than some deep love. She had no respect for Edward I think because a narcissist wants attention but also detests the lowly people who adore them. Sadly I don’t think Wallis was capable of real love. She was a very damaged person and probably had some serious skeletons in her closet.
Childhood trauma lies behind many ill-fated decisions – mostly people are not driven by malice but are just trying to escape the sadness of their past. He had no parental love, and Wallis was escaping the destitution of her childhood in the only way she knew how. He was basically looking for a mother and she was looking for the approval of a father and societal acceptance. Unfortunately their two worlds collided.
After reading old books from the used bookstore about his parents and grandparents each written at each time period, perhaps another clue to Edward’s life is the mentioned anger and fear he expressed as a boy whenever peers said anything about his future as the King “Don’t call me that!”. Reading about this made me wonder if he simply found a way out by using “love”, which would hopefully spare him condemnation for not wanting the crown. It would be a clever way. Makes me wonder that’s all.
My grandfather was chauffeur to the Vanderbilt twins in the 1930s when they were living in London. He told me that one of the twins had an affair with Edward VIII before he was king and still Prince of Wales. Apparently, my grandfather would drive the young prince back to the palace late at night in the Vanderbilt’s Rolls Royce as it didn’t show the royal flag on the bonnet. When the Second World War started the Vanderbilts fled back to the USA. They wanted to adopt my father and take him back with them but he didn’t want to go to a life of privilege and wealth – preferring poverty with his real mum!
This is all very interesting, but I keep coming back to the fact that she spent two years playing this very dangerous game – I’m sure she found it flattering to have the King of England fawning over her, but she could have removed herself from the situation much earlier. No one physically forced her to marry him. She could have gotten out of it by publically spending time with her husband and showing her devotion to him, and refusing to go through with the divorce. In the end, she was not a good person. And she made her bed…
They all made mistakes. Wallis leading Edward on for his money, power and status and gold digging. Ernest being okay with lending his wife to Edward for social benefit. Edward for falling for Wallis and not believing that he deserved better and could do more with his position and help his country. A really good lesson presented here. Lesson: love is truly what has no price: no amount of power, status, fame, position can buy it. Not even royals with their all their money and power can buy it. If you have someone that loves you and you love them back, know that is truly what is important and what matters and truly is priceless.
No matter how this story is spun, we now know there was much more going on with these two than just an unhealthy love affair. She was mesmerized by the glitter of the royal world she entered and when it faded, she realized too late what she had gotten into. He was born the Prince of Wales with everyone supporting his immature needs except his parents, the people he needed most.
I spent some time in these circles (Not long), l was shocked at the lack of morals, integrity, decency among the very rich. They were all having affairs, boredom, ordinary, mundane life was unbearable for them. Drugs, drinks everywhere. And the vile snobbery. Yep, l learned allot. It cured me of any illusions l had, that they were the blessed one’s.
So Elizabeth was never supposed to be queen? (American here and I did not pay attention in history like I should have) I wonder if that is why she was the queen she was. She had duty and honor and loved her country. Edit: I guess only if he had married a “proper” lady and they had kids, then Elizabeth would not have been queen.
From everything I’ve read Wallis was a shallow frivolous woman whose affair with the king was just a bit of fun for her. She had no intention of leaving her husband. But in the end she was trapped. Her lover gave up his kingship for her and she had no choice but to marry him. However she despised him and treated him with contempt. She openly had affairs with other men. He used to follow her around like a little puppy dog and this annoyed her immensely. Edward was so afraid of losing her that he never complained and let her do what she liked. He was always the third wheel.
I think they’ve got the interpretation of these letters all wrong. They keep repeating their conclusion but nowhere does Wallace say wished not to divorce him. My interpretation of those letters is that Wallace wanted to have her cake and eat it too. She was telling mr. Simpson one thing and the King something else. She wanted to make sure she still had mr. Simpson on the hook. She wanted them both to love her
The absolute best thing that could have ever happened. It appears that he had an extremely low Emotional Quotient, always desired what he couldn’t have, had tantrums. History has proven that his father never thought he could be disciplined or that he would ever be respected as King. We ended up with our lovely, and dedicated, Queen.
“Wallis was in the king’s hand”… “She’d lost control of her own situation, she couldn’t choose where to go”… and so on and so forth. I don’t get it, she wasn’t a prisoner, of course she could choose, she could have left England and come back to the States. What was Edward going to do, hire a contract killer to follow her? Absurd.
I don’t undertand why people can’t see that Elizabeth would have come to the throne anyway. It was vey unlikely that this pair would have had heirs. His brother would become heir after him in that case followed by Elizabeth after Edward and George deceased. It would have taken longer for her to come to the throne but she would have become Queen nevertheless.
You lose one, then gain another. For the most part, I think she made the most of her life with Edward. With Ernest out of her life, Edward and Wallis were loyal to each other, and that was best for all concerned. You may not get what you wanted but you can always make the best of what you currently have. Therefore, life is what you end up with, out of the choices you make!
Freud once said – ” Human beings are so funny. They long to be with the person they love but refuse to admit it openly. Some are afraid to show even the slightest sign of affection because of fear. Fear that their feelings may not be recognized, or even worst, returned. But one thing about human beings puzzles me the most is their conscious effort to be connected with the object of their affection even if it kills them slowly within.”
I honestly believe she enjoyed being a mistress and didn’t want that world to end. She didn’t want to lose her husband and didn’t want to Marry Ed.. She got BOTH of those unwanted things. Sad really… The person who paid the price in the end was Edward. He died alone in a room calling her name and she never came to him because she was at a party. Always the party girl. I despise her. I see so much of this historical reality playing out now with Harry and Meghan. The 2 Men are so devoted to their American Twice divorced wives, the men are absolutely childlike and blindsided by an ounce of truth. Tthese 2 women just never get enough attention or a sense of fulfillment in their lives, and play the role of the victim. Yes BOTH of these women did this. I believe she wanted to be a bride to a King is she couldn’t be his mistresses forever, It’s a game she enjoyed playing, but he fell in love with her. What a mistake! in both cases of Wallace and Rachael. Those 2 couples are so very much alike.
I know a bit about graphology and Wallis by her handwriting looks like someone emotional and witty, quite straightforward, able to express herself succintly, with a strong and gregarious personality, someone who craves company and action. There´s some genuine friendliness, albeit vague and impatient and not including anything physical, obviously preferring getting gifts to giving them. Her personality fills the space, but not so much with her whims or egotism, but with her action. She wants to be original and noticed, but doesn´t consider herself the most intriguing object of thoughts. There´s lack of sophistication and intellectual and spiritual ambition, this definitely isn´t someone who forms plans, studies languages or prays to God often. This is someone perfectly happy to stay in the physical and emotional world. And, most of all, the handwriting shows incredible amount of impatience and ambition. Just look how her hand doesn´t have the patience to form big upper loops, it just moves forward, forward. And the crosses across her Ts look like they want to burst the ceiling.
GAWD, I’m so glad I grew up I America that this means absolutely nothing to us. A terribly fascinating story & I’d never heard of it until I heard “From Baltimore to Paris” by Go West back in the 80’s and then saw it play out in the movie “The King’s Speech”, but thankfully I’m not patriotically invested it. I know it’s very American of me to say this out loud also, but WHEW.
Stories like these are why I never trust the press. They built this story up as the greatest love story when in fact it never was. It was one man’s obsession, now days would be considered stalking, a mental disorder etc. She wanted his wealth and privilege’s, not him, and that is clear from her letters, and not just the ones she wrote to her ex, but ones where wrote friends and her diary etc. She truly loathed him.
The woman played at life and love on the surface, never deeply. Her play turned on her and trapped her into a life married to an imbecile for which she had not one iota of respect. He wore on her and she would never love him. He was her toy, but she became trapped in her own trap. What a horrific life she had with that boor. She deserved every moment of it – a ‘nursemaid’ to a besotted ignoramus. I find both of them disgusting. I imagine most of the Royal family did as well.
A lot of commenters here seem content to continue blaming Wallis for this how debacle turned out. Some see her as playing a “dangerous game” that she ended up caught in – like a riptide. But Wallis (and even Ernest) was following a well-trod path. She had every expectation that Edward would move on to a new “love/lust”, a new sparkly female to flirt with. Even if we don’t agree with their actions, this was common for male royalty to do! There is no doubt the Simpsons were using their “connection” with the Prince to better themselves. And Edward had his own agenda. It seems like Edward changed the pattern. Honestly, he almost seems obsessive. If this was in a normal setting, to me, he began to sound like a stalker. He definitely used Wallis as an excuse to not take responsibility of the thrown.
I think Edward’s story is tragic. He got the woman he wanted, but lived without her love. I wonder how long it took to dawn on him she did not love him. I am not sure Earnest was a true love either. Wallis was saw other men after the marriage, I am sure if she had remained with Simpson she would found other men also.
I think that Edward just didn’t want to be king and he had figured out that Wallis’ divorce was his perfect escape from a position he feared, as well as having his own personal Wendy to his Peter Pan. Wallis, it seems, was at first excited about a future king’s attentions, toyed with some very serious and well-trained players and those people showed her (and her erstwhile Prince) how the game was REALLY played. Then, with her life in shambles and her beloved second husband forever out of reach, she simply decided to wring every last drop out of the situation that she could get! It seems that she got it, too! In the end, it seems the hand of Providence used the situation to save the world, despite the crown-wearing miscreants of Europe!
I believe that Edward used Wallace to escape the dreaded throne. She was the perfect foil for abdication. He knew how parliament and the people at large would recoil from such a choice for wife. Meanwhile, the discovery of these secret letters evidence of just how Wallis wanted to be free of this weak man and his need for her, is very surprising because their public story depicts “how much in love they were,” is really not true at all. Despite all his grooming to one day take the throne, Edward just wanted to be “free” of his inherited duty and obligation. He was a pansy, a narcissist, without honor…Being a King terrified him. His abdication put his poor stammering brother who not only overcame his stammer with the help of a wonderful therapist, but he became an excellent king being placed by fate into the right position to serve England and his subjects during a tense time of war. wow
I’ve never understood the “scandal” surrounding divorce. What makes marriage supposedly sacred and why would a divorced woman have any impact on the king’s ability to manage his responsibilities? I grew up with parents who were obsessed with remaining married, even though they detested each other and me. When I married at 18 to escape that environment, my mother couldn’t stop emphasizing that “marriage is FOREVER”, even though her sisters had both been divorced, as had one set of grandparents and several of their friends. Their marriage was a nightmare of vicious comments and cruel teasing from my father and cold rage from my mother. Yet the word “divorce” was forbidden and they had a sick pride in every grim year they spent together. I do not understand what motivates people to subject themselves to that kind of sour life. I’m deeply sorry for them and baffled by their supposed values. What I have learned is that no one can torture us like we torture ourselves with what “others” will think.
How did Wallis mess up her life? She had no ethics and no substance. She and her husband were climbers, enamored with the prestige of Windsor’s attention. That grass was just so green and glamorous. For a time she fell in love with romance. But soon enough too much was inconvenient. A fawning worshiper swiftly becomes tedious. It can be no surprise the other grass began to look green again. But too late. Her former husband had found greener pastures of his own. She was “stuck” only because she wanted to remain accustomed to a luxury beyond her means and talents. This is no love story, just the shabby antics of the weak and self indulgent.
For all Wallis’s unattractiveness (the only compliment I ever read was from a photographer who said her complexion was as perfect and luminous as the inside of a shell) she managed to attract and hold two men, one being the husband who never ceased to love her, and the other a man who could have pretty much any high society woman he wanted, yet who also loved her enough to give up an empire for her sake. Remarkable.
Wallis and Ernest set out to play Edward for their own social and economic advancement and then got caught in the emotional abuse/blackmail by the emotionally immature king of England, who in turn ended up made miserable by “the woman he loved.” Seems like they were all despicable people who got what they deserved.
After hearing her letters the only great love was what her ex husband felt for her. You don’t realize what you have until you lose it. The king wanted a mother more than he did a wife and he couldn’t handle the pressure of the crown. She was caught in a trap of her own making. History repeats, maybe not the exact same manner but there are a lot of unhappily ever afters because of duty to the monarchy and entrapment by those that want what being royal offers.
Wallace seemed to have the belief that the grass is always greener. She wanted Edward until she had him for a few years, then she wanted her husband back, I think she was greedy, she was 100% responsible for creating her own problems, and she could have left Edward whenever she wanted, no one had her tied up, whether there was security or not. The truth is she wanted the love, adulation and financial support of both men and sadly for her that was one thing she couldn’t have. Like I said, greedy. I think she was a pretty terrible human being.
Wallace seemed to have the belief that the grass is always greener. She wanted Edward until she had him for a few years, then she wanted her husband back, I think she was greedy, she was 100% responsible for creating her own problems, and she could have left Edward whenever she wanted, no one had her tied up, whether there was security or not. The truth is she wanted the live, adulation and financial support of both men and sadly for her that was one thing she could have. Like I said, greedy.
My parents told me that at the time it was believed that politicians didn’t mind her being divorced but detested the fact she was American, and the people didn’t mind her being American but detested the fact that she was (twice) divorced. I think fate fell in favour of dear old England; George VI was a good, honourable king and our wonderful Queen clearly adored him. It came right in the end.
It just goes to show how things are never what they seem. If she did truly love Ernest, then it is a pity that she got involved with Edward in the first place. If she had wanted to end it with him then she should have gone ahead, regardless of the suicide threats. That wasn’t her problem. It is admirable that he insisted on marrying her – Charles was in the same situation when he fell in love with Camilla but was told he had to marry a virgin. He ended up marrying the divorced Camilla and is therefore now in the same situation as Edward. There is no talk of him giving up the throne. Perhaps Wallis wasn’t a conventional beauty, but there was something about her and she had impeccable style.
The letters bring to light so much unknown history. Since we will never fully understand the motivations behind any of their actions, I will simply say I feel sorry for all of them. They all appear to be lost for one reason or another. May I ask, was anyone else upset about these historical letters being handled so carelessly without even the use of gloves? Regardless of how we feel about their life choices, those letters are historical in relation to a Kings abdication.
I don’t think Wallis came to some conclusion that Ernest was her true “one and only”, I think she got a taste of the medicine that Ernest no longer wished to take anymore. I believe the only reason she felt that Ernest was the one she let get away is because he got away and the heart wants what got up and left mire than anything. She seemed like a rolling stone and couldn’t really be happy with anyone. Jealousy made her want Ernest. The fact that Edward came easy sickened her. She liked a challenge far too much.
Edward believed he should have both the throne and Wallis. For the rest of his life, Edward spent countless hours writing his relatives demanding that Wallis be recognized as HRH. It didn’t make any difference – she never got that status. The only honor she received from the RF, after living in exile in Paris for the rest of her life, was to be buried beside Edward in the small graveyard at Frogmore.
Wallis was quite an unsympathetic character but its funny how she alone is blamed for such an embarrassing mess. Edward was a lazy weirdo. He was totally unserious about work of any kind much less serving his nation. As many Royal aides were quoted later, the British people were done a great favor when he stepped down. He and Wallis deserved each other – two spoiled people who cared for nobody but themselves.
They are trying to make Wallis out to be this poor women who didn’t want to marry the King but to me if she didn’t want this then she should have never gone a way with him on so many holidays without her husband and when Ernest was going to go to New York she should have gone with him and told the King “sorry I ‘m going with my husband”
So nice to hear Elizabeth McGovern… aka Cora Countess of Grantham of Downton Abbey … Always enjoy her … as the voice of Wallis Simpson. Well done doc. Almost 80 yrs later and more new info coming out about Wallis & Edward VIII. And really … it is quite SAD. I do think he loved her more than anything…. & she was looking to be taken care of. Like many women of that era did. We won’t ever know the truth. Wallis took it to her grave in 1986. Thanks so much for posting.
Wallis Simpson only saw dollar signs $$$$$$$$ towards king Edward and never loved him due while when they married after being the King’s mistress for 2 years and then continuing to send love letters to the actual man who she really loved and due to the fact that she couldn’t abide the British people. A truly huge mistake made for the sake of “Supposedly True Love!” To me it’s like events that go round, come round once more even in these present years whether you’re a member of the Royal Family or a member of the general public, British or elsewhere!
She was just hedging her bets. She didn’t love any man, she loved money and position and notoriety and herself. I don’t know why the narrator would take everything Wallis wrote at face value. She was a born intriguer and man-trap, she knew how to talk to men to get them to do what she wanted. It had already worked on Ernest, why not still?
From perusal this, I can only think Wallis was extremely selfish and blamed others for everything. She just used people to get what she wanted. In the end, she got quite punished for it. Can’t say I’m sorry for her. But in a way, we owe her a debt as it would have been horrendous for that king to have been on the throne any longer.
Wallace had been married and divorced twice before marrying Edward. Edward had had a series of affairs with married women, sometimes simultaneously. He sort of played two mistresses off against each other, each lady completing for his time, attention and considerable material generosity. When he transferred his affections, he often did it very abruptly, freezing the prior lady out. He had a nearly ten-year affair with Freda Dudley Ward, who he then dumped for Thelma, Viscountess Furness, the American socialite married to Viscount Furness. She was Edward’s mistress for four years. She went back to America to support her twin sister, Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt in a custody trial for Gloria’s young daughter, Gloria Vanderbilt (yes, THAT Gloria Vanderbilt, of the Gloria Vanderbilt Jeans and the mother of Anderson Cooper). While there and on the boat back to London, Thelma flirted with Prince Aly Khan. Edward was not pleased and transferred his affections to Wallace. Wallace had other admirers, including Joachim von Ribbentrop. So NO ONE, least of all Wallace, Ernest or the British Royal Family, had any expectation that Edward’s interest in Wallace had any long-term future. Everyone assumed that he’d eventually step up and marry someone who would make a reasonably acceptable queen and get on with his duties as king, leaving Wallace behind. One of the reasons that Wallace was not given a royal title after she and Edward married, was that the Royal Family didn’t want her to be able to hold on to it when, in their view, she and Edward inevitably broke up.
Yes, I think Princess Margaret was faced with the same situation…. She would have only been ” Mrs Townsend ” if she married Peter … she didn’t want to give up her HRH… I felt sorry for Wallis, she was a social climber, looked great to hang with the king, but she expected for him to move on … he didn’t! Lol
Wow! Didn’t know she was still writing him 2 years after she married Edward/David. I’m sure once the infatuation and love bombing period was over, they both realized there was nothing left to do but put on a face and follow through. How utterly miserable! And now we have another Royal and spouse walking the same road. smh
I have a new respect for the Duchess. As the author pointed out, “be careful what you wish for….). She made it possible for HMTQ to reign but prematurely cut short the life of the Queen’s father, out of downright stress & the inflammation of old illness. She changed history, it’s amazing. Very good documentary, thanks.
one of the things that i have always noted about Wallis is she had a stunning style… I have been a clothing designer for many years, and also worked in costume design for theater, and Wallis had one of the best taste in clothing that i have ever seen. she is not beautiful by our standards or even so much theirs…but you can never underestimate the power of extraordinary style without being flashy, without being showy or appearing to try to get attention … this and a talent for charming others is far more effective than many understand. in fact, that she is not that beauteous or sexy is part of the charm…because it is less intimidating. she is appealing without being scary. every photo that i have seen of her, very film made about her showing perfect reproductions, flawless
My grandmother always spoke of this as if it was the greatest love story ever. Little did she know. But, after seeing this, 1) why didn’t Wallis just stop the divorce from going through? No big problem. She would have had a chance at happiness, and he would just have stomped his feet like a child, but he would have found someone eventually. And 2) why were they all in a knot about having him marrying her? They had to know that Wallis was too old to have children, and so Elizabeth would have ended up being monarch anyway.
Wallis’s writing style is %100 British. This is really strange. Wallace grew up in America, and that’s not how we write letters here in America. Some of her letters used a writing style which is different from other letters. I’m suspecting some of these letters were not written by Wallis. I’m little bit suspicious to the authenticity of these letters. I would love it if someone with more knowledge in this area can dive in to my theory and see if it has any bases.
21:06 This is her reality with all her husbands, manipulating their minds and emotions, and each of them thinks that he is her knight, and she plays with them like a card, but she is keen to keep the Joker card always in her hand.. in case.. As for the story that she lived with the dictator who imprisoned her. And that she divorced the man she loves, this is a scenario that someone would not like to make us a new story from this adulterous mistress.
If Edward VIII had not abdicated the throne, Great Britain might have fallen to the Nazis despite Winston Churchill’s fight to protect the British Isles. When I was younger, I was absolutely in love with the story of how Edward VIII abdicated for love, but after perusal today’s article, I was very disappointed. Edward VIII abdicated the throne for a woman who didn’t love him, and I think he must have realized it too late. Yet, he held on until the very end because he loved her, and hoped she would learn to love him too; it was really sad that she wasn’t beside him when he died while he called for her. Of all the mistakes he’d made in life, loving her was the worst.
What would have happened if Edward never abdicated, in regards to World War 2…That’s a good question… Despite being a Nazi Sympathiser, I am not sure Edward could have done much to affect the War as the monarch is not supposed to interfere in politics or the running of the Country. He may have tried to seek peace with Hitler, but you would still have people like Winston Churchill wanting to fight the war. Had he not abdicated, it may have been that Edward would receive Hess when he flew to Britain… Theres any one of a hundred things that could have happened if Edward remained on the Throne… 1 thing I know for certain, Elizabeth II would still be on the throne after Edward, as he had no kids and his brother died before him
I really enjoy these more “contemporary” Biographics, especially of royals. In keeping with royal scandal stories, would you perhaps cover the life of Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei, or his brother Prince Jefri, who had caused a massive scandal in the early 2000s with his private life and fraudulent activities?
I think there would have been more turmoil had he stayed seated as king. The monarch has almost no control over government affairs, but does have considerable pull in diplomatic affairs. I think that Churchill, et al, would have continued the good fight against the nazi invasion, but the king would have continually thrown a wrench in the works trying to sympathize. It would have put the UK into a tailspin of allegiance. Just a hypothesis…
I guess all we can say is that this was an unfair situation that resulted in a good outcome in the end for everyone. It was unfair that Edward couldn’t marry Wallis, but his abdication led to him being removed from any position of power that could have endangered the country and brought about the ruling line of King George and Queen Elizabeth
Ok. It would be amazing if you could please do some Australian historical figures. The current Government cut all australian studies a few years ago. As a traveler interested in foreign countries. I found most people no little about Australian history ( one of the best art critics to ever exist, Robert Hughes wrote a great book . The fatal shore.) I’m sure if you delve into this subject you will be fascinated.
At 6:09, did you really say that King George VI died in 1936? George VI wasn’t even heir to the throne (let alone King) in 1936, and he didn’t die until 1952, to be succeeded by the current Queen Elizabeth II. It was King George V who died in 1936, who was succeeded by King Edward VIII, the subject of your article.
I was curious how you would portray their later relationship. My understanding is that she treated him horribly, as a “cuck” who she taunted & viciously ridiculed. They were supposedly involved in many extramarital endeavors during their relationship, especially her with women. There’s a fairly reliable male prostitute/procurer of prostitutes in Hollywood that described in detail the people he secured for their bungalow getaways. (See “Scotty & the Secret History of Hollywood.” You can find trailers for it on YouTube. I think it used to be available on Netflix)
Simon, last year I listened to an audiobook by Scotty Bowers and among other things he claimed to have found same sex playmates for Edward and Wallis. there were things in that book that I find difficult to believe, but this one doesn’t seem so far fetched. I don’t know what to believe what do you think?
Speculation is something to be careful about, but mine is that if Edward had been on the throne in May 1940, he would have called Lord Halifax to the Palace instead of Churchill. And six weeks later, when the French surrendered, Edward would have called the PM back and told him to being peace talks with the Germans. Subsequent history would have been a lot different.
Why on earth do people call this a love story then? There is no love there! She clearly didn’t love him and saw him as a fleeting amusement and he was obsessed not in love. She was an ambitious woman but very cruel and selfish! She really didn’t care who she hurt or destroyed but she had nothing to show for it.
I love how in almost every generation of the Royal Family, there has been the straight laced, proper and scandal free child. Then there has been the controversial one who went against the rules and caused all sorts of problems. Edward, Anne, Charles/Andrew, Harry. Wonder which of the 3 kids William has will be the wild one?
If Edward where to have stayed on the throne then what are we saying here, as in Edward marry’s someone else or dose he still marry Wallis and somehow he stays in power Morganatic marriage or not since it docent matter since Wallies cant have children. So we would still have Elizabeth as queen today if the monarchy survives. So if Edward marry’s someone else then that can create a new line of succession but its hard to say how much Edward could influence the government beyond pushing to continue appeasement but likely when evidence of German war crimes and the actions of the Nazi party during the war would like most other people who sour how bad they where and since Edward has a position to maintain then he would likely openly condemn what happened though he may not believe that in private. If Edward gets to Marry Wallis then it sets a president for the King to have greater influence in politics and he may try and create a new government to rule the nation on his behalf which wouldn’t have worked since that would lead to mass protests and a collapse of the government with the King being forced to Abdicate. But lets say that some how Edward gets to marry Wallis, he can some how have a government to keep the country together with maybe Oswald Mosley being made PM though that would only happen if the BUF cleaned up their act pushed better policies or maybe Oswald just becomes leader of the Labor party and changes it to suit his vision before the labor party wins the election that got Chamberlain into power.
This just helps me realize how little time America has been around. We have deep feelings over a short life span. Countries in Europe have lineages covering hundreds and/or thousands of years. Small decisions then… have made open and obvious changes to today. Can you imagine Britain and Germany being WW2 buddies??? Sounds crazy now but that was seriously close back then.
In my opinion, had Edward VIII not abdicated he would have stood firmly by Neville Chamberlain’s pro appeasement stance. With the King’s backing of Lord Halifax and Chamberlain, it was possible that Britain may not have declared war on Germany in September, 1939 as they were in no position to meaningfully assist Poland. A nonintervention treaty like the one VonRibbentrop got out of the Soviet Union, might have been too much of a reach. Britain may have then have awakened to the Nazi threat with Churchill and other anti Nazis arguing for assistance to Norway, The Netherlands and Belgium.He would have forced the King to abdicate. He may even been imprisoned, but more likely he would have been exiled. That would have been it for the monarchy.
If Edward had remained king into WW2 it’s likely Lord Halifax would have succeeded Chamberlain as PM instead of Churchill, Halifax wanted to cut a deal with Hitler and instead focus British attention on an impending war with Japan in the South Pacific. Edward would have likely supported Halifax in this plan, as the war went on it’s possible that public mood would turn against Edward and he’d be forced to abdicate, meaning George VI and Churchill could still happen, just later than OTL
It was definitely a good thing that Edward wasn’t crowned king. Edward’s biographers wrote that he was underprepared intellectually. A keen horseman, he learned how to play polo with the university club. He left Oxford after eight terms, without any academic qualifications. In 1920, on a visit to Australia, he wrote of Indigenous Australians: “they are the most revolting form of living creatures I’ve ever seen !! They are the lowest known form of human beings & are the nearest thing to monkeys.” lan Lascelles, the prince’s private secretary for eight years during this period, believed that “for some hereditary or physiological reason his (Edward) normal mental development stopped dead when he reached adolescence”. His own father, king George V, was disappointed by his son’s failure to settle down in life, disgusted by his affairs with married women, and was reluctant to see him inherit the Crown. “After I am dead,” George said, “the boy will ruin himself in twelve months.” His father favored Albert and his granddaughter Elizabeth and told a courtier, “I pray to God that my eldest son will never marry and have children, and that nothing will come between Bertie and Lilibet and the throne.” The King was very wise for the entire word knows how great a Queen ‘Lilibet’ has been. In October 1937, the Duke and Duchess visited Nazi Germany, against the advice of the British government, and met Adolf Hitler at his Berghof retreat in Bavaria. The visit was much publicised by the German media.
How immature of Edward to give up the throne. This way he trapped Wallis, as if he’s telling her “I gave up the throne for you”. And how careless of Wallis to involve herself with him, she knew that no one wouldn’t accept her but she still didn’t have the logical sense to realize the results of her actions. They both did wrong to one other… At least the abdication turned out to be the only good thing.
In case someone doesn’t know this, Madonna made a movie about these two back in 2012. It was called “W.E” (for Wallis and Edward). The movie flopped at the box office but I actually liked it. She called it “a great love story”. I disagree. Wallis basically seemed stuck taking care of Edward who seemed like the ultimate manboy.
I know it’s just semantics but these things bother me, Edward was not the first monarch to fly an airplane – he was not king when he did it! He was prince of Wales… he was the first monarch who had flown an airplane!! I don’t believe yet any British monarch has flown an airplane, as they’ve not been allowed? But saying that love all your websites, Top10, Today, and this I look forward to them being published every day! Keep it up.
Simon, do Anton LaVey I’m no historian, but from the context here then Edward was a Weakling and Wallis was a manipulator. If there was any good that came from their relationship then she was able to pull him away from the throne so his brother could rule. Edward probably would not have been any more influential than George during the war, but he couldn’t push for appeasement of the Germans either. Wallis was only interested in what she could get out of Edward, if she cared about him even a little she would have left him when he suggested abdication. She only wanted the benefits of being his wife but wouldn’t even love him.
I’m a proud Texan but telling the whole country to kiss off you can’t be bought even with the thrown of an entire country, a super power at that, takes balls as big as boulders. I love it. Straight up badass move. A women’s true love is hard to find and even harder to keep. When found, at all costs, we keep it.
If Edward VIII would have been King, giving his relations with Hitler, we wouldn’t have the following things: Battle of Britain, Rommel and DAK landing in North Africa, merchant ships being sunked by the German U-Boats, SOE supporting the partisan movements throughout Europe, Battle of El Alamein, Allied landings in North Africa and Europe, Operation Market Garden and many other things you can think of.
As a man…Or little friend in our pants has a brain of his own….But his “Our little man in our pants”…Just think’s of one thing and that is….I want to stand up hard and fast so l can throw up the seed of life any where l can as fast as l can….He the little man in out pants has been the ruin of a many a good man….But this time he the little man in our pants just may have saved the free world as we know it…..Thanks very much……As always thanks….!
I find it very hard to believe that Edward would have abdicated for an unconsummated marriage. On the what-if scenario, I think it depends on how deluded Edward was about Hitler. If British intelligence could reason with him and prove that Germany provoked war with Poland (faking attacks by the Poles as their pretext), it might have gone similarly. The statements of his that you give, though, suggest he liked conspiracy theories and fantasies, much like those who cannot see how inept and dangerous Trump is as “president” (of Twitter perhaps, since he doesn’t do a lot of governance, really). The British government may have had to force him out somehow, though, given how Chamberlain’s appeasement policies were proven wrong and cost him his job as PM.
Sounds like Wallis was a fire escape he could run out of the responsibilities of King on. I am an American and therefore don’t want to be disrespectful to another country’s history or historical figures however, based on this info it appears he knew he was not suited for the throne. He probably did have an infatuation with Wallis but I wonder how much of that was true love vs. self fulfilling prophecy to escape the throne. But what do I know?