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

[Debbies]

Originally Posted by BeatrixFan

I don't see that Wallis's politics were that bad. Alot of people admire bits of Nazism, by which I mean, someone can admire the Nazi's foreign policy but can despise the Holocaust but it doesn't mean they are a Nazi. I think that's where this came from - Wallis and David admired the way Hitler governed but they didn't admire everything he did and of course, they wouldn't have known about the Holocaust just as nobody else knew until after the war.

Let me offer a different point of view about that, I will avoid any political judgment on this subject.
The Mein Kampf, and history that followed, have shown that Nazism has not been a cake of which you could or can pick up "bits". Nazi ideology, domestic and foreign policy, war crimes and Holocaust were strictly and logically connected and resulted in a Tolitarian regime.
According to historical documents of that time and reports by politicians, diplomats, political scientists and other documented witnesses of that time, Nazism did not have so many "admirers", neither in Britain nor in Europe.
Mosley's movement in fact, was originated by admiration for Mussolini, not Hitler.
The "appeasement" policy of the British Government came from a deep underestimation of Hitler, who was mostly considered an extravagant and clownish character. This is far from admiration. The British establishment did not like his domestic policy but, as far as it could not harm neighbouring Countries, it was ignored. In addition to that, Britain was still recovering from World War I and both the Government and the public opinion were not prepared to invest more resources in a new conflict against Hitler.
Going back to Wallis and Edward, their "proximity" to Nazism was certainly something more than an innocuous admiration. That's why it eventually led to their exile.

[fanletizia]

The BBC sees a conspiracy in the abdication of Eduardo VIII the British throne
His relation with Wallis Simpson offered to “establishment” a pretext to release to the nation of a considered monarch unsuitable

The abdication of Edward VIII of the throne of England was been from a conspiracy of establishment British, according to a documentary one of the BBC of next exhibition, whose authors have leaned in official documents. The Government, the Anglican Church and members of the Royal Family privily were enchanted by the “affair” (relation) of the British monarch with divorced the American Wallis Simpson, according to that documentary one, whose content advances the newspaper Daily Express today.
…
Edward was detested by his excessive liking the women, their modernity, his desapego of the tradition and even his form to dress, explains Blakeway, according to which he was “a personage who did not stick anything in that surroundings”.

http://www.ideal.es/granada/20060913...609131752.html

[RachelD]

Is this the Duchess of Windsor with Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon???

Picture from GettyImages:

[Jo of Palatine]

Originally Posted by Debbies

Going back to Wallis and Edward, their "proximity" to Nazism was certainly something more than an innocuous admiration. That's why it eventually led to their exile.

While I second you analysis before, I'm not sure I want to see potential innocent characters of some prominence being added to the German "brown swamp" - IMHO it's the same to say that "any" German was a Nazi and saying that "David" supported the complete package of this nasty and murderous system.

[Elspeth]

Originally Posted by RachelD

Is this the Duchess of Windsor with Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon???

Picture from GettyImages:

http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/3426...2386365A9E7F5F

Yes, it is. I think members of the royal family paid the occasional visit to her when she was widowed, just to make it appear that they weren't still giving her the cold shoulder.

[BeatrixFan]

That picture is so sad. Wallis looks very Baby Jane actually.

[branchg]

The photo was taken in 1974 when Wallis was visiting New York (her last overseas visit before her final illness) and staying at The Waldorf Towers. Princess Margaret and Lord Snowden were also guests at the same time and the local press speculated they were snubbing The Duchess.

The next day, they called on her and the press took photos. It was a PR move for sure.

[Avalon]

Wallis Simpson's Cartier Brooch to Be Auctioned for Third Time

Prince Edward of Wales, who later abdicated as King Edward VIII, gave a Cartier brooch to his companion Wallis Simpson in the mid-1930s. The ruby-and-sapphire ornament will get its third trip on the auction circuit at Bonhams in London on Dec. 7.

[libra65]

Originally Posted by BeatrixFan

That picture is so sad. Wallis looks very Baby Jane actually.

I couldn't agree with you more BeatrixFan. I was never a fan of the Duchess but this picture of her is so sad.

[BeatrixFan]

I think that's what fascinates me where Wallis is concerned. She was just such an enigma and her latter years are just so surreal and sad.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Avalon

Wallis Simpson's Cartier Brooch to Be Auctioned for Third Time

Prince Edward of Wales, who later abdicated as King Edward VIII, gave a Cartier brooch to his companion Wallis Simpson in the mid-1930s. The ruby-and-sapphire ornament will get its third trip on the auction circuit at Bonhams in London on Dec. 7.

A picture of the brooch, from Bonhams is HERE

[Duchess]

Originally Posted by BeatrixFan

I think that's what fascinates me where Wallis is concerned. She was just such an enigma and her latter years are just so surreal and sad.

this is so true. i recently finished reading a book about wallis. although it was very "pro" wallis i think it was a much more fair picture than past books have been. it's very sad that a family can be so cold and not forgive things that they really have no reason to not forgive. i can understand the duke and duchess of york holding a grudge (although i think even they should have softened in later years) but the current queen and her family should have changed and extended the olive branch and allowed edward to feel comfortable in visiting the UK. and i think they certainly should have made wallis feel more welcome in the last years of her life. it's very sad.

[BeatrixFan]

I remember reading "The Heart has it's Reasons" and I actually sobbed because up until reading it, I'd just thought of Wallis as "that woman" but suddenly, here was this woman who was quite possibly in way above her head, living a life she didn't want to live. I think David was devoted to her till his dying day but for her, I think the marriage was a whim that lasted far longer than she ever expected it to but then when David had gone, she suddenly realised that she was an old lady, left alone and no longer able to pick up any man she wanted because she wasn't "that woman" any more.

I think you make a good point when you say that they should have made her feel welcome. I almost wish that she'd be given a residence like Thatched House Lodge etc - I think it's incredibly sad to think of her living as a kind of recluse, smothered in make-up and jewels, eeking out her last days all alone. But strangely, it seemed to happen to alot of women like her. Margaret, Duchess of Argyll suffered with the same fate.

[Avareenah]

I agree about the book "The Heart Has Its Reasons". It was really the first glimpse I had of Wallis as a human being with feelings -- even though a few things in the life of Wallis and David were probably glossed over in it.

Suzanne Blum, who I believe was (or made herself) executor of the estate, has been blamed for isolating Wallis in her final days and controlling all her finances.

I wonder would the RF have stepped in in any way to at least arrange for the care of this lonely and pathetic old lady if they had to?

[Madame Royale]

I've always been sympathetic to Wallis and David.

I really do feel they were both, primarily the Duchess, harshly done by their respective family and I do believe the Queen Mother to have been most disagreeable for so many years to a woman she did not, really, even know.

Its very little wonder as to why Wallis didn't much care for Elizabeth in return.

The thought that Wallis 'killed the King' (by way of the abdication) is so rediculous (in my mind) and really, I think shame on the Queen Mother for even harbouring such a thought. It was the effects of chronic smoking that killed George VI, and the stresses of war would not have alleviated the inevitability of his smoking ways.

But it went to show that when one doesn't wish to place responsibility on those who are infact responsible (The King for his own actions), that the focus shall be directed to those who are already the focuss of ones' disliking.

pathetic old lady

Interesting observation.

[Elspeth]

Originally Posted by Duchess

this is so true. i recently finished reading a book about wallis. although it was very "pro" wallis i think it was a much more fair picture than past books have been. it's very sad that a family can be so cold and not forgive things that they really have no reason to not forgive. i can understand the duke and duchess of york holding a grudge (although i think even they should have softened in later years) but the current queen and her family should have changed and extended the olive branch and allowed edward to feel comfortable in visiting the UK. and i think they certainly should have made wallis feel more welcome in the last years of her life. it's very sad.

I think the current Queen was always very aware of the way her mother felt about just about everything, and the Queen Mother's antipathy toward Wallis was very well known. It seems as though in family matters Mummie's opinion was always very important, and we know what Mummie's opinion of the Windsors was.

[MARG]

Originally poste by Elspeth

It seems as though in family matters Mummie's opinion was always very important, and we know what Mummie's opinion of the Windsors was.

Whilst I think that personal distaste played a large part in the public perception of the RF regarding the abdication, I think we have to remember that it really was another time, another age even. Outside of the aristocracy divorce was almost unknown.

Divorced women were regarded as shameless and usually seen as adulterous and you had better believe that they would not have been invited to join the local ladies guild! The masses (upper, middle and lower classes) throughout the Empire would not have countenanced such a person as their Queen. And, it must also be remembered that she was divorced more than once and rumours of her love affairs were rampant.

To find out now that there were also serious security concerns makes the rejection of their marriage serendipitous. Unwise and possible treasonous behavior would have seriously damaged the monarchy and an Empire facing war far more than the abdication of the King to wed an unsuitable woman.