Wallis Simpson

Wallis Warfield Simpson, Duchess of Windsor, was the woman who is still held responsible for the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936 (Stritof 1). She was born as Bessie Wallis Warfield on 19th June 1896 in Baltimore, MD and she died on April 24th 1986 in Paris.

Wallis, an American socialite, met Edward in 1931 in Melton Mowbray while she was still married to her second husband, Ernest Aldrich Simpson, who she had met shortly after divorcing her first husband, Earl Winfield Spencer, in 1927 (Windsor 254f).

Edward soon started maintaining a secret affair with her, which became public when he took her with him on several trips. The American press immediately predicted their marriage (ibid. 307 ff.), the British press, however, kept the affair secret due to a gentleman's agreement between the government and the major press magnates.

Shortly after Edward became King of England in January 1936, he was confronted with the advice by his Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin to pay attention to his reputation and not to marry Wallis Simpson. Edward decided to abdicate instead since he wanted to marry Wallis against his Ministers’ will (ibid. 355 ff.). In his famous abdication speech on December 11th 1936 he declares his loyalty to his brother George, the new King of England, and his love for Wallis. Edward also proclaims that Wallis never wanted him to give up the throne for her (ibid. 413 f.).

After Edward’s abdication the couple married on June 3rd 1937 in France, where they lived together in Paris (Stritof 1).

The couple remained childless and lived abroad for the rest of their lives. This was mainly because they were shunned by other members of the royal family(Rosenberg 4). Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, especially disliked the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, as she blamed them on the early death of her husband, George VI.

After Edward died May 28th 1972, Wallis lived alone, secluded from the world and terribly ill. Wallis passed away on on April 24th 1986 in Paris.

Sources: Rosenberg, Jennifer. "King Edward VIII Abdicated for Love." About.com. 23 April 2010 <http://history1900s.about.com/od/1930s/a/kingedward_4.htm>.

Stritof, Sheri & Bob. "The Duke of Windsor and Wallis Warfield Simpson." About.com. 23 April 2010 <http://marriage.about.com/od/royalty/a/edwardviii.htm>.

Windsor, The Duke of. A King’s Story. London: Cassell, 1951.