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

[ladongas]

I saw this years ago, and I loved it!

Has anyone ever seen "Edward & Mrs. Simpson"? I'm almost tempted to start a thread for it.

It was very, VERY well done, with a tastefulness and restraint (and lack of romanticizing) I don't think you would ever get these days.

Unfortunately it's absolutely not available online.

Try Amazon.com. I put the title in the search box and it came right up. I couldn’t find it using amazon.ca.

 

[Prinsara]

David... was a mess of several degrees, and we all know it, and he did everyone except himself and Wallis a favor by doing what he wanted and exiting stage right.

 

[Curryong]

From what I've read of Edward as a young man, like royalty everywhere there were times when he took it for granted that other people would pay. And of course he didn't pay anything as a young man when he stayed at people's houses for house parties, shoots and parties. Nor was he extravagant at clubs. Fort Belvedere was done up with his own money. However he had few other expenses apart from staff. And as a result of becoming Duke of Cornwall in 1910 Edward had a great deal of money stacked away by 1936 that had been saved over those twenty six years.

However, he was extravagant where Wallis was concerned. She literally had a King's ransom in jewels for example tucked away by 1936, and he treated her to several luxury holidays. I believe that having no bequest from his father was a severe blow to Edward.

I think that he thought he would get more than his brothers, and it's significant that as soon as the news sank in after the reading of the will he rushed off to consult Wallis by phone.

And when he knew that he would have to abdicate his whole actions speak of a desperation for cash. Afterwards he drove the bargains with his brother George VI over an allowance and the sale of Balmoral and Sandringham.

 

[Betsypaige]

Has anyone ever seen "Edward & Mrs. Simpson"? I'm almost tempted to start a thread for it.

It was very, VERY well done, with a tastefulness and restraint (and lack of romanticizing) I don't think you would ever get these days.

Unfortunately it's absolutely not available online.

I might have, in fact I probably did - with Edward Fox? I remember “The Woman He Loved” more - with Anthony Andrews and Jane Seymour. It’s probably why I thought Edward VII and Wallis Simpson were “the greatest romance” when I was much younger, lol

On news front, they are apparently making a movie about Wallis based in Anna Pasternak’s bio...

https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a32022916/wallis-simpson-american-duchess-movie/

 

[Denville]

There's bits on youtube. There's also a very interesting interview with Diana Mosley on youtube where she talks about about a biography she wrote of the duchess.

Not the most objective of biographies.....

 

[Durham]

Not the most objective of biographies.....

No it isn't but it's noteworthy for its obvious bias.

And the interview is interesting. How could it not be with Diana, wife of the leader of the British Union of Fascists, nee Mitford. Very typical of much of her class in her views & prejudices.

She's an apologist for the Windsors & that makes her interview & her biography a useful historical source.

 

[Prinsara]

No it isn't but it's noteworthy for its obvious bias.

And the interview is interesting. How could it not be with Diana, wife of the leader of the British Union of Fascists, nee Mitford. Very typical of much of her class in her views & prejudices.

She's an apologist for the Windsors & that makes her interview & her biography a useful historical source.

I watched a few minutes a while ago. She is interesting/Mitford, after all.

Then I remembered I needed my soul back.

 

[CyrilVladisla]

When Edward was a young Prince of Wales and attended church, would he not have put money in the collection/offering plate?

 

[Prinsara]

When Edward was a young Prince of Wales and attended church, would he not have put money in the collection/offering plate?

Cyril, David was trained in a great many modes of "proper" behavior as a young boy. Frequently with his father shouting at him, which basically had the opposite effect. He grew up — the First World War didn't help — and couldn't have cared less about being proper or dutiful.

As soon as he was old enough he did exactly as he pleased and wouldn't change for the world. (It was noted after he became King that his lax church attendance was embarrassing for the Head.)

Whether he put his pocket money in the plate or not, it didn't end up affecting what he did with the rest of his life.

He did leave his money to the Pasteur Institute for research, which is not the worst thing he could have done.

 

[Furienna]

He was rich and the Prince of Wales..

But if you love somebody else, that will not matter. That is why I have a hard time believing that Wallis truly loved Ernest.

 

[Curryong]

I think if you move in certain circles compliant husbands aren't exactly a rarity whatever the relationship between the spouses. Ernest Simpson was something of a snob and for several years he escorted Wallis to places/social occasions where they would meet the Prince of Wales.

Both of them were very alive to the possibilities, both socially and business-wise of being known as part of the circle around the Prince of Wales. It was only in the early part of 1935 that the relationship between Wallis and Edward really began to impact the Simpson marriage, IMO, and Ernest himself looked elsewhere.

If Ernest had really objected to Edward taking a shine to his wife in the first year of the acquaintanceship then the remedy was at hand. Refuse to escort her anywhere where the Prince would be. The social mores of the times would have ensured that she would not have gone alone to such events for long without arousing comment, Ernest would have put Wallis and his self respect before possible social advancement and the marriage would presumably have remained intact, for a while anyway.

 

[Prinsara]

But if you love somebody else, that will not matter. That is why I have a hard time believing that Wallis truly loved Ernest.

There's a line from a song from the musical series Galavant, but I feel like Anne Sebba said much the same thing in her bio of Wallis: "I love you, as much as someone like me can love anyone..."

I believe it applies to Wallis (and David as well) and all of their relationships.

 

[CyrilVladisla]

Cyril, David was trained in a great many modes of "proper" behavior as a young boy. Frequently with his father shouting at him, which basically had the opposite effect. He grew up — the First World War didn't help — and couldn't have cared less about being proper or dutiful.

As soon as he was old enough he did exactly as he pleased and wouldn't change for the world. (It was noted after he became King that his lax church attendance was embarrassing for the Head.)

Whether he put his pocket money in the plate or not, it didn't end up affecting what he did with the rest of his life.

He did leave his money to the Pasteur Institute for research, which is not the worst thing he could have done.

If, when he was younger, Prince Edward may have put his pocket money into the offering, it may according to his parents have been done because that is what a church goer is suppose to do.

 

[Denville]

Cyr

He did leave his money to the Pasteur Institute for research, which is not the worst thing he could have done.

I thought he left it to Wallis...

 

[Denville]

But if you love somebody else, that will not matter. That is why I have a hard time believing that Wallis truly loved Ernest.

She seems to have cared for him and he for her, but her affair with David got out of hand and Ernest got fed up with her being off with him all the time...

 

[Denville]

I think if you move in certain circles compliant husbands aren't exactly a rarity whatever the relationship between the spouses. Ernest Simpson was something of a snob and for several years he escorted Wallis to places/social occasions where they would meet the Prince of Wales.

Both of them were very alive to the possibilities, both socially and business-wise of being known as part of the circle around the Prince of Wales. It was only in the early part of 1935 that the relationship between Wallis and Edward really began to impact the Simpson marriage, IMO, and Ernest himself looked elsewhere.

If Ernest had really objected to Edward taking a shine to his wife in the first year of the acquaintanceship then the remedy was at hand. Refuse to escort her anywhere where the Prince would be. The social mores of the times would have ensured that she would not have gone alone to such events for long without arousing comment, Ernest would have put Wallis and his self respect before possible social advancement and the marriage would presumably have remained intact, for a while anyway.

but he didn't. He was hapy enough that his wife had taken the Prince's eye and it improved his social and business prospects to be part of the Princes circle. As I understand it, Wallis Aunt Bessie ws her chaperone when she went on holiday with the Prince... and I don't thik there would have been any problem with her going alone to parties..

 

[Curryong]

Some pre-abdication letters from the 1930s between Wallis and Edward.

https://people.com/archive/cover-story-the-king-and-mrs-simpson-vol-25-no-19/

 

[Prinsara]

I thought he left it to Wallis...

You're right, and the reasons why she left it to the Institute are not good ones, either.

https://www.news.com.au/entertainme...y/news-story/461e6609cb126bf97527fb9c993d9f93

Sourced story. I had heard about Maître Blum abusing her position, but if it's all true, it's quite sad for Wallis.

Makes you wonder if Ms. Chaplin will cover any of it in The Crown.

 

[Denville]

Wallis could have chosen to leave her money differently, before she became helpless. Mountbatten had been tryring to persuade her to leave it back to the British royal family but she didn't choose to do that.. although it all came from Britain. Or she could have left it to British charities. It is very sad that she fell intot the hands of Suzanne Blum..

 

[Durham]

What did it say in her will & when was it made?

 

[Denville]

What did it say in her will & when was it made?

Afraid I don't remember. It s a long time since I read a bio of the WIndsors. What I recall is that Mountbatten tried ot persuade her to leave her money back to the BRF and possibly some Brit charities? when she was well. But she became annoyed and pressured by his trying to talk to her about it and told him she didn't want to discuss her Will...

I suppose that Maitre Blum would have liked to influence her to leave her money to herself.. but knew that woud look bad, so she compromised by persaudng her to leave it to the Pasteur institute and helping herself to a lot of the duchess's valuables...

 

[Osipi]

Thinking about Wallis' will, I can understand totally why she wouldn't want to leave anything to the BRF or even British charities. Both David and Wallis were pretty much ostracized from the family after the abdication and the wounds inflicted because of it never were healed. I don't think Wallis ever did come to think highly of any of David's family and had no reason to be "generous" and return anything to them upon her death. Most likely to Wallis, she was treating the BRF just as coldly as she, herself, was treated.

Part of me wants to feel sympathy for this couple but often times, people that are self absorbed and narcissist and mainly concerned for their own selves and their own well being are the ones that die alone and hardly mourned.

 

[Denville]

Thinking about Wallis' will, I can understand totally why she wouldn't want to leave anything to the BRF or even British charities. Both David and Wallis were pretty much ostracized from the family after the abdication and the wounds inflicted because of it never were healed. I don't think Wallis ever did come to think highly of any of David's family and had no reason to be "generous" and return anything to them upon her death. Most likely to Wallis, she was treating the BRF just as coldly as she, herself, was treated.

Part of me wants to feel sympathy for this couple but often times, people that are self absorbed and narcissist and mainly concerned for their own selves and their own well being are the ones that die alone and hardly mourned.

no of course not.. but she had no family of her own, and her wealth had come from David's family... so Mountbatten tried ot persuade her htat it would be a nice gesture if she returned the great fortune to the UK. Im not sure if he suggested British charities, as well but she seemed to be listening to him but then changed her mind. And it does not seem as if she left it to a French charty out of the goodness of her heart but because Blum told her to do so...

 

[Durham]

Afraid I don't remember. It s a long time since I read a bio of the WIndsors. What I recall is that Mountbatten tried ot persuade her to leave her money back to the BRF and possibly some Brit charities? when she was well. But she became annoyed and pressured by his trying to talk to her about it and told him she didn't want to discuss her Will...

I suppose that Maitre Blum would have liked to influence her to leave her money to herself.. but knew that woud look bad, so she compromised by persaudng her to leave it to the Pasteur institute and helping herself to a lot of the duchess's valuables...

Thank you. I have looked online but there doesn't seem to be a great deal of information.

 

[Durham]

Some pre-abdication letters from the 1930s between Wallis and Edward.

https://people.com/archive/cover-story-the-king-and-mrs-simpson-vol-25-no-19/

Read through these. Thanks for posting. Very interesting. I've not read most of these before. It confirms a lot about the duke's character.

 

[CyrilVladisla]

When did Wallis first meet Suzanne Blum?

 

[Sandy345]

Thinking about Wallis' will, I can understand totally why she wouldn't want to leave anything to the BRF or even British charities. Both David and Wallis were pretty much ostracized from the family after the abdication and the wounds inflicted because of it never were healed. I don't think Wallis ever did come to think highly of any of David's family and had no reason to be "generous" and return anything to them upon her death. Most likely to Wallis, she was treating the BRF just as coldly as she, herself, was treated.

Part of me wants to feel sympathy for this couple but often times, people that are self absorbed and narcissist and mainly concerned for their own selves and their own well being are the ones that die alone and hardly mourned.

David did not die alone. His niece, his nephew by marriage, and his grand nephew visited him. And were in touch. His wife also was by his side.

OTOH, Wallis had dementia and it started around the time of David's funeral. She became more and more reclusive. She was not of sound mind at the time of her death.

 

[Denville]

David did not die alone. His niece, his nephew by marriage, and his grand nephew visited him. And were in touch. His wife also was by his side.

OTOH, Wallis had dementia and it started around the time of David's funeral. She became more and more reclusive. She was not of sound mind at the time of her death.

The RF visited him out of politeness and family solidarity. Any intimacy had long since vanished. And poor Wallis died alone, with no friends being able to visit her..

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

The RF visited him out of politeness and family solidarity. Any intimacy had long since vanished. And poor Wallis died alone, with no friends being able to visit her..

Yes indeed, secluded in the Bois de Boulogne the Duchess became victim to greedy "carers" exploiting her. By hindsight it was better when Queen Elizabeth had requested her to live her widowhood at Windsor or so, that she was cared for.

 

[sm1939]

I hadn’t realised the Queen Offered the Duchess to live at Windsor.