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

[A-Bik]

Originally Posted by angieuk

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...s-Simpson.html

I think in 2021; they would have been allowed to marry and take their place as King and Consort Queen. I believe Wallis was a strong woman, and Edward needed that contrast in his life. History paints them as selfish; but they just wanted to be happy, and Wallis second husband went on to marry someone else as well. If they had met first time around, there would have been no obstacle to a marriage (Wallis divorces got in the way).

A very interesting updated story on the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. We know a lot about before; but there is very little about what happened after they left the UK. I will definitely read the new book. The Scandalous Exile Of The Duke And Duchess Of Windsor, by Andrew Lownie, published by Blink on August 19 at £25.

The Windsor/Sussex comparisons are so trite.

1)
Edward was King.
His stepping back from royal duties, precipitated a constitutional crisis, that shook the foundations of the UK government to the core.
Harry was sixth in line to the throne with almost certainly no chance of becoming sovereign.
Harry's actions didn't recall Parliament, and barely got more than 1 line of well-wishes from the Prime Minister.

2)
The roles they see for themselves differ.
I would say the Windsors were closer to socialites, with the cream of US society.
The Sussexes are focus is more akin to social justice warriors and are more likely to be seen with a Washington clique.

3)
Most importantly, Edward & Wallis never had children. Their focus was on each other and their mansion walls for the rest of their days.
Harry and Meghan have children, that alone means their lives aren't only for them. And for the next 18 years at least, they will both be responsible for 2 little babies.
The nucleus of their family will likely be a cornerstone of their marriage, just like it is for everyone else.

[Denville]

Originally Posted by angieuk

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...s-Simpson.html

I think in 2021; they would have been allowed to marry and take their place as King and Consort Queen. I believe Wallis was a strong woman, and Edward needed that contrast in his life. History paints them as selfish; but they just wanted to be happy, and Wallis second husband went on to marry someone else as well. If they had met first time around, there would have been no obstacle to a marriage (Wallis divorces got in the way).

A very interesting updated story on the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. We know a lot about before; but there is very little about what happened after they left the UK. I will definitely read the new book. The Scandalous Exile Of The Duke And Duchess Of Windsor, by Andrew Lownie, published by Blink on August 19 at £25.

THere seems to be nothing in that book that wasn't known before.

[Heavs]

From the article it all seems like more of the same about their post abdication life. The comparisons aren't new either, whether they're deserved or not.

It's possible that these days he may have been able to marry Wallace but I'm personally extremely glad he wasn't at the time. There were more reasons than just her being a divorced American that meant it was unacceptable. Just as there were those who believed Edward was an unsuitable King for other reasons and refused to support him over this.

[Denville]

Originally Posted by Heavs

From the article it all seems like more of the same about their post abdication life. The comparisons aren't new either, whether they're deserved or not.

It's possible that these days he may have been able to marry Wallace but I'm personally extremely glad he wasn't at the time. There were more reasons than just her being a divorced American that meant it was unacceptable. Just as there were those who believed Edward was an unsuitable King for other reasons and refused to support him over this.

Its impossible to compare 1936 with 2021. At the time, Wallis had 2 divorces and didn't know much about Royal life... plus she had some connextions with dubious people like Ribbentrop. And Edward was volatile and had so far not married.. suggesting he was not likely to choose a wife who would be a nice suitable conventional Queen.

[Osipi]

However, there is one thing that pertains to both couples no matter what year it happened in. The UK dodged a huge bullet when both of these couples left their royal roles. Things worked out for the best all the way around.

[maria-olivia]

Was he allowed to attend his Mother's Funerals ?

[Denville]

Originally Posted by maria-olivia

Was he allowed to attend his Mother's Funerals ?

If you mean the Duke of Windsor, yes, he attended Q Mary's funeral.. He was invited for certain events but he never seemed to be very happy to return ot the UK nor to get on with his family

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by maria-olivia

Was he allowed to attend his Mother's Funerals ?

https://royalwatcherblog.com/2019/03...een-mary-1953/


Yes he attended on his own, without the wife.

[Mbruno]

It is not clear if an armistice with Germany in 1940 would have been more likely with Edward VIII on the throne, but it is a possibility.The consequences of a premature exit of the British Empire from the war on the other hand could have been huge. Germany could have beaten the Soviet Union and the US, even if it were still dragged into a war with Japan, might never have opened a European front. Therefore, I am ultimately thankful for Wallis having triggered the abdication.

[maria-olivia]

Great thanks for your answers. That is a Royal Forum !
I realised She survived King Georges VI.
The 4 Royals behind the Coffin are the Duke of Edinburgh for the late King George VI , The Duke of Windsor , the Duke of Gloucester and the Young Duke of Kent for his late Father.

The Duke of Windsor wore an Uniform. That made me think King Leopold III of the Belgians wore for the last time his Uniform for the Wedding of his Daughter Princess Josephine Charlotte , future Hed Grand Duchess of Luxemburg .

[Sandy345]

Some sources say he was the one who could not have children due to a childhood illness. And some say she was physically abused by her first husband and that caused her not to be able to have children. Edward was given a choice between Wallis and the throne and chose Wallis. He could not have been denied marriage to her if he abdicated.

[Roderick]

I doubt either really wanted children though I think Wallis did say in her book that she regretted not having any. David would not have shared Wallis even with a child and her social life and ambitions in her child-bearing years really didn't give the impression of a woman keen to be a mother.

[angieuk]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ok-claims.html

The Duke was happy with her, adored her; and would have bought her all the jewels in the world; had he been a Billionaire. But I don't see any real evidence that he was the love of her life!

[Osipi]

Originally Posted by angieuk

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ok-claims.html

The Duke was happy with her, adored her; and would have bought her all the jewels in the world; had he been a Billionaire. But I don't see any real evidence that he was the love of her life!

One thing about David in several of his romantic relationships was that he became obsessed with the objects of his affection. According to a book " That Woman: A Life of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor" by Anne Sebba, "In a new book and documentary, author Anne Sebba claims that Wallis never actually wanted to marry Edward and that she continued to love Ernest Simpson, the husband she divorced in order to marry the King."

I don't believe that Wallis was as infatuated with David as much as he was with her but when the abdication crisis happened and with David's manipulations, she ended up between a rock and a hard place. I believe she would have been happy to just remain the mistress of the King for as long as that relationship lasted.

[Furienna]

Originally Posted by Osipi

One thing about David in several of his romantic relationships was that he became obsessed with the objects of his affection. According to a book " That Woman: A Life of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor" by Anne Sebba, "In a new book and documentary, author Anne Sebba claims that Wallis never actually wanted to marry Edward and that she continued to love Ernest Simpson, the husband she divorced in order to marry the King."

I don't believe that Wallis was as infatuated with David as much as he was with her but when the abdication crisis happened and with David's manipulations, she ended up between a rock and a hard place. I believe she would have been happy to just remain the mistress of the King for as long as that relationship lasted.

But if she loved Ernest, why did she start an affair with David?

[Prinsara]

Originally Posted by Furienna

But if she loved Ernest, why did she start an affair with David?

He was rich, interesting, rich, the Prince of Wales/King, and rich. He could give her stuff and entrée into society, both of which she felt to be of paramount importance. Also, the adoration was flattering, and she certainly never believed it would last. She was looking for a gilt-edged diversion and a way up, not a way out of her marriage.

(Actually, he wasn't even that interesting. But his position and lifestyle certainly were.)

[Alison H]

Wallis was one in a line of married women who'd had affairs with the Prince of Wales, most notably Freda Dudley Ward and Thelma Furness. I'm sure they were all fond of him, but they all accepted that their relationship would run its course and he'd then move on, either to another married mistress or to marriage with a virginal aristocrat. Or possibly both! Wallis would have assumed the same: that he'd want to marry her would have been unthinkable. And then she was stuck with this burden of knowing that he'd given up a throne, a kingdom, an empire, his family and most of his friends for her, when she probably never wanted him to.

[Mbruno]

Originally Posted by Prinsara

He was rich, interesting, rich, the Prince of Wales/King, and rich. He could give her stuff and entrée into society, both of which she felt to be of paramount importance. Also, the adoration was flattering, and she certainly never believed it would last. She was looking for a gilt-edged diversion and a way up, not a way out of her marriage.

(Actually, he wasn't even that interesting. But his position and lifestyle certainly were.)

At the time, he ought to have been the most eligible bachelor in the world as he was still a (future) King-Emperor reigning over a considerable portion of the world's surface area and population. I can't think of many other men in a comparable position.

Nevertheless, I agree that Wallis probably didn't expect their relationship to end up in marriage.

[Prinsara]

Yes, and despite David being exceptionally eligible and appearing to be Prince Charming, Wallis was still more comfortable with (and fond of) Ernest, and given the choice, likely would have preferred to stay Mrs. Simpson.

The 70's series Edward and Mrs. Simpson does a great understated and matter-of-fact portrayal of the whole affair, but outside of Amazon, only the first two episodes or so are available on YouTube.

[Curryong]

‘Appearing to be Prince Charming’ indeed. However, by the time things became serious between them I’m sure Wallis grew to realise that David was really a seething mass of neuroses and complexes, which had to be catered to. What made it worse was that he had few inner resources or intellectual curiosity and in consequence was easily bored.

I bet that there were several times in the early years of their marriage that Wallis wished she was back in her old life with Ernest. There’s only so much dog-like devotion a person can take!