The romance between Wallis Simpson and King Edward VIII remains one of the most dramatic scandals in British royal history. It shook the foundations of the monarchy and challenged the core essence of what British royalty stood for.
Who Was Wallis Simpson?
Born Bessie Wallis Warfield in 1896 in Pennsylvania, Wallis Simpson’s roots were far from royal or aristocratic lineage. Though her extended family had some social standing, she was nowhere near the upper crust of British society. When she met Edward, Wallis had already been married twice. In fact, she was still married to Ernest Simpson, a British-American shipping executive, when she began her relationship with the then-Prince of Wales in the early 1930s.
Attributed to Angelo Laviosa, Wikimedia Commons
Twice-Divorced In A Conservative Era
Wallis’s divorces were the most scandalous aspect of her background. In 1936, divorce carried deep stigma, especially for the Church of England, of which the monarch is the Supreme Governor. The church didn’t recognize remarriage after divorce if a spouse was still living, which made it religiously unacceptable for Edward to marry Wallis. His insistence on doing so would place him in direct opposition to church doctrine and political expectations.
Egad! An American "Commoner”
Wallis wasn't the first American to marry into Britain’s class-conscious upper crust. Royals were expected to marry within the aristocracy or European royalty—preferably someone of noble birth and impeccable reputation. To the British establishment, Wallis was viewed as a foreign interloper. She was also seen as socially ambitious, conniving, and lacking in the refined dignity expected of a queen consort.
Rumors Swirled
Wallis was soon the subject of rumors in the British and American press, though many were never substantiated. Stories abounded about her sexual prowess, unusual behavior, and even espionage ties to Nazi Germany. Her ties with people sympathetic to Germany in the years leading up to WWII—paired with Edward’s own controversial pro-German leanings—amplified public suspicion and undermined the couple’s credibility.
Abdication Crisis
When Edward became king in January 1936, he made it clear that he intended to marry Wallis once her divorce was finalized. The British government opposed the match, fearing public backlash and a constitutional crisis. Faced with the choice between the woman he loved and the crown, Edward chose Wallis.
National Media Museum from UK, Wikimedia Commons
Edward Addressed The Nation
On December 11, 1936, in a dramatic radio broadcast, he abdicated the throne—becoming the only British monarch to do so voluntarily. His brother, Albert, ascended the throne as King George VI, and Edward became the Duke of Windsor.
They Tied The Knot
Wallis and Edward married in 1937 in France, with no members of the royal family in attendance. Though given the title Duchess of Windsor, Wallis was denied the style of “Her Royal Highness,” a lasting sign of royal disapproval. They lived much of their lives in exile, primarily in France. Their relationship with the royal family remained distant, and their perceived sympathy toward Nazi Germany during WWII cast a long shadow.
A Long Life Of Leisure
The couple lived a life of easy retirement, travelling often between the United States and their home in Paris. Edward passed in 1972 of throat cancer, and Wallis in 1986 after a long period of declining health. Though the couple's story has long since been eclipsed by other events, Wallis helped turn the monarchy’s path toward what it is today. Wallis remains one of the Royal family's most controversial figures.
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