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

[An Ard Ri]

An article to mark the passing of the Duke of Windsor in 1972
https://www.tatler.com/article/what-you-need-to-know-about-edward-viiis-lost-memoir

 

[Blog Real]

Wallis, Duchess of Windsor being pushed in wheelchair by two nurses at the garden of her home in Bois de Boulogne, 1980s.

https://c8.quickcachr.fotos.sapo.pt/i/G7918d5d8/22775711_9Mzb4.jpeg

 

[CyrilVladisla]

Wallis and Edward outdoors

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/540854236519972453/

 

[Toledo]

I saw this video some years ago about the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and found it interesting as they were irritating. Especially her who controls the interview even when she's silent. Per description, it was filmed in October 1969 and broadcast as a radio interview on 27 March 1970.

Years before documents were found in Portugal exposing his connections with Hitler, called Operation Willie, to be placed back as king of England after a successful invasion during WWII. That means the future Queen Elizabeth and her entire family would have been removed and more than likely disappear in a concentration camp or terminated upon the invasion.

I bet the Duke knew the consequences for his family and probably care little. Ironically, per news after the discovery of the documents, QEII was not aware of these treason documents until after her uncle's passing.

 

[An Ard Ri]

In March 1970 the Duke and Duchess of Windsor took part in a BBC interview with Kenneth Harris
What happened when Wallis Simpson and the Duke of Windsor told all in a bombshell interview?

 

[sm1939]

thank you An Ard Ri for positing this link!Very interesting

 

[An Ard Ri]

thank you An Ard Ri for positing this link!Very interesting

I had forgotten about it and here's a link to the actual interview

 

[Maryrose]

^Very interesting interview. I am always unsure if he really wanted to abdicate because he didn't feel he was part of the "establishment " and just wanted to change how things were done. I was surprised by his taking an "ordinary" car to visit a poor area instead of a luxury vehicle because of how it looked. As for Wallis I sometimes had the feeling that she would have been content not marrying him and felt obligated to marry him. She became one of the most hated women in the world ( this being besides visiting Nazi Germany). I don't really think she was the driving force behind a lot of his decisions. Personally I think some of the married ins get the blame for their spouses' choices. I think sometimes it's easier for the public to blame the spouse instead of believing that so and so doesn't want to be king or prince or duke etc. Not sure where I read it but supposedly after the Duke died she was treated poorly in her later years by her staff.

 

[Toledo]

^Very interesting interview. I am always unsure if he really wanted to abdicate because he didn't feel he was part of the "establishment " and just wanted to change how things were done. I was surprised by his taking an "ordinary" car to visit a poor area instead of a luxury vehicle because of how it looked. As for Wallis I sometimes had the feeling that she would have been content not marrying him and felt obligated to marry him. She became one of the most hated women in the world ( this being besides visiting Nazi Germany). I don't really think she was the driving force behind a lot of his decisions. Personally I think some of the married ins get the blame for their spouses' choices. I think sometimes it's easier for the public to blame the spouse instead of believing that so and so doesn't want to be king or prince or duke etc. Not sure where I read it but supposedly after the Duke died she was treated poorly in her later years by her staff.

@Maryrose Here in Upstate NY we have one of the extended Vanderbilt homes turned into a Museum, it's the one in the Hudson Valley adjacent to the Roosevelts two museum homes and Presidential Library. We went on those tours a few times in 2018 and 2019 before our post retirement relocation to NY in 2021.

During one tour at the Vanderbilt's museum I recall the historian tour guide mentioned that Wallis Simpson was introduced to Edward by a Vanderbilt relation, Thelma (Morgan) Furness born 1904 - died 1970. Her twin sister Gloria married into the Vanderbilts and Thelma was Gloria Vanderbilt's aunt. Gloria Vanderbilt, who became a successful fashion business woman thanks to selling on USA shopping channels, was the mother of CNN host Anderson Cooper.

Thelma was the actual regular mistress of prince Edward and made the terrible mistake of introducing her friend, Wallis, to him. Had Thelma, a married woman, prevented her side piece boyfriend's affair with her friend Wallis history as we know it would have been quite different. I had no clue until we had the tour guide giving us those historical associations.

I found more on Thelma and Wallis if you want to read about the world surrounding Edward's private and scandalous side life https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Morgan-13698

 

[Maryrose]

^ I remember reading about Wallis being introduced by her friend. I don't think anyone thought that they would marry-she would be one of many mistresses.
On a side note being in NY I will have to take a road trip to visit these museums you mentioned (after winter). Thanks so much for the info Toledo.

 

[Toledo]

^ I remember reading about Wallis being introduced by her friend. I don't think anyone thought that they would marry-she would be one of many mistresses.
On a side note being in NY I will have to take a road trip to visit these museums you mentioned (after winter). Thanks so much for the info Toledo.

When we started visiting the Hudson Valley area was to see the real estate available for our plan to move from CT to NY after retirement. The best tours are in summer and we scheduled trips to start with the Vanderbilt's home, where we learned about their connection to UK's King Edward and Wallis Simpson, then the Roosevelts three museums (the Presidential Library, their home and Mrs. Roosevelt's second house she shared with her female partner until Eleanor decided to move on.

Then two visits to Olanna House up the Hudson where they have a chair made out of the Connecticut tree where the actual declaration of independence was hidden away during the independence war.

The Vanderbilt's that owned the house near the Roosevelt's were a branch off the main Newport line. On that year we visited the tour guide did include historical bits and information how the family, and their friends, ended up causing Wallis Simpson to meet Edward and, as the saying goes, the rest is history.