Wallis Simpson: villain or victim?

What really lay behind the most famous royal love story of the 20th century?

wallis-simpson-portrait

by Emily Gilbert |
Updated on

Wallis Simpson has often been portrayed as the ultimate man-stealing social climber, whose ambition to wear a crown nearly brought down the British monarchy. She’s up there with Cruella de Vil and Snow White’s evil stepmother in the panoply of female villains – but does she deserve the bad press, or was she just a victim of her era?

Wallis Simpson's childhood

Young Wallis was anxious about money from her early years. Her father died when she was five months old, leaving her mother dependent on family handouts. An uncle paid for Wallis to attend a prestigious private school but sometimes left it till the last minute to pay the rent, and the fear of destitution stayed with her for life.

She was also insecure about her appearance: her hands were too big and her jaw too masculine. “I’m nothing to look at,” she told a friend, “so the only thing I can do is dress better than anyone else.” The problem is that stylish clothes cost money. Women of her station didn’t work so she would simply have to marry well.

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©Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Wallis Simpson's relationships

At the age of twenty Wallis made a catastrophic mistake when she wed a glamorous pilot, Earl Winfield Spencer. It wasn’t long before she discovered he was an alcoholic bully, who hit her and hogtied her to their bed to stop her talking to other men. Eventually she had to confront the huge social taboo of getting divorced in the 1920s. Women who took this step usually became social outcasts, but Wallis’s sharp wit, lively conversational skills and elegant style meant hostesses were still willing to welcome her.

In the years after her marriage ended, Wallis fell head over heels for a suave Argentinian diplomat named Felipe de Espil, but he broke her heart when he chose a younger, wealthier bride. It must have been a bitter blow on many levels. Wallis was still struggling for money, so when a friend introduced her to the half-English Ernest Simpson, whose family part-owned a shipping company, she decided he represented exactly the kind of security she desired. Only problem: he was already married.

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©Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Within weeks of meeting Ernest, Wallis was having clandestine lunches with him, and less than two years later, having seen off the first wife, she married him in London. It was hardly a match of soulmates: Ernest was a quiet culture buff who loved reading and visiting sites of architectural interest, while Wallis’s hobbies were fashion and parties. She launched herself into English society, and enjoyed zipping over to Paris each season to pick frocks from the designer collections. But then the Wall Street Crash damaged Ernest’s business and money became tight. Alarm bells must have rung for Wallis.

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©Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Wallis Simpson and the Prince of Wales, Edward VIII

The solution was at hand: her friend Thelma Furness was having an affair with the Prince of Wales, the blonde pinup boy for their generation. Wallis piqued his interest by refusing to show the deference he was used to as a royal. When he asked whether she missed central heating, she chided: “Every American woman who comes to England is asked the same question. I had hoped for something more original from the Prince of Wales.”

Thelma didn’t see the danger looming; she even asked Wallis to look after the Prince when she went to New York for a holiday. On her return she found Wallis had looked after him better than she’d intended. A lot better. The Prince was kneeling to fasten Wallis’s shoes, fetching her nail file when she broke a nail and generally running round after her. Needless to say, he was happy to subsidise her taste in designer clothes and fancy jewellery.

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©Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Did Wallis hope to become queen? Some contemporaries thought so, but the British constitution forbade a divorcee taking the throne. Perhaps she would have been happy as a royal mistress, but Edward was too besotted and determined to marry her. She offered to walk away, but he wouldn’t let her. Instead he gave up the throne, forcing his younger, more introverted brother Bertie, who had a chronic stutter, to take his place. Their younger and rather scandalous brother, Prince George, Duke of Kent also moved up in the line to the throne.

Could there be anything more romantic? A king gives up his throne to be with the woman he loves. On December 10, 1936, that was exactly what the world heard Edward VIII do in his famous broadcast, with the words, “I have found it impossible to ... discharge my duties as King as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.” However, Wallis Simpson, lay down her head and wept.

For, while Edward was determined that only marriage would do, she would have been happy to stay his mistress, “be content with the simple way” as she put it, to keep him on the throne. Instead she was the wicked American divorcee, the ‘Yankee harlot’ who caused the abdication.

The financial settlement Edward received was generous but he and Wallis were not allowed to return to Britain without permission from his brother. They became international socialites, based in Paris, destined to wander the globe shopping and supping cocktails with the rich and famous for the rest of their days.

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©Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Was it what Wallis had wanted or did events spiral out of control until she couldn’t escape? “You have no idea how hard it is to live out a great romance,” she wrote in later life. They sound like the weary words of a woman who married for money rather than love, then found there was a price to be paid.

Did you know?

What was Wallis Simpson's wedding dress like?

Wallis wore a nipped-at-the-waist ‘Wallis blue’ dress that matched her eye colour designed by Mainbocher. Her gloves were made from the same silk as her dress along with a blue straw hat.

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©Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

What are some of Wallis Simpson's famous quotes?

"You can never be too rich or too thin."

"For a gallant spirit there can never be defeat."

"I never make a trip to the United States without visiting a supermarket. To me they are more fascinating than any fashion salon."

"I have always had the courage for the new things that life sometimes offers."

Is there a Wallis Simpson film?

There have been numerous films made about Wallis Simpson and her relationship with King Edward. The most recent was W.E. which was written and directed by Madonna in 2011. There was also the 2005 TV film, Wallis & Edward and the 1988 film The Woman He Loved.

Did Wallis Simpson write a book?

There have been many biography’s written about Wallis Simpson and her fascinating life. The most popular is That Woman: The Life of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor. She also wrote her own book named The Heart has its Reasons: The Memoirs of the Duchess of Windsor.

Wallis Simpson's famous jewellery collection

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©Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Cartier flamingo brooch which was commissioned by the Duke of Windsor for the duchess in 1940 as a birthday gift. It was platinum with diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and rubies.

The engagement ring Wallis received from the Duke was a stunning 19.77 carat emerald ring by Cartier. It is engraved with the personal message, We are ours now 27 X 36.

One of the most expensive items of jewellery was the Cartier Diamond and Onyx Panther Bracelet. This was custom-made for the Duchess by Cartier using platinum, diamonds, black onyx and emeralds. In 2010, the bracelet was sold for £4.5m.

Where did Wallis Simpson live?

Following his abdication, the Duke and Duchess lived in their villa in the Bois-de-Bologne on the outskirts of Paris. This also remained the Duchess’s home following the death of the Duke of Windsor.

When did Wallis Simpson die and where is her grave?

After the death of her husband the Duke of Windsor in 1972, Wallis Simpson grew increasingly frail as a result of dementia. In 1986, Wallis passed away in her Paris home aged 89. Her funeral was held at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Chapel before being buried next to Edward in the Royal Burial Ground as Wallis, Duchess of Windsor.

Wallis Simpson books to read

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The Duchess of Windsor:
Price: $15.65

The American Duchess: The Real Wallis Simpson
Price: $4.99

ebook

That Woman: The Life of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor
Price: $9.01
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