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

[ysbel]

You're saying that Wallis actually worked as a whore in a Chinese brothel?

As an aside, its interesting that the Duke of Windsor may have had the same condition (phimosis) as the last king of France (Louis XVI) It was apparently the source of a lot of rumours about his queen Marie Antoinette.

[BeatrixFan]

No, she didn't work there. Some say she learned her tips from a Chinese tart but I can't believe she'd ever consort with people like that. Whats more likely is that a Chinese nanny or ladies maid taught English women, who taught Wallis.

[Russophile]

See, I don't believe any of that. I think that Wallis' attraction was that she made David feel at home. She was an excellent hostess and made all her guests feel welcome and at home.
The detractors had to make up something.

[ysbel]

Thanks for explaining BeatrixFan. Maybe I'm dense but what's the connection with China? Was one of Wallis' husbands stationed over there or did she grow up there?

I know she was from Baltimore but I haven't heard the Chinese connection before.

[BeatrixFan]

She apparantly spent time in China. But it's well known British wives in the colonies turned to native techniques. For example, plenty of women living in the Raj turned to the Kama Sutra.

[mrsbugman]

What is phimosis?

[Mermaid1962]

InteliHealth:

Originally Posted by mrsbugman

What is phimosis?

[Russophile]

Originally Posted by ysbel

Thanks for explaining BeatrixFan. Maybe I'm dense but what's the connection with China? Was one of Wallis' husbands stationed over there or did she grow up there?

I know she was from Baltimore but I haven't heard the Chinese connection before.

She was from Baltimore and it was interesting to hear her say that she considered Baltimore SOUTHERN. I also found it fascinating that she learned everything about cooking from a Fanny Farmer cookbook. (I have one as well! ONe of the first I bought when I was first married. )

Bea, Sweetie, that is interesting stuff you're talking about. Can you give me any bio's that have similar info. about the "techniques" cuz I'd like to read that.

[Elspeth]

Her first husband was stationed in China; they'd already separated, but I think Wallis was persuaded to give the marriage another chance after a relationship she was having in the USA didn't work out, and she went out to China to join her husband and stayed for a while. I'd have to find one of the biographies to see what it says about that period, but I think Spencer was still drinking heavily and being abusive, and the reconciliation didn't work.

[BeatrixFan]

Originally Posted by Russophile

She was from Baltimore and it was interesting to hear her say that she considered Baltimore SOUTHERN. I also found it fascinating that she learned everything about cooking from a Fanny Farmer cookbook. (I have one as well! ONe of the first I bought when I was first married. )

Bea, Sweetie, that is interesting stuff you're talking about. Can you give me any bio's that have similar info. about the "techniques" cuz I'd like to read that.

Well, it's only something I've heard, I don't know of any books that speficially mention it but apparantly she could do a trick with ping pong balls and was exceptionally good at the thing Diana wouldn't do according to Barbara Cartland. And that's as tame as I can make it! It's all urban rumour passed and may not be true but I like to think it is.

[Russophile]

Originally Posted by BeatrixFan

Well, it's only something I've heard, I don't know of any books that speficially mention it but apparantly she could do a trick with ping pong balls and was exceptionally good at the thing Diana wouldn't do according to Barbara Cartland. And that's as tame as I can make it! It's all urban rumour passed and may not be true but I like to think it is.

I'm sure Kitty Kelley's book would say something like that!!

[serenissima]

Oh, talking about this woman, after Diana Mosley died, there was a TV programme which was based upon seeral interviews with her. In this programme, she herself was a friend of Wallis and it sounded as though they both shared the same political views with Oswald Mosley and Hitler.

It was such an interesting programme.

[Russophile]

I was over in the Tutti-Fruitti thread and thought they would look good on Wallis. She was very chic and plain and jewels really dressed her up and made her slim frame very impressive!!

[Menarue]

I wouldn´t be at all surprised to hear that Wallis Simpson had had a child out of wedlock but with DNA testing this family could prove this easily if they want to.
Menarue

[Russophile]

Originally Posted by Menarue

I wouldn´t be at all surprised to hear that Wallis Simpson had had a child out of wedlock but with DNA testing this family could prove this easily if they want to.
Menarue

Which family?
There were rumors that Wallis was sterile as was David.

[Menarue]

The family I am talking about is the man(or is it woman) who says he/she is the offspring of Wallis and the Duke. In most of the biographies I have read Wallis was supposed to have had an abortion at one time (not the Duke`s child but a diplomat´s) and after that she could never have a child.
Years back before DNA someone could claim to be the son or daughter of some famous person and it was very difficult to prove. Look at the women who claimed to be Anastasia! Now that the remains have been found and identified that will put stop to those claims.
Menarue

[Russophile]

Well, if you've check out the latest over in the Russian forum, you should know that it takes a lot of time to sort out DNA claims. I would imagine that someone claiming to be an offspring of Wallis and David (if they were alive) would have a devil of a time trying to prove it as well.

[Menarue]

Someone would have to co-operate as well. Prince Philip did, which enabled them to identify the Russian royal family.
There was a book recently in Portugal, a family claiming to be descended from Queen Victoria and the Duke of Wellington, it was hilarious, but unintentionally as they had one page in Portuguese and the facing page in Babelfish English. A classic.
Menarue

[Warren]

Rather than get sidetracked onto the Duke of Wellington and Queen Victoria could we stick to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor please.

[iowabelle]

I might have mentioned this before... but once, when I lived in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, (back in the 80s) I met an elderly man who had known Wallis when her first husband was stationed in Pensacola, Florida. This elderly man said that he had enjoyed dancing with her and he thought she was wonderful. (I got the impression that she was one of those women that men really enjoyed.)

Personally, I'm a little torn about Wallis. I don't really understand a king who would turn his back on his duty, or a woman who would encourage/tolerate that kind of behavior...