Adorable Story #85: Wallis Simpson - Part 2

An Extraordinary Love Story

1943: Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor sitting in a short-sleeved dress with printed neck scarf — Photo © by Horst P. Horst / Vogue

This is the Part 2 of the Adorable Story #85. Part 1 can be found here.

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Table of Contents: Early Life / First Marriage / Second Marriage / Meeting Prince Edward / Becoming Lovers / Checkmate to the King / Marrying Edward / Life during WWII / Post War Life / Later Life

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“After I am dead, the boy will ruin himself within 12 months”

— King George V

With the increase of the couple’s feelings, the difficulties grew accordingly: on January 20th, 1936, King George V died and Prince Edward became King Edward VIII. It soon became clear to court and government circles that the new king meant to marry his double-divorced American mistress.

As he would later state in his abdication speech, Edward desired at all costs his beloved woman by his side as a legitimate bride and queen:

“I will not be crowned with a lie on my lips”

— King Edward VIII

After the death of George V, and before her divorce from her second husband, Wallis reportedly said:

“Soon I shall be Queen of England.”

Checkmate to the King

The firm opposition of the conservative English establishment to a double-divorced American as queen started a constitutional crisis which brought the monarchy close to the abyss: Wallis, in an attempt to stop the abdication of her husband — who, incidentally, had shown a dangerous inclination towards Nazi Germany — fled to the south of France in 1936.

“Whatever you do, don’t abdicate! It’s your duty, it’s your destiny”

— Wallis Simpson

Despite Wallis’ advice, on December 10th, 1936 Edward renounced to the throne stating that:

“I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility, and to discharge my duties as King as I would wish to do, without the help and support of the woman I love.”

Leaving the country, the ex-king, now Duke of Windsor, took refuge in Austria, waiting for Wallis’s second divorce to be finalized.

Marrying Edward

In the spring of 1937, in the presence of just a few friends (the royal family completely snubbed the invitation) Edward and Wallis — who was impeccably dressed in a Mainbocher suit in a shade of blue that took her name (“Wallis Blue”) — became husband and wife.