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

[ladongas]

Originally Posted by Mermaid1962

...

Yes, I agree. The robes are photographed completely out of context. What boggles my mind is that, although he left England and went into exile very soon after signing the Instrument of Abdication, he took his robes with him. It seems that he had lots of time to pack--or should I say--had lots of packing done for him. This indicates that he was prepared for his exile.

Weren't there stories that he expected to be restored to the throne, ultimately? He believed that his brother would be so inadequate that a popular clamor would arise demanding the return of Edward. Failing that, there were thoughts that he would be placed on the throne by the triumphant Germans after the war. (How'd that work out for you, Duke?) Or maybe he just fought the stifling boredom of his life by playing dress-up on a hot afternoon in the garden. Sad and pathetic, for whatever reasons...

[Ish]

Originally Posted by Mermaid1962

Yes, I agree. The robes are photographed completely out of context. What boggles my mind is that, although he left England and went into exile very soon after signing the Instrument of Abdication, he took his robes with him. It seems that he had lots of time to pack--or should I say--had lots of packing done for him. This indicates that he was prepared for his exile.

He would have been. Perhaps not the lengthy exile that it became, but the abdication didn't happen in a day. It was a long process and it was established before the actual abdication that Edward would have to leave the country at least at first (Wallis also had to leave the country). His people would have had time to pack up things.

This picture also looks like it was taken when Edward was older than he was at the time of the abdication, and it's important to remember that while he was "exiled" he did still have some connections in Britain and did return on several occasions, so he would have had time to collect things that he'd left behind, or have them sent to him.

Originally Posted by ladongas

Weren't there stories that he expected to be restored to the throne, ultimately? He believed that his brother would be so inadequate that a popular clamor would arise demanding the return of Edward. Failing that, there were thoughts that he would be placed on the throne by the triumphant Germans after the war. (How'd that work out for you, Duke?) Or maybe he just fought the stifling boredom of his life by playing dress-up on a hot afternoon in the garden. Sad and pathetic, for whatever reasons...

I'm not sure about the validity of the stories that Edward expected to be restored soon after - I wouldn't put it past him to want it or even expect it, but from what I've read I've always had the understanding that Wallis at least knew once it happened it was done.

As for the German puppet government, that wasn't actually Edward's plan or desire. For all his bad choices, Edward didn't actually try to sell his country to the Germans. It was a concern that if the Germans captured Edward when they took France then they would use him to establish a puppet government - comparable to Vichy France or what happened in China with the last Emperor - but that wasn't Edward's plan, it was what the British government was worried about happening. That's why they very deliberately sent him away from Europe during the war - not because he intentionally posed a threat, but because if captured he posed one.

[MarleneKoenig]

The story is a bit odd. Some of these photos have been published before, including the one of David wearing the Garter Robes. This was one of a series of photos taken in 1953 by James Gunn. This photo appears in Philip Ziegler's official biography, King Edward VIII, published in 1990. The credit for that photo was the Al-fayd archive.

[Queen Camilla]

The gardener claimed he took the photograph of Edward wearing the Garter robe.

The gardener worked for the Windsor from 1966 to 1973.

[MarleneKoenig]

Originally Posted by Queen Camilla

The gardener claimed he took the photograph of Edward wearing the Garter robe.

The gardener worked for the Windsor from 1966 to 1973.

Bull dinkies. The photo was one of a series by James Gunn taken in 1953. Published before .. it's right in the Ziegler book.

[CyrilVladisla]

Did Queen Mary have any specific Protestant princesses in mind that she considered would make a good spouse for Edward?

The article mentioned: Before Edward's abdication, Hitler had tried to marry him to a young German princess.
Who was the German princess?

[Iluvbertie]

Before the war he was probably to young to be thinking about marriage and after the war George V promoted marriages to British aristocrats and not to foreign royals.

[ladongas]

Unmasked, Edward the Nazi King of England: Princess Diana's biographer reveals the Duke of Windsor's collusion with Hitler... and a plot to regain his throne* | Daily Mail Online

The extraordinary extent of King Edward VIII’s flirtation with Hitler and the determined efforts by the post-war British establishment to bury the evidence has been uncovered in a new book by the biographer of Princess Diana.
Author Andrew Morton says he spent years working through Nazi files to demonstrate Edward’s true sympathy with the Fuhrer - to the extent that Hitler planned to install Edward as a puppet king on the British throne.

Well, this looks like a juicy read, although a lot of the information referenced here seems familiar.

One of the pictures with this- in color with Wallis in a polka dot dress- is the nicest, sweetest picture I've ever seen of the Windsors.

[Iluvbertie]

This story has been in the public domain for years. This is a new wrinkle on well known material for anyone who has bothered to read everything.

[MARG]

Well, presumingly they published the juicier bits that were expanded on by Morton in his tome. If so, there is absolutely nothing there that we didn't already know, as information trickled out, one fact at a time over decades.

[ladongas]

Originally Posted by Iluvbertie

This story has been in the public domain for years. This is a new wrinkle on well known material for anyone who has bothered to read everything.

Thanks, yes, I know. Can't say I've read everything, but darn near it.

[An Ard Ri]

Beyond Extravagance..Villa Windsor


Nicolas de Pompadour: Beyond Extravagance..Villa Windsor

[Duchessmary]

Gorgeous! Thanks for sharing.

[bertie5252003]

Stunning .. what luxury

[Moonmaiden23]

Just speechless with awe at such beauty and elegance. To say that they lived a Royal existence beyond what most Royals experience would be an understatement...I am not an admirer of either the Duke or Duchess but there is no denying that this couple understood the art of living well.

I noticed that the interior was decorated by Stephane Boudin of Jansen of Paris. He was selected by Jacqueline Kennedy to advise on the 1961-1962 restoration of the White House, also with spectacular results.

[Zonk]

They truly lived well.

What a gorgeous home....some of its so over the top but it works.

If anyone gets a chance, they should check out The Windsor Style by Suzy Menkes. I think it's out of print but you might run across the book online or something. The pictures of the garden at the Villa are simply breathtaking

[Honeybees]

Originally Posted by Zonk

They truly lived well.

What a gorgeous home....some of its so over the top but it works.

If anyone gets a chance, they should check out The Windsor Style by Suzy Menkes. I think it's out of print but you might run across the book online or something. The pictures of the garden at the Villa are simply breathtaking

Dearest Zonk, may I respectfully add a suggestion? Sometimes some large online book sellers have copies of that book.

[An Ard Ri]

I wonder what became of all the furnishings/paintings etc after the death of the Duchess in 1986?

[Mermaid1962]

Here's an article by Hugo Vickers. Wallis Simpson: Robbed, abused and alone, the Duchess of Windsor's last days | Daily Mail Online

Things were gradually sold or given away. Al Fayed is supposed to have sold the last of it after he bought the Windsor's home.

[wyevale]

Much of the French 18th century furniture, and some Sevres Porcelain was bequeathed by the Duchess to the Chateau de Versailles.