Duke and Duchess of Windsor (1894-1972) and (1895-1986)

[Idriel]

Hello Lashinka!
Interesting subject indeed.
It is very interesting that everyone talk about the love story of the century, because those who were very close to the couple always doubted that Wallis was in love with the Duke (who in return worshipped her). It was a strange relationship, David being a charming but immature young man and Wallis being a dominating, severe and obsessive woman. It is obvious through her weddings and lifestyle before she met David that she was obsessed by money and status. She was a remarkably smart and subtle woman who knew how to obtain what she wanted. She was devastated when David abdicated because she wanted to be Queen. I think that why she had this friendship with Hitler; not because she approved his politic, but because he promised her to restore David as King. David notoriously admired the social politic of Hitler, the way he helped the working class (David was a socialist, which is one of the reason the establishment wanted him to abdicate). I don't think he was antisemitic.
He was a very loved Prince and King and most Britons were extremely sad to see him abdicate. It was really a plot from the conservative people on power at the time.
As for their life after the abdication, it was exemplary of dignity and elegance. I think Wallis understood she could not elevate herself much higher and just chose to play her role at the perfection and stand by her man. I don't think she ever truly loved him but she made him happy and for that she has my respect.

[EmpressRouge]

A quote by the Duchess of Windsor: "You can never be too rich or too thin."

And Givenchy made the Duchess' black gown in 48 hrs in time for the Duke's funeral.

[EmpressRouge]

Did anyone watch the Masterpiece Theatre telefilm (on PBS in the USA) Bertie & Elizabeth about the George VI and Queen Mum's marriage? In it, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor (espically the Duchess) are portrayed very negatively. Russell Baker (host) acklowedged it at the end of the program. He said the British viewed them as selfish people who put personal pleasure before duty, whereas Americans see it as poignant story of star-crossed lovers. Any thoughts?

[Idriel]

Originally Posted by EmpressRouge

He said the British viewed them as selfish people who put personal pleasure before duty, whereas Americans see it as poignant story of star-crossed lovers. Any thoughts?

The truth lies between

[Elspeth]

The British have been fed decades of propaganda about how perfect Bertie and Elizabeth were and what monsters Edward and Wallis were; it isn't until fairly recently that books and articles sympathetic to the Duke and Duchess have really started to appear. The Queen Mother has always been portrayed in the media as a sweet and harmless national granny figure, whereas the truth appears to be somewhat less sugar-coated. As Idriel said, the truth is almost certainly somewhere between the two extremes, but in Britain one side has been free to present its version and the other side hasn't.

[lashinka2002]

I think that you are very correct Idriel.
I think that once Edward VIII abdicated, Wallis had to stay with him. He gave so much up for their love had she left he would have been a broken man (no wife, no family, humiliated & in exile) If she had stayed by his side she would have been ostracized not only in England but around the world as well. There was really no other higher status for her to obtain after marrying Edward. I don't believe that she loved the duke as much as he did her but certainly she cared for him in her own way. I think it was fear of being overthrown on the part of King George VI & Queen Elizabeth that gave the duke and duchess such a harsh exile. It surely must have been painful for the 2 brothers & their mother for such a family split.
Wallis was a woman before her time. Had she lived now there would have been the possibility of acceptance and things may have been different.
Of course there is always the possibility that Wallis was just the excuse given to the general public for the abdication.

[morgaine]

Some more Pics:1. Wallis 1897
2. Wallis 1898
3. Wallis 1905
4. Wallis 1915
5. Wallis 1935
6. Wallis 1946
7. Edward 1946
8. Edward und Wallis 1945

[morgaine]

Some more Pics of Wallis:

[portergirl]

I just wanted to add another perspective to the Duke & Duchess of Windsor that doesn't involve who had an affair with whom, etc. My life partner (fiance) is psychic/medium Kenny Kingston - he's given psychic readings to many celebrities including members of the Royal Family and two of his favorite clients were the Duke and Duchess of Windsor (primarily the Duchess). He says they were a couple very much in love and while they fought fiercely, they were quite devoted to one another till the end of the Duke's life and the Duchess remained in love with him till her passing. He has so many cute and touching stories about them, and I'm just hoping that people will occasionally remember them as a couple whose love was badly timed. Connection to the Nazis? Who knows? Kenny hasn't spoken much about that, instead focusing on the fact that they were in love and the Monarchy didn't think it proper between a divorced woman and a King. Think of the scandal today! But poor Princess Margaret couldn't even marry Captain Townsend because he wasn't "proper", either. Poor people - I do feel sorry for them, because their lives were dealt a bad blow. And nowadays, so many scandals have happened that make the Duke and Duchess or Margaret look like amateurs!

[Royalsa]

1 and 2: the wedding of king Edward VIII & Wallis Simpson (1937).

[iowabelle]

When I was living in Tallahassee, Florida, about 20 years ago I met an elderly man who knew Wallis when she was a young bride and married to her first husband. I guess the first husband was a pilot or something, with the military. This elderly man talked about dancing with her and he thought she was wonderful.

[Victoria1999]

Wallis was not a beauty, but I guess she had very charismatic personality.

To me, the Duke and the Duchess had always looked very devoted couple.

[Elspeth]

Yes, Earl Winfield Spencer (Wallis's first husband) was a Navy pilot and they lived in Florida (Pensacola, I think) when they were first married. Interesting that you should have met someone who knew her and remembered her from those days.

[Wallis]

I agree with the above comments but only to a certain extent. From what I've read, I think she was indeed in love with him, but then became disillusioned. According to some books I read, she hated being away from England and in self imposed exile in France. She couldn't stand the Bahamas and wished that David would have been given a more lucrative position. Right after the abdication when they married and were reunited, she woke up to find David by her side asking her, "Well, now what should we do?" She loved the parties and society, but also secretly wished that David had been stronger and more demanding of a better position for himself.

Eventually she got bored and supposedly strayed momentarily by flirting outrageously with someone named Jimmy Donohue. He was some kind of socialite and also rumored to be gay. I'm not sure, I read these biographies a while ago. I'm a fan of Wallis because she was complex. She could be hideous, like when she was photographed looking adoringly at Hitler, but she also wasn't just interested in being a jet setter.

There was a famous interview they gave to the BBC near the end of David's life. The interviewer asked Wallis what she would have liked to achieve if times were different (I think, I'm trying to remember.) She replied that she would have loved to have been an executive or get into corporate marketing or advertising. But in those days, women were not in such prestigious positions. Then the interviewer asked David and the Duke became very mumbled and gave an awkward answer. Wallis seemed very uncomfortable. My impression was that Wallis was always focused and ambitious and she wished David would have been just as head strong, but he wasn't. Eventually she tired of his weakness, but stayed with him out of loyalty to his sacrifice of her. (However, I feel that it wasn't much of a sacrifice. I think he never wanted to be King and used her as an excuse. There is evidence that he also threatened to abdicate for his previous mistress, in particular one who was married with kids, but that she talked him out of it.)

[Australian]

I have one question. Is it true that the headstone of the Duchess simply says "His Wife" and that's it? I remember reading it somewhere.

[Lady Marmalade]

I still say for him to give up crown and country for that person was wrong. She may have loved him, but she also knew just how to pull the right strings to control him.

They deserved to be banned and due to the time and their relationship with Hitler, had they stayed in England the damage to the monarchy could have been terrible. They (George VI and Elizabeth) were still trying to shed off the German roots and really devote themselves to the war movement and their subjects.

The Duke and Duchess made their bed and now had to lay in it. Their loss and I do not feel pity for them.

[branchg]

I don't think they were monsters, but they certainly were selfish and greedy. To give up the throne and let down the entire British Commonwealth is a pretty indefensible act.

I also believe that while Wallis was certainly very fond of Edward, she never was in love with him.

[branchg]

Originally Posted by Australian

I have one question. Is it true that the headstone of the Duchess simply says "His Wife" and that's it? I remember reading it somewhere.

Supposedly, this was true until a few years ago. It now reads "Wallis, Duchess of Windsor" with her dates of birth and death.