Baldwin and the government were absolutely right in not wanting Edward as king. Edward's subsequent interactions with Hitler proved them right. A reign with Edward as king would have been disaster for England and the world.
We need to stop romanticizing this story, from all docu's so far, they truly were unfit for the job and we are truly lucky he never became king. Even the love affair from all we hear, most especially her own letters confirm it wasn't a match make in heaven. Fact's are better than fiction in my opinion.
We also need to stop vilifying the story and Wallis and Edward. And we need to stop to repeat rumors and lies. Their marriage wasn’t a fairytale but they shared a deep love and concern for each other (which their letters show and close friends witnessed about). So yes, the real facts are indeed better than fiction and lies/gossip! Documentaries are mostly based on the recent books by Anne Sebba and Andrew Lownie and Andrew Morton so those sources are not reliable.
We also need to realise that old docs like these are surfacing due to the coronation and the ridiculous antics of H&M Clicks mean £££ None of us know exactly what happens behind the scenes they’re just a family with skeletons in the cupboard like most fortunately we’re not in the public eye being dissected I’d never leave the house if so 😂
Good to see, as the need to remove Henry from the line of succession is similar now. If the most awful thing happened and Henry was needed to take the role. This would be v much a dangerous situation with Rachel who is he'll bent on destruction of the royal family. I could easily see civil unrest if Henry was ever in the position to be in any form of power. I hope he's been written out of the line of succession already. Just my opinion.
Interesting that no mention is made of the now-commonly-accepted view that Wallis never wanted to marry Edward, but was backed into a corner when he threatened to kill himself if she left him. Her letters to her previous husband appear to confirm how trapped she felt and it's doubtful that she was ever truly happy or fulfilled in her marriage to Edward. A pretty sad story really.
She would have been very happy to be Queen. As to her being a Socialite her family had a little money but no great wealth and the only place she had any clout was Baltimore hardly a bastion of high society. Most Americans of her time were ashamed of her being American. She was very very low class.
Wallis pursued him and wanted him just as much. It was only when he wanted to abdicate that she tried to back out. She didn't try hard enough. The King, being the head of the church of England, was just not allowed to marry a divorcee. She was an unsuitable married gold digging socialite and not very loyal (to her husband).........
I’m 66 and I’ve read many clips of the horrible way this woman treated the ex king especially when he was dying. Apparently he kept calling her and she would ignore him, even the attendant nurse would ask her to come sit with him and she refused. He, apparently, died alone. So this narration seems to be glossing over the real story. Someone needs to check this out.
I also learned that the letters she wrote another suitor showed she loved that other man and her relationship with King Edward VIII was not really as strong as she gave the impression causing more problems and just thinking of herself -by giving parties at the expense of Edward. What a horrible woman- sounds familiar with a woman like Meghan Markle. Who's not a good partner to Prince Harry who at one point did try to avoid Meghan by attending a wedding in which he flew to Jamaica, and she flew after him since she was invited too. She actually stayed at that wedding until she came back home together. She was not going to be ignored and made it clear.
There are a lot of misogynous comments here. As if men are too stupid and unable making up their own minds and or get to decisions they would never make without the women at their side. Including the consequences that come with that. I seriously doubt that.
@@homegown1234 When will that „blame the woman“ ever end? Mister H.Mountbatten-Windsor was 33 years when he married. Hardly someone who was inexperienced and did not already paid with years of his youth for the entertainment of the public. There is no plan B for Royals to retreat somewhere.
The thing that is forgotten is that the UK wanted peace with Germany and that the prime minister Chamberlain visited Hitler several times hoping to find peace with Germany.
How short-sighted to ignore the fact that the abdication led to the magnificent reign of Elizabeth II. The self-indulgent Windsors proved themselves unfit and unwilling to serve GB. Their lack of heirs would also have damaged the monarchy. Thank God for the wisdom of the stuffed shirts in gray suits!
It wasn't ignored. It was remarked upon a number of times, that Edward VIII proved himself to everyone's satisfaction to be utterly unsuited to the Crown, while his brother rose to the challenge.
It looks like she might have been queen even if Edward hadn’t abdicated. He and Wallis had no children so Elizabeth was next in line. Wallis said that Edward was “not heir conditioned.” 😅
I believe, had Edward VIII not abdicated the throne, he would have ultimately lead the downfall of the British Monarchy. He was truly unfit to be the King.
How? Give ONE plausible thing to back that up. Edward had no power as a monarch. He couldn't just give Hitler Great Britain. The whole abdication crisis PROVES his powerlessness. They wouldn't even let him have his sidepiece. Do you think they would've let him ruin the monarchy? If anything, it might have helped their image since Edward was for the working class and marrying a divorcee might've made him even more relatable.
I've just learned that Britain was going to turn a death ear and say they were neutral but it was my favorite hero "Churchill" that said, "we cannot be immune to what is going on around us but we must fight against "Hitler" I just love Churchill since I learned he asked the USA for aids but we kept postponement due to not wanting to be part of the WWII involvements. However, they finally helped out (through the documents that I saw) and helped Britain to gain more ships to help themselves through their battles. I am glad FDR came through and helped out because I was getting disappointed when I learned of this which was in "Darkest Day of Churchill" and it was shown in that last movie that was excellent that helped Churchill after all. Loved it! I wished there was more to that movie back in 2018 or 2019. In fact, the actor that played Churchill got an Oscar for his excellent performance which he gave.
You argued your point really well! The love story of Edward & Wallis took place about half a century too soon - at the time, a marriage between them would have been very controversial - also that illfated trip to Germany proved their critics right - Wallis was politically ignorant and Bertie was simply naive - but other than that they neve4 set a foot wrong again and if given a chance they would have been very popular as King and his American queen.....but we had our most beautiful Queen and so all turned out well in the end
100%…she didn’t even want to stay. She started the affair with her husband’s knowledge. She started the affair while his girlfriend (who, Wallis knew) was away. There will always be a Meghan Markle, or Wallis Simpson but I believe that they are both a fantastic symbol of “Beware what you ask for”!!!
It was palpable. Even though they tried to hide it. As you get older you need a sense of duty or legacy. All they did was party and travel. You could see the emptiness in their eyes. His especially. Truly sad.
Et j’ai vu un documentaire documentaire, comme quoi pendant la seconde guerre mondiale, il a tout fait pour décourager les États-Unis de s’engager dans la guerre. Il voulait perdre son pays.
As the Late Queen said you can not be half in and half out. I think Harry got the lazy genes from David and the love of status over Duty. Wants all the bells and whistles car sirens blaring.
@@Hypnobunny1 Not about the abdicated King and wife who thought Hitler was a great leader, he and Wallace were guests of and pictures of them with him as guests were splattered all over the international press as Hitler was finishing preparations to march into Poland. Not when intelligence picked up their discussion of Hitler taking England and he would reinstate him to the throne with her as Queen maybe they might be of help. It's a miracle worse wasn't said. Instead, they devised a plan to cooerce them to the Bahamas, made him Governor and literally held them under house arrest when more intelligence was divulged of a possible SS plan to kidnap them in Portugal and hold them for ransom. Edward loved Germany, they were Nazi sympathizers, it was well known by Baldwin, FDR, Churchill and their espionage organizations and she'd had an affair at one time with Ribbentropp and they remained close. They were both loose cannons and sans allegiance to their nations, character or loyalty, awful thing to say indeed..
George V had said this of his son Edward VIII: "After I am dead, the boy will ruin himself in 12 months." He wasn't joking. Edward's reputation for his impatience, affairs with married women, and the inability to properly settle down didn't make him a suitable king.
Even apart from the Wallis factor, I find it strange that Edward thought he would abdicate but yet still stay and play a significant role in Great Britain. How exactly was that ever going to work? You can't have a king and an "alternate-king" who used to be the "real king."
I think they said he thought he would only be exiled for a year and then come back. Now I'm not sure what in the world gave him that idea or time frame but he clearly should've went over those stipulations before hand.
@Mark Thompson Since the moment he was born, it was drilled into him that he would be king...and that was during the age of devine right and deference. He believed he deserved what he wanted. I think embedding narcissism into royals (including abdicators) is a real problem. I think Queen Elizabeth's groundedness and character was rare indeed.
Wallis was backed into a corner and felt forced into marrying him. Play with fire…..you may get burned. She enjoyed being his mistress, no responsibility, just the fun. It backfired. She was involved with an emotionally repressed party boy with a mother complex. He wanted a lover that would mother him. That can get old really quickly.
There are two realities that, in my opinion, are not mentioned in this interesting film. Firstly Edward Vlll did not want the throne and saw Wallis Simpson as a way out. He knew beyond doubt that the ‘establishment’ would never accept her as Queen and, by marrying her, would release him of his duties and he could go on leading his former life as Prince of Wales. This would never happen. Secondly Wallis Simpson never really loved Edward and saw his, basically, as a week man who she was despised. She was flattered of course by his attention to her (every woman would have been) but marriage never entered her head until it was too late. Ultimately they lived a shallow and unfulfilled life together.
“Every woman would have been”? What nonsense. He was clearly a vain, weak man capable of sick, obsessive behavior like threatening to kill himself over Wallis. That’s not love, it’s abuse. Have you ever dealt with someone who’s threatening to kill themself? I have, twice (not over me, but I was one of the people they each chose to tell). It’s a horrific, manipulative, exhausting experience. David/Edward was clearly mentally ill, and any woman with sense would run from that, not be flattered by it. Even with all his money. A gilded cage is still a cage. Don’t presume to speak for “every woman.”
As the years passed she became more abusive and humiliating to him. A fashion model demonstrating a line of the highest fashion for Wallis said she was an awful person to deal with. She controlled and abused Edward, it was a sick relationship. She punished him constantly like telling him in public to buzz off mosquito, or like a child sending him to bed crying. She was masochistic to him and he ate it up. He did what ever she told him and yes he was a huge security risk with his relationship with the Nazi.
She was an awful woman and he was like most of the royals, extremely entitled and mainly focused on the pleasures he sought in life. I feel only a little sympathy for him.
Yes..its funny how history repeats...now it's Harry in the clutches of Meghan, who bends him like a pretzel....maybe they do like being mistreated like they have treated others all their life!!
He became obsessed with her because of how she stood up to him. He was so needy and needed to be punished by her. She just got to where he couldn't even function unless she was there. So, she started treating him worse and worse. Not condoning. Just you can only take so much of that needy of an individual. She couldn't even leave the room without him needing her. Wear you down sooner or later.
After learning so much information- a ton of it out there- over the years about Edward and Wallis, I have come to the conclusion that they were just a pair of rather stupid, self absorbed, selfish, self-indulgent, petty, spoiled people who deserved each other. I don’t feel one bit sorry for either one of them. Reminds me a lot of the never ending Harry and Megan saga. Freaking boring.
another source that is rarely quoted are the letters Edward sent to Freda Dudley Ward while she was his mistress which are published in the book - Letters from a Prince. They show him to be a immature man with no sense of responsbility or willingness to take on his duties. Tommy Lacelles was right in the judgement of his character.
He was an immature man, a playboy who enjoyed the high life but didn't want the responsibility of being the monarch. Wallis mothered him, ordered him about (which he loved) and he worshipped her, but while she remained witty and good company all her life, he was apparently dull and boring and very clingy.
Unfortunate their own letters are hardly ever recognized as a source to the truth. Too bad since their own words are much closer to the REAL truth than any author could ever come up with. One really should read the letters (the ones from Edward to Freda, the ones between Edward and Wallis etc) instead of spreading a lot of lies and rumors
This docu very much sugar-coated Edward VIII and all that happened around the abdication, etc. He never, never was "the most popular monarch of the last one- or two-hundred years" as stated towards the end of the docu. Utter BS! Awfully done and extremely one-sided.
People who attended their parties claimed he was boring and she was interesting. Sitting next to him at dinner was seen as a punishment because it would be a bad night
He was sick and lapped up being bossed around and belittled by a dominant mother figure. A blessing in disguise for the UK that he abdicated to his brother.
I think there is a VERY strong case to be made that Edward indeed did NOT wish particularly to be king. He never was one to comply easily with expectation. During the first WW he was weirdly eager to fight, saying he had brothers who could step up should he fall in combat - but he was angrily frustrated that he was not allowed anywhere near the front lines. His world tour as Prince of Wales with Dickie Mountbatten was rife with inappropriate conduct. His hysterical behaviour upon the death of his father was quite telling. It could be argued that he decided to marry inappropriately KNOWING he would likely have to abdicate. The difficulty of his life afterwards lay mostly in his not having a role. He didn’t seem to understand that leaving as he did would render him irrelevant. He thought he could return to England with his wife after a suitable period of time and take up life as a sibling of the King, that his popularity somehow guaranteed him forgiveness for his questionable behaviour and dereliction of the sacred duty that he really never was interested in, even from boyhood on. He thought he could live the entitled life he loved by simply chucking the tedious part about being the monarch. It was the high life he loved and that’s what had dazzled Wallis. Of course, he always wanted to be the big man in her eyes, the one to delight her with Mediterranean cruises, jewels, parties and the pomp of Royal life. But after the abdication their life in the jet set became rudderless, empty. The one role they were charged with (Governorship of Bahamas) was a scurrilous disaster. It showed how right the palace, the government and the church were in their considered opinion that Edward’s character was fundamentally unsuited to have been king. It worked out well, actually … he didn’t want to be king and the palace government and church didn’t want him to be king either! Poor Wallis didn’t realize or understand the quagmire she had stumbled into until it was far too late.
He seemed to change markedly after WWI, as you say, he was frustrated and angry about not being allowed to go on the front line. He blamed his father and became very bitter towards him. I think that's when he decided he wanted no part of the monarchy but was too weak to break away entirely until after his father's death and wanting to marry Wallis etc.
The real hero of the story is King George VI Never wanted it but stepped up and saved the monarchy. Not sure he ever got enough credit. Elizabeth was destined to be QE2 no matter what.
@@zzzbbbooo In 1911 Prince Edward (David) was invested as Prince of Wales. The ceremony was virtually a state event … and he was the first heir to be invested in Wales for centuries. He was 16. He HATED it. He was defiant and belligerent about the whole thing and called the ceremonial robes ‘ludicrous’. Even as a teenager he was viscerally opposed to the responsibilities of his birthright and the pomp and ceremony of tradition. My point is that he was never comfortable with the requirements, formalities and proscribed life into which he was born. His conduct during WWI was very odd in that he WANTED to fight on the front line and railed at the unfairness that he wasn’t allowed to. He repeatedly ranted about having 3 brothers to take his place if he was killed. He did grow to appreciate the privilege, the deference, the money, the ‘fast’ life, the complete protection of the Palace and he revelled in that. But nothing in his behaviour ever indicated that he was interested in any charity or in SERVING his people as monarch.
History is that he threatened to kill himself if she didn't marry him. Her very letters explain how toxic and codependent the relationship was. Even this documentary stresses how obsessed he was and states in today's terms it would also be called stalking. It was not a love story by any means. England is blessed he never took the throne.
@@mrsx7944 No, she MAY have wanted to marry him, but as the historian said, she didn't suffer fools and treated him as an equal. She got her power from bringing a King down to her level or giving the appearance that she had climbed to his. When she realized that he was no King-he was weak and needed her by his side to feel validated otherwise he would crumble; he was hooked on HER for his very existence-she probably began to despise him. She left for France to put some space between them, but it was too late and she was trapped… He gave up the throne to be with his emotional crutch, but the world thought he had given up the throne for love. As it was, she was getting death threats for distracting the King from his duty. If she didn't marry him it would be considered proof that she was just a gold digger who abandoned the gold mine when it flooded-and the perceived double whammy would necessitate her looking nervously over her shoulder for the rest of her life, albeit a severely shortened one.
The woman who defends Wallis has some mad skills with rose colored glasses. She is totally romanticizing a very unhappy story (except that it was really good that dimwit Edward did not remain King.) This is the first I've heard of Wallis being 'extremely kind.' She made fun of Bertie's wife, who, unlike Wallis, was a bit plump and not at all fashionable. Meanwhile Wallis was basically anorexic and wore gorgeous couture clothes. Wallis was bright and witty, and socially ambitious, clearly at any cost. She was also a woman of the world, who is rumored to have 'special skills' that made her popular with men. She abandoned a perfectly good marriage to climb the social ladder with Edward, and belatedly realized she had hitched her wagon to a really, really bad star. Amazingly, she actually thought she could get out of what she had dug herself into, even after the affair had gone public. Was she totally unaware of social convention, mores - American or British or otherwise -- or any other aspect of reality? Did she really think she could sidestep the court of public opinion? She couldn't possibly have been so stupid, so one assumes she must have een arrogant. Or maybe she thought the weak man she was in love with could actually wield some power. Oops. Edward outsmarted her with his weakness and she was done for. He was obsessed to the point of derangement, and threatened to kill himself if she didn't marry him. It is conceivable he would have done so. He was that unstable. So Wallis gave in and entered a marriage that did not, in fact, make them happy. As time went on, and they both grew bitter -- he bitter with the fact that he could not be fancy pants Prince any more, and she with the fact that she had married a wacko who would not leave her alone. He was shallow and so stupid as to imagine that after abdicating he would somehow manage to have royal honors. He was also totally fixated on Wallis. Party guests would see - Edward's eyes would follow her wherever he went. If she left the room he would soon go in search of her because he couldn't bear to be out of her presence ( translation: he was obsessive and nuts). She eventually began to ridicule him and treat him with open scorn. Their lives devolved into one long, bitter spending spree of boredom. It is one of the saddest and most frustrating stories. They had so much and resented that they didn't have more. Such selfish idiots.
This just proves that you haven’t read much about Wallis yourself but have only listen to those rumors which always have surrounded this couple. If you’ve bothered to read other books beside Andrew Morton, Anne Sebba, Andrew Lownie and some others and instead read Greg King, Susan Williams, Michael Bloch, Anna Pasternak etcetera you would learn that there’s always two side of a story. Only your comment about Wallis having some “special skills” are long ago considered just nasty gossip. Edward and Wallis are somewhere between these outrageous stories and the more balanced ones. And again, if one wants the real truth then read the letters they wrote where there’s also proves that Wallis was indeed kind and considerate about people
I don't know.... I could be wrong, but this documentary seems a tad biased in favor of them both and leaves out some well known details about how Wallis felt about Edward. It sure feels like this documentary wants me to believe a tarted up version of the actual events. He gave up everything for love? He stated that he never wanted to be king, but you left that out. You left out a lot.
certainly are, and I still say that Ms Markle lacked real understanding of how the monarchy worked, and thought she would somehow be Queen one day. She really reminds me of Wallis, although I think Wallis was much more intelligent.
The woman historian is overdoing the ‘Wallis was lovely’ line. Duff Cooper who was an intimate friend of the royals, and Edward in particular, gives an absolutely definitive account of the abdication crisis in his very readable diaries. It is particularly striking what he says about Wallis after a long chat when she was feeling swept along and not in control ‘She’s intelligent and a nice enough woman, but she is as hard as nails, and she doesn’t love him’
Anna is far too intelligent to believe that *Wallis was lovely, misunderstood, and under appreciated* drivel that she's peddling. On most subjects she makes sense. On this one she's completely off the rails.
@@evadinusova4737She was not at all conventionally pretty. She was very tiny, 5' 2" tall, measuring 31-23-30, with dark center-parted, upswept hair, a rather large nose and hands, which she hated. She was however, always impeccably dressed. Her hairdresser came every day assuring that her hair and makeup were always perfect. Her clothes were only the finest, always classic and stylish. And she had millions of dollars of fabulous jewelry. So, though not a beauty, she knew how to present herself in the very best way possible.
The fact that she wrote many letters to her ex-husband saying how much she still loved him and wished she was still with him. I don’t think she realized how much he could force Wallis into marriage. They both wound-up in a very unhappy situation.
@@mrsx7944 yes she was. He threatened to commit suicide if she left him, and when he made that abdication speech made it impossible for her to back out.
This is enormously romanticized and exaggerated version of the story. Edward was undoubtedly just a very weak character who on the top of that was blessed with being very stubborn and childish. And one more thing to mention, from what I have gathered previously there was no love story in the later life of Windsors but rather miserable coexistence where the couple hardly spoke with one another..... sad story to the end
Based on your comment I can tell that you haven’t bothered to read much about this couple. This documentary actually paints a much more balanced view than a lot of others. There are many books out there which I’ve read them all (almost). There’s 50% negative ones BUT there are also 50% positive ones so the real truth lies somewhere in between. And it’s just plain lies that they didn’t spoke to each other. This is a letter from Wallis written from New York in November 27th 1955: “Darling One, Your letters have been wonderfully amusing and full of details re progress - a great help. I have had Charlie [Murphy] for the week-end and we did a lot of work. I am all wound up in the thing like you got. The first 5 chapters have been handed over. I saw Beaverbrook Thursday. He was very nice in his fashion. We gave him the 5 chapters to read. I have done most of the Xmas shopping for the Paris staff and for our really good friends here. Has the wall been started? Davy Crockett is a bad dog - chews everything and lamps and tables fly with his games - an amusing little personality but not up to Trooper’s looks or affection. Maybe we should have stuck to the oldies. Never will I be away from you for so long again. Can’t wait for Friday - we sail at 12 noon. Everyone has been too divine to me - we have good friends here in spite of the stinking press and Arnory. I love you more & more and hope Fruity destroyed nothing at the Mill. Your WALLIS”
Because she didn't get what she wanted, which was to be queen. That was her only interest in him, really; she never figured that he would bow out and cash in!🙄
The sad thing, is that for both brothers, they did not grow up with parents who were very openly loving or nurturing toward them. Mary of Tek, their mom, was said to be a very cold & distant individual & you can see that in every video & picture of her; that she doesn't really emanate a loving energy. George the 5th, was also said to be a better king, than he was a father; he put duty ahead of family. So of course, the boys had this trauma where as adults, they were essentially looking for nurturing partners that gave them the love & attention that they craved from their parents deep down & that's why BOTH brothers pursued the women they did. Its why Elizabeth & Margaret both had some loving, nurturing, supportive relationships with their dad, because he was devoted to giving them the love that he did not receive, in the best way he knew how to give it. So Edward giving up his kingship for a woman, went so much deeper than just him being stubborn or selfish. There was a part of him that was a child crying out for love & Wallis gave him the type of attention & devotion he craved.... so of course, he wasn't going to let go of her for anything & he was willing to abdicate, & give up one thing that he didn't really want to do (being a king), in order to have the other that meant so much more to his inner child... emotional fulfillment & security. I feel like many royal families over the centuries, did not understand the importance of emotional validation... it lends to why there have been so many interpersonal issues within royal family dynamics. Affairs, divorces, etc... When you're raising future leaders, they need to be well-rounded. You don't just give children the basics & expect them to step into roles of leadership where they cannot set a full example. However, I feel like William & Kate will be the first, at least for the British Monarchy, to embody how crucial that all around love & support system is, in order to truly thrive.
THe King George the 6th was starved and torured and abused for years by an abusive nanny , which gave him a stutter etc and had far far more excuse to not be a good person or KIng due to the trauma yet he was the better one as king father adn husband.While this happened to him as achild David was spoiled
@celissiwillis9399 Duty is supposed to come first for our Monarchs and it was a different time, most parents weren't emotional then, especially the upper classes the adults were brought by strict nannies and the children were and only saw parents for a short time each day luckily for Bertie his wife did come from a loving family and King George and Queen Mary adored Elizabeth and Margaret but our late Queen put duty first, the only time she didn''t was when Diana died and put her grandsons first and was criticised for it
I don’t think Wallis expected her relationship with him would be any different than his previous relationships with married women. I think he had a mother-complex and was emotionally immature, but I don’t think he was stupid. I think the aristocracy wanted him out and he was willing to go, with her as his excuse. Mrs. Simpson got trapped!
The original idea of a royal wanting to enjoy his wealth without accepting the duty…his brother’s ability to do just that was extraordinary..maybe less pathetic stories of Wallis and Edward and more about George and his daughter Elizabeth..after all, what did the Duke and Duchess do with the rest of their lives? Anything productive? Anything at all?
Yes. Her jewelry (which he bought) fetched millions of dollars which were left to the Pasteur Institute in France. Within a few years, they had a cure for AIDS.
Trying to paint Edward VIII as simply naive, completely misses the mark. He was a man who lacked sufficient intellect to understand who the real power brokers are and how power is wielded, particularly in regard to the looming conflict with Germany. If he had understood that his job was to put on a good front for the establishment - as his brother did - then there would not have been a crisis, leading to his abdication. I agree that his affair with Wallis Simpson was a convenient way to get rid of him.
David relished the perks available to him as Prince of Wales, but not the responsibilities. The public loved him, but everyone enjoys play time and only children expect to play forever. David rebelled against his duty. Rebellion is what David loved most in Wallis. She was brash, vulgar, and irreverent. These were traits that he envied and admired and to such a point that he seemed to consider her his muse or mentor. He even found it delicious when she scolded, condescended, or ordered him about. People who lack certain traits will sometimes choose a partner with an over abundance of those traits.
Rule over yourself, or be ruled by others. Did Theodore Roosevelt say that? "Men can never escape being governed. Either they must govern themselves or they must submit to being governed by others."
@@Norsknurse- yes….!!! Except, he is now of little use to her and this will come to an end. I have never seen two people completely ruin their lives quite like these two have. Simpson is quite a remarkable woman in comparison to M’s ways, which leave a lot to be desired. Simpson never spoke badly of the royals publicly. Contrary to the Windsors, who did the best they could with what they had. More ups than downs.
I visited Cat Cay Bahamas in 1981. There was this little building, maybe 1200 sq. ft. which I was informed had served as a sort of Gentleman’s’ Club. On one wall was carved numerous names of Members and Guests in no particular order or grid. Within the bunch, fitted about a third way from the bottom was inscribed “Edward”.
Interesting use of biographers: anti-establishment/pro-personal life vs. pro-establishment. I found it interesting that Alexander Larman was careful to point out that the insiders who ran the country felt their goal was to maintain stability, even at the cost of ruining the life of the monarch. Even Churchill, pro-personal life, changed his mind once he became an insider. The biographer Anna Pasternak called the insiders an "unholy" trinity but admitted that the former king was so naive that the Nazis felt he could be manipulated to their advantage. We'll never know if Edward VIII could have grown into an appropriate monarch but it does seem that Heaven decided the UK needed George V at that moment in history.
Well, this was sympathetic towards the Windsors, especially the woman commentator. I'm sure they each did have some good points but unfortunately, were shadowed by poor decisions. History proved that the unholy Trinity got it right, Edward would have destroyed Britain.
They were Hanoverians not Windsors...that was made up as we were at war with their cousin. Read about the dysfunctional bunch that were their ancestors.
Wallis and her husband were greedy, they wanted the jewels, status and money. Ernest pimped his wife to Edward. Their complaint being they got caught up in their own net and all 3 paid the price. She may have had lovely qualities but greed over road those qualities.
The woman in this documentary is off her rocker. Why is she pushing that Edward and Wallis would've been a great couple to rule? This lady was seen out and about having a relationship with another man while married. Who would want that person as a Queen? They weren't using Wallis as a scape goat, it was her fault. Regardless if they let them marry, the man would've been a terrible king.
I fully agree. She was so annoying and inaccurate. Why did they ever bring her on to what was otherwise a good documentary. It left out a lot, but this woman commentator totally failed to reflect on the other side of Wallis, which was marked with cruelty, abuse and unfaithfulness. She is the only one who portrayed her as being very kind. Well, she’s the first one who ever said that!
David was very broken and needed a controlling-mother-figure of a woman, which echos EXACTLY what Harry needed. Harry foolishly fell for Meghan because she'd researched everything Diana, she knew he was broken and she knew his vulnerabilities, so all she needed to do was wear Diana's perfume and cosplay Diana's wardrobe....he was ripe for the picking.
I always thought the King never really wanted to be king and Wallis was merely his excuse - when Wallis tried to get out of the marriage, the King does several things to prevent it. Wallis’ letters to her soon to be ex husband detail how much she didn’t want to marry the King but ended up having little choice in the matter
This! ⬆️ Not only was she personally threatened but also blackmailed by threats to Mr. Simpson. From her personal letters, it never really occurred to her until it was too late that she was anything other than simply another one in Edward's revolving door of married mistresses. And, it appeared that the *temporary* affair was utilized to promote Mr. Simpson, his business, and their social standing. She offered, on several occasions, to end the affair in the best interests of the country and the monarchy but Edward VIII would have none of it. Since Edward was not the sharpest crayon in the box, I think he really believed he could marry her and have her crowned queen consort. And, he was shocked that he had to choose between the crown and Wallis. I also think that he believed that he would be able to return to England and party at Fort Belvedere as he had prior to his abdication. And it was a very sore point with him.
No, he didn't want to be King but she wanted to be queen, so she played him up with the assumption that his family would accept her. Well, that wasn't going to happen and Edward refused to let her go. He pulled a fast one on her and she got just what she deserved!😒
So very true THANK YOU for your intelligent comment! Even Princess Margaret said Queen Mary was cold! There is a documentary called, "The lost Prince" about Mary and George's youngest son and how he was treated, it is on RUclips! Patricia Gambino Harrington
So, he married a woman who didn't love love him and despised him, but married him because she had rolled the dice and it came up snake-eyes? Okay. Edward just drawing the short straw, eh?
@@katemaloney4296 she did LOVE him, his mother didn't love any of her children! I know someone who knew both the Duke and Duchess personally and also met her uncle's grandson! If people would read the truth about her and also the letters that they wrote to each other instead of the BS the current Royal family want you to believe people might learn something!!!! Patricia Gambino Hawl
@@frankharrington4881 - Little Prince John was “hidden” away, but very well cared for. He was raised by his nannies and nurses. As cold and cruel as that may sound, all royal children from that era were raised that way. They were “presented” to their parents two/three times daily, for interaction. Queen Mary loved John, but the attitude of the day dictated how he was treated. The royals could not allow the Monarchy to be tainted with a seriously ill prince. Queen Mary was conservative with her own emotions due to her upbringing. The Victorian era was extremely restrictive, especially for women…….,even though behind closed doors things were very different, including Queen Victoria herself……..very liberal in her boudoir.
I do believe Wallis was a bit of a scapegoat. Wallis was used as an excuse to get rid of him when they couldn't say out loud that they thought he would be a terrible king (and he was). Wallis wanted to leave, though. She saw what a huge mess their relationship was making and tried to leave but Edward guilted her into staying by saying he'd kill himself if she left and Wallis began to resent him for that.
The British people should put up a statue to thank Wallis for saving them from Edward. He’d have been a terrible king. Thank god Harrible came second in line. Can you imagine him and MeMe on the throne? The monarchy would collapse.
A brief overview of their relationship. I found the comments made by the woman, Anna Pasternack, to be naive and slavish in her admiration of Wallis Her pretended 'love' for Edward, (she was indulging in affairs throughout their lives, , before and after marriage). In their later years when he was ailing, she gave up all pretense at love, indeed, showed no compassion whatever, he was no longer of any use to her, he was forever asking for her, it was pathetic. He was known to have stated on more than one occasion that if the Nazis would bomb the hell out of London maybe the British would come to terms with Germany and he could return to his position as King (under the watchful eyea of the Nazis). I believe that those words were put into his head by Wallis, she had no great admiration for him, thought him weak and pursued from the outset her ambition to be queen of England.. her ultimate status symbol. Anyone wanting to know more should read 'The Traitor King'.
What an interesting documentary. There have been a number of theories over the years - that Wallis was caught in her own game and could't back out of the relationship when it came to the crunch or that she deliberately schemed her way into the heart of Edward but wasn't able to fulfil her plan when he abdicated. This documentary now posits a third theory - that Wallis was used as a convenient disposal mechanism for a king most saw as unfit to rule. Either which way, and whether she did truly love him or not, I believe they must have led a hollow and unfulfilled life with no real purpose in life and isolated from any family. But it appears much of this was brought on by Edward himself.
Hmm. The construct of Wallis as the mechanism to get rid of David as king, definitely has been put forward many times. Especially with the evidence of the smear campaign against Wallis being made public.
wallis was not kind nor loyal. she was unfaithful to her husband and when married to Edward, it is well documented that she was very uncaring, condescending and cruel towards him.
Actually not true at all. This is a quotation from a letter wrote she wrote to Edward on October 29th 1955 while in New York: “Darling darling one, I do miss you so much and have had a most difficult time… Please do not sleep in your bedroom at the Mill. It is the perfect fire trap - you could never get down the stairs. You must sleep in my room. I never thought of this before and have had night nerves over it…Papers not bad but always something to hurt a girl.. Darling this is a mixed up letter but it has been an awful week.… Miss you miss you love again, WALLIS” If she DIDN’T care for him she wouldn’t have cared if he would have died in a fire.
Queen Elizabeth’s grandfather, King George the 5th, was a “diligent, dutiful king”. I especially applaud how love of country and service to that country is ingrained in monarchies. Much respect. “Heavy is the crown” and all that.
This an antiquated assessment of the Windsor’s ,we now know so much more of the dark back story. Ms. Simpson was a very conflicted woman,caught up in an intrigue beyond her ability to comprehend. We should thank her for providing us with what would be the King’s reason for addiction.
Conflicted? Oh please. She was out to grab everything she could by any means that she could find. But, as the greedy often find, it can go wrong. She was despicable.
I read somewhere that Wallis was willing to be his mistress so he could stay as king. Interesting to think that might have happened, we might not have been graced with Her Majesty, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
I always found their relationship dynamic to resemble that of a car crash...painful, yet you just couldn't look away. And yes, this biography is waaaay too romanticized in light of what we know about them now. And I'm sorry, but why Ms. Paternal was lit from behind for her interviews is beyond me...looks like she forgot to comb her hair.
Wallace details in her letters to her husband, Earnest, that to her, it was a bit of fun that got very out of hand, swallowed up by circumstance, scandal and a weak, spoilt man that was obsessed with her. She wanted out, but there was no going back. She really loved Earnest but realised it too late. Edward & Wallace had a very dull life post abdication; lots of partying & affairs to hide empty lives. She was naive, but at least did maintain a public dignity following it all and lived with her lot
In my (American) opinion…Edward’s abdication gave England King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II, so things worked out well. The success, or lack thereof, of the marriage between Edward & Wallis, is and was their own personal business.
What also occurred was Edward VIII also spent what the king should have had for the coronation. King George VI also had to borrow monies to give to Edward VIII for his support and to pay for the coronation. 😮
It's great that he abdicated and gave the crown to his brother. This woman saved the English people from disaster. If he became king, today the nation would speak German. He would end like Mussolini.
The music plays the whole way through almost louder than the historians telling us how marvelous Wallis was and how misunderstood.....I am not so sure, especially in view of the personal letters that have come to light between Wallis and Ernest and the fact that Edward told Hitler to blitz London killing 40,000 of his previous subjects.
She is Anna Pasternak who wrote the soppy gloppy book Princess in Love about Diana and Hewitt based on Hewitt's letters from Diana and his story. She is related to Boris Pasternak who wrote Dr. Zhivago but is not quite his equal in writing talent. Very well spoken though.
They are definitely “white washing” this historical event. You are right. They were Nazi sympathizers. King Edward lived his life angry about how the royal family treated her. Bares an awful lot of similarities to Prince Harry. History repeating itself 😮
When asked about his life and he said he had no regrets, you have to think what else could he have said, anything to the contrary really would have confirmed they had led a useless life without purpose or accomplishment. The entitlement he still felt to keeping things like the HRH title for his wife is not surprising as he had lived a life of being almost worshipped as the future King, he wanted the biggest slice of cake with icing and to eat all of it. Denying her the full title was the price he paid along with never being allowed to live in England again and I think it was deserved after all he chose to abdicate.
Wallis might have been a good excuse for the establishment to dump him, but I don’t think the guy ever wanted to be King in the first place. So she was HIS excuse. He hated all the ceremonial duties required of the office, and his entire history was based on partying and screwing around.
The lady commentator should read two books: TRATOR KING, by Andrew Lownie, and ,THE KING HOW HAD TO GO, by Adrian Phillips. The Duke and Dutches of Windsor are presented with extensive documentation. The contrast is striking, polar opposites from the lady’s point of view.
Your historians are remarkably kind to Edward and Wallis. They (Wallis and Edward) were more than just sympathetic to the fascists. There’s a lot of evidence for the “conspiracies “ regarding Edward providing aid and comfort to the enemy. Moreover, these tragic lovers visited Dachau, implicitly endorsed the jailing of political enemies, jews, and the disabled. They were extraordinarily antisemitic. Neither expressed remorse for any of this after the war. This documentary has two historians who don’t cover the continued communication between Edward and the Nazis beyond mislabeling it as “conspiracies” What qualities are there to celebrate?
There’s also a lot of evidence of the total opposite. So there’s more accurate to believe that the real truth is somewhere in between. I can’t understand the hate people have towards this couple. They weren’t evil or bad people. Read their letters and you can find that out for yourself. The book “Wallis and Edward, letters 1931-1937: the intimate correspondence between the Duke and Duchess of Windsor” edited by Michael Bloch for instance
The female historian is dreadful and spouts absolute nonsense. Edward viii has been exposed with more recent cast iron evidence that he was a traitor. No ifs no buts
this is the best thing I've seen on this topic. they could not be unambiguous figures, but they were so often turned into caricatures. your film gave me real pleasure. thank you.
This is one of the best documentaries I have seen in a long time. As a graduate student years ago, I studied Wallis. Back then in 1998, her letters had not been documented as such then. SO, it was a lot of books, micro-phish (), and old Time and Life magazine articles, that said very little. I am torn with my feelings on all of this, as they were reported even then to have supported Adolf Hitler. (not a fan of this.) Yet so much has been said, and she is thought of as being unfeeling, cold, and mean spirited to him. Years ago, I met one of Mr. Sydney's nieces in Kentucky one summer. (Mrs. Abercrombie). We sat down and had dinner and spoke at length about her uncle having worked for the Duke and Wallis. Yaw, she told me the direct opposite of what has been said about her. Mr. Sydney's niece said, they were devoted to each other. Sydney was with them for a lot of years, and always spoke of how well Wallis ran a household, and further, how much they cared for each other. When I read some of your comments, truly, I feel blessed to learn more and read more about this subject. What I do know for sure is she was a complicated woman, that got entangled in something, she did not know how to set free. May they all Rest In Peace !!
Thank you for that post! I read Greg Kings biography about Wallis and it painted her in a so much better light than all others! When the King and Queen of England were pretending to be suffering during WWII, Wallis and Edward were in the Bahamas and Wallis helped a native nurse run many clinics for babies! She got very hands on washing, feeding, changing diapers and rocking the babies herself! When she found the nurse was taking public transportation to other nursing jobs Wallis out of her pocket bought the women a car! She worked at a canteen cooking eggs for service men! But the royals did not want that told! I worked at a jewelry store in Asheville NC my hometown and the man, Walter that trained me to be a cert gemologist appraiser worker for yrs in Miami and met the Duke and Duchess. He said the Duke always wanted to buy Wallis jewelry and her answer, "darling I have enough!" However she would return by herself and buy the Duke tie clasp or cufflinks and always had them engraved, to my darling David from your ever loving Wallis! Walter told her she was always dressed so nice her answer, "Mr. Demorsky I am not a beautiful woman I am nothing to look at and he gave up everything for me if I can dress nice and make him proud that is the least I can do!" The Duke and Duchess also loved to buy Christmas presents for all their staff and the staff's children she personally wrapped the gifts herself and played with the children! If you haven't read the before mentioned biography please do so! Sorry didn't mean to write so long of a post! Patricia Gambino Harrington(sorry for the different names on this, but I post on my hubby Frank's acct)
Actually it is true that they were both Nazi sympathizers. On his end because of German family ties and on her end relationships with Nazi’s including Ribbentrop. The book “Traitor King”, published in 2022 is well researched and follows with evidence of those relationships. She is not a victim and she got herself into that mess. Further given those letters and documentation she treated him horribly to the end of his life. Edward was weak and had no ruling ability.
@@kimclarke5018 according to his nurse Oonagh Shanley stated she was very tender and loving until his last breath! There were members of the aristocracy and British Royal family that were Nazi sympathizers! And Wallis did NOT have an affair with any Nazi! Some more rumors started by people like Jack Aird and others who did not like the Windsors! But Karma is definitely a witch look What the current Royal family is dealing with!!!! Patricia Gambino Harrington
@@kimclarke5018 Yes he was weak, and I am sure he talked himself out of having any regret. There is an interview with them and he spoke very assuredly he had no regret. Um, um, I am not sure how this was possible. I do know, money became a factor for both of them for some reason. Also, as she aged and required more help she unable to secure funds for the things she thought she needed. My brother played polo down in Palm Beach and there was a lady there, that Wallis would get money from. My brother who is 16 years older than me, (50 me)used to always tell us how she had fanciful tales about Wallis. Further, her home fell into some disrepair. When Dodi (Diana's boyfriend father) purchased it, he said it was in terrible condition. This all just seems to be a somewhat cautionary tale of love... just sad on many levels.
Thanks for writing the truth ❤ I would’ve loved to be with you and talk about it 😊 One only have to read the letters Wallis and Edward wrote to each other, or letters Wallis wrote to her aunt Bessie and other friends, to get proofs that WE loved each other. No author or historian can NEVER take away the facts which these letters show no matter how hard they try to
Wow, talk about rewriting history on so many levels. It certainly adds an interesting layer in regards to present connections with an American women. For 90 odd years it has been known how disappointed the people were by his choice in stepping down. Wallis only threat had been only that she was a foreign, American woman.These narrators are all royal approved cronies. Willis didn't want to marry him. He stepped down without her whole understanding which forced her into marriage. Imagine if she didn't despite what Edward did.
🇬🇧 My Great Aunt was cook to Wallis Simpson when she stayed at the Beach House Felixstowe awaiting her divorce . Also my birth Mother's second husband, Gordon Rogers, ( of the Rogers Brothers Felixstowe ) , bought Harvest House Hotel, Felixstowe, this is where Wallis and Edward 8th spent some time.
Wallis was not mischaracterized. She was a married woman who decided that being the mistress of the crown prince was good for her ambition. And if her ambition was ended in one spot, she helped in another (Nazi Germany). And I don't see how noble it was to forgo your responsibilities when you are past college age. It's disgusting. I haven't found them to be a sympathetic couple since I grew up. He was immature and she was ruthless. I don't think she was as grasping or as narcissistic as Megan Markle but definitely as ambitious. She just had class where Megan doesn't and doesn't know it due to growing up in Hollywood.
Stop hate on Meghan - Wallis was ugly and a racist - Meghan is beautiful and classy. She'add beauty to that family..The only reason you don't like Meghan because she had one drop of African Blood.. That family needs that one drop- She is Original (Royals African bloodlines)..Her Bloodline is oldest then European....😊.God pick Maghan for Prince Harry..Harry love Maghan, she is in the family for a reason.. GOD NOT DEAD HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING....
@@AliceArceneaux 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Megan NEVER thought of herself as black so why should anyone else? To say that she is somehow above criticism because she has a certain type of DNA is actually the mindset of the Nazis. She has EARNED every criticism laid before her. And God isn’t always behind marriages. Lots of times, God doesn’t come into it. And that’s why it doesn’t last. And believing that people don’t like Megan because she is black is immature and narcissist. Megan has behaved very badly. End of story.
@@AliceArceneauxAmericans can’t stand Meghan Markle because she is a proven liar. Americans can’t stand Harry because he is an self-entitled elitist spoiled brat. Most Americans can’t afford Netflix, let alone a fifteen room California mansion. Nazi uniform wearing anti-Constitutionalists and no name actresses don’t deserve your admiration.
@@AliceArceneauxwhy do you always bring it down to race ? Megs passed herself off as white her whole life. If the RF were racist why did they give her a huge wedding and the king walked her down the aisle and accompanied her mother. She isn't up to being a royal she lacks the qualities required, duty, integrity, honour and self sacrifice.
He was a little and meek man. He was considered very annoying after getting to know him in the least. But because he was PoW he was invited to the glamorous parties.
What letters are you specifically referring to?? You should read more books about the subject. For instance the private letters exchanged between Wallis and Edward, that is the real truth in their own words. May 4th 1936 Wallis writes to her aunt Bessie: “It would be extremely difficult to go back to life in Bryanston Court as it was before. In other words I’ve outgrown it and Ernest. So that, should I say I will give up the King tomorrow, I still could not make Ernest happy, as I would be discontented and always regretting having given him up and wondering what would have happened if I hadn’t… I am very sorry for Ernest and have tried to make things as easy as possible, and of course being a strong and noble character and a wonderful friend to me he will find his feet again and I feel that he should have the chance to find happiness again - especially when I know I can only make him unhappy by remaining 2 miserable people”. November 30 1936 Wallis writes to her friend Sibyl Colefax: “I am planning quite by myself to go away for a while…. After a while my name will be forgotten by the people and only two people will suffer instead of a mass of people who aren’t interested anyway in individual feelings but only the workings of a system.” December 12th 1936 (the day after the abdication) Wallis writes to Edward: “Darling, My heart is so full of love for you and the agony of not being able to see you after all you have been through is pathetic. At the moment we have the whole world against us and our love… If we could have been together during the waiting it would have been so much easier. I long for you so… “ December 14th 1936 Wallis to Edward: “Darling, It is practically the last straw the intervention. I didn’t think the world could put more on two people whose only sin is to love” December 18th 1936: “That England could have turned on the Prince of Wales has been a cruel blow to my faith in mankind. However we will find a new strong life built on our lonely love which has stood a test to prove its greatness. The anguish and loneliness of these months will be terrifying but we must take it and use our last remaining strength to endure it. I love you my own dear David. WALLIS” “Sunday the 28th [February] 1937 Lou Viei Wallis to Edward: “I want to see you so much my sweetheart some days I feel I can’t go on alone.” Wallis writes to her aunt Bessie 5 June 1944, Nassau Bahamas: “We had a nice party here to celebrate our seven years of bliss - just think 5 of which have been war years and 4 in the Bahamas - not as planned!…” Thursday [7 February 1952] Wallis to Edward: My own darling one.. I hate, hate having you go away alone - but you are not really alone because I am so much a part of you… Darling I shall miss you each second and you know that I love you more than anything in the world for always my dearest darling David.” March 22nd 1953, Wallis to Edward: “I will be so happy to have you back again. A big hug and a bigger kiss from me.” November 27th 1955: “Never will I be away from you for so long again. Can’t wait for Friday - we sail at 12 noon... I love you more & more.. Your WALLIS”.
@@PFOZ-nf7xp I’ve read them. They’re in the book “that woman” by Anne Sebba. The letters Wallis sent to Ernest just show two things. First, one have to have in mind that Wallis had fled to France after the abdication crisis and was close to a nervous breakdown. Her life was threatened and she was the most hated woman in the world and in this state of mind she merely wrote to Ernest as a friend that she missed the simplicity of life as it used to be. Second, Ernest was a friend and some even says Wallis regarded him as a brother. One also have to have in mind that during this time she also wrote letters to her aunt Bessie and to her husband-to-be, Edward, and those letters are letters of love and affection. And it’s funny, there’s hardly none of the letters in that book by Anne Sebba exchanged between Wallis and Edward. No author can never make that private correspondence between WE irrelevant. The few letters Wallis sent to Ernest ceased to exists after 1-2 years but the letters to Edward continued thru their marriage and the last public one is dated in 1955 ending with “Never will I be away from you for so long again. Can’t wait for Friday - we sail at 12 noon... I love you more & more.. Your WALLIS”. But if you have some letters from Wallis to Ernest where she writes that she loves him and wants him back, please show them to me 😊
Edward and Wallis were two of the most despicable jerks in UK history. In the recent show, "My Grandparent's War," actor Kit Harrington recounts how his grandfather, who was a part of the English security services and an attorney, was a "minder" of Wallis and Edward once they were banished to the Bahamas. Harrington's grandfather, from first-hand experience, found the disgraced king and his wife to be truly awful people.
@@lisaseatle4965 While that’s funny, Harry and Meghan don’t come close. First off, Edward was THE KING! He threw away the top job over a divorced hag. Harry’s chances of becoming king would require a significant tragedy. Secondly, Edward and Wallis were Nazi sympathizers. I’m not aware that Harry and Meghan are running off and palling around with the likes of Vlad Putin or Kim Jong Un. Harry is similar to Edward in that he seems rather naive and foolish, although Harry seems to have a bit more depth of character than Edward. Meghan certainly holds similarities to Wallis. She seems an entitled status climber.
Oddly enough, to me, it seems like he really never expected to happen what happened. He expected he could resign and still call the shots. The fact that a tippy toed around the nazis is a prime example of that.
Correct me if I'm wrong ok. My understanding is that Wallis was extremely power hungry, and her heart was with a low ranking soildier of sorts. Obviously she turfed her soilder boy for a man that could fill her grandiose narcicistism. Edward was a man that wanted his cake, eat it too, with his evil little cherry right on top.
Going to used bookstores and finding books written at the times of events, I noticed an assumption made during his Grandfathers reign, Edward 7th. David became upset with any mention of his becoming King someday "Don't call me that!" It was assumed that his love for his Grandfather was the reason. Considering what was to come, I have to wonder if using "love" as an excuse is a means of controlling criticism while getting out of a job he never wanted. One of his best friends wrote that he only cared about being King if it was something SHE wanted. She fled and tried to stop him from quitting but he said he follow her wherever she went. Imagine how trapped she became if he was using her for his exit excuse and refused to marry him. If she was hated for his abdication, what kind of hate would be directed at her then?. Makes me wonder, that's all.
Art Buchwald, the columnist, was living in Paris in the 1950s. In his book, "We'll Always Have Paris," he recounts attending a party where the Windsors were present. Anything German was not popular at that time. Art recounts that the duke sat a piano and began singing German songs until Wallis distracted him. Art wrote, "The British government should have given her a medal for getting that idiot off the throne."
There seems to be A LOT of rewriting history in this. Never saw anything anywhere about Wallis being this wonderful hard-working Woman. That said, Wallace Simpson does deserve a statue in London because she saved England from the horrors of having this insipid man as king. God knows what would've happened during World War II with him on the throne and his Nazi proclivities.
Wallis wrote to her ex husband Simpson when it became clear that abdication was the only course open to the King, that she regretted it all and that Simpson was her only true love. In other words that she really believed she would be Queen and when that did not happen, she wanted out, but simply could not because the ex King threatened suicide if she left him. He was weak, and she was a gold digger who thought she would get the ultimate prize, but didn't. She also thought that the Nazi plan to put Edward and herself onto the British throne would get her what she wanted, but that never came about either. For those two to mix with Nazis, giving the Nazi salute was just diabolical and self destructive. They deserved their miserable lives.
Edward and Wallis accepted the friendship of Hitler but that was before anyone was aware of what his real intentions and motives were. The fact is that Hitler used many European Aristocrats and intended to set up Nazi headquarters in their lofty mansions and Residences, and to steal their artifacts when he assumed he would take over and reign Supreme in the Third Reich. This is also depicted in the movie, Remains of the Day. Some aristocrats were flattered by the German high commanders and their attention and seemingly friendly desire to want their companionship. People did not know Hitler wanted to irradicate certain ethnicities of people until he started doing it after the war began in 1940. Even the German citizens did not know what Hitler was doing.
Winds of war were on the rise as early as '36. Jews were being persecuted as early as '36. To think otherwise is not just naive, but as we know now, extremely dangerous!
Edward knew exactly what Hitler was all about, he had been briefed by his govt before abdication what was going on, Germany re-arming, the Jews being targeted, he knew.
Baldwin and the government were absolutely right in not wanting Edward as king. Edward's subsequent interactions with Hitler proved them right. A reign with Edward as king would have been disaster for England and the world.
Absolutely.
They are all garbage
We need to stop romanticizing this story, from all docu's so far, they truly were unfit for the job and we are truly lucky he never became king. Even the love affair from all we hear, most especially her own letters confirm it wasn't a match make in heaven. Fact's are better than fiction in my opinion.
We also need to stop vilifying the story and Wallis and Edward. And we need to stop to repeat rumors and lies. Their marriage wasn’t a fairytale but they shared a deep love and concern for each other (which their letters show and close friends witnessed about). So yes, the real facts are indeed better than fiction and lies/gossip! Documentaries are mostly based on the recent books by Anne Sebba and Andrew Lownie and Andrew Morton so those sources are not reliable.
We also need to realise that old docs like these are surfacing due to the coronation and the ridiculous antics of H&M
Clicks mean £££
None of us know exactly what happens behind the scenes they’re just a family with skeletons in the cupboard like most fortunately we’re not in the public eye being dissected
I’d never leave the house if so 😂
He actually was king.
Agree. I was looking for those bits of information. Sadly they weren’t covered here.
I told someone recently that when it comes to Queen Elizabeth, The UK got extremely lucky. They were so offended. I agree with you completely.
Stop slobbering over these two. The only good thing about their situation is that it spared us their reign and gave us Elizabeth the Great.
Well said
Amen, brother.
Good to see, as the need to remove Henry from the line of succession is similar now.
If the most awful thing happened and Henry was needed to take the role. This would be v much a dangerous situation with Rachel who is he'll bent on destruction of the royal family.
I could easily see civil unrest if Henry was ever in the position to be in any form of power.
I hope he's been written out of the line of succession already.
Just my opinion.
@@Threadbow DON'T WANT TO KNOW YOUR OPINION 🫠
@@cb4883 not opinion, but facts.
If they would stop their campaign against the royals, apologising then perhaps they maybe more liked.
Interesting that no mention is made of the now-commonly-accepted view that Wallis never wanted to marry Edward, but was backed into a corner when he threatened to kill himself if she left him. Her letters to her previous husband appear to confirm how trapped she felt and it's doubtful that she was ever truly happy or fulfilled in her marriage to Edward. A pretty sad story really.
I absolutely agree. Not the love story for the centuries.
She would have been very happy to be Queen. As to her being a Socialite her family had a little money but no great wealth and the only place she had any clout was Baltimore hardly a bastion of high society. Most Americans of her time were ashamed of her being American. She was very very low class.
And it would have only delayed Elizabeth's accession by 25 years or so.
Wallis pursued him and wanted him just as much. It was only when he wanted to abdicate that she tried to back out. She didn't try hard enough. The King, being the head of the church of England, was just not allowed to marry a divorcee. She was an unsuitable married gold digging socialite and not very loyal (to her husband).........
More proof that they were both nutters.
I’m 66 and I’ve read many clips of the horrible way this woman treated the ex king especially when he was dying. Apparently he kept calling her and she would ignore him, even the attendant nurse would ask her to come sit with him and she refused. He, apparently, died alone. So this narration seems to be glossing over the real story. Someone needs to check this out.
I also learned that the letters she wrote another suitor showed she loved that other man and her relationship with King Edward VIII was not really as strong as she gave the impression causing more problems and just thinking of herself -by giving parties at the expense of Edward. What a horrible woman- sounds familiar with a woman like Meghan Markle. Who's not a good partner to Prince Harry who at one point did try to avoid Meghan by attending a wedding in which he flew to Jamaica, and she flew after him since she was invited too. She actually stayed at that wedding until she came back home together. She was not going to be ignored and made it clear.
There are a lot of misogynous comments here. As if men are too stupid and unable making up their own minds and or get to decisions they would never make without the women at their side. Including the consequences that come with that. I seriously doubt that.
I noticed the woman who keot referring to the "unholy trinity" bent over backwards to paint them as victims, completely blameless of anything.
@@homegown1234 When will that „blame the woman“ ever end? Mister H.Mountbatten-Windsor was 33 years when he married. Hardly someone who was inexperienced and did not already paid with years of his youth for the entertainment of the public. There is no plan B for Royals to retreat somewhere.
Wow. I watched two documentaries on Wallace and Edward. She was a horrible woman. She didn’t love him. She made a fool out of him. Poor guy.😢😢😢
The fact that those two spent time prancing about Germany with Hitler tells us all we need to know.
Yes if nothing else, they weren't too bright.
Declassified documents proved none of the rumors used to smear him or her. He was loyal to his country his entire life.
The thing that is forgotten is that the UK wanted peace with Germany and that the prime minister Chamberlain visited Hitler several times hoping to find peace with Germany.
That tour of Germany wasn't one of Edward's better decisions.
@@CoolChevereChamberlain The Appeaser. "In the name of God GO!"
How short-sighted to ignore the fact that the abdication led to the magnificent reign of Elizabeth II. The self-indulgent Windsors proved themselves unfit and unwilling to serve GB. Their lack of heirs would also have damaged the monarchy. Thank God for the wisdom of the stuffed shirts in gray suits!
I think that's obvious. We all know QE2 became Queen because he abdicated.
It wasn't ignored. It was remarked upon a number of times, that Edward VIII proved himself to everyone's satisfaction to be utterly unsuited to the Crown, while his brother rose to the challenge.
It looks like she might have been queen even if Edward hadn’t abdicated. He and Wallis had no children so Elizabeth was next in line. Wallis said that Edward was “not heir conditioned.” 😅
@@lds251 She had had an abortion which, as alleged, rendered her infertile. What a pair, those two.
It would have led to her reign anyway as the Windsors had no children. She just would not have had 70 years on the throne.
I believe, had Edward VIII not abdicated the throne, he would have ultimately lead the downfall of the British Monarchy. He was truly unfit to be the King.
How? Give ONE plausible thing to back that up. Edward had no power as a monarch. He couldn't just give Hitler Great Britain. The whole abdication crisis PROVES his powerlessness. They wouldn't even let him have his sidepiece. Do you think they would've let him ruin the monarchy? If anything, it might have helped their image since Edward was for the working class and marrying a divorcee might've made him even more relatable.
@@ilovebeinagirl Thank You!
I've just learned that Britain was going to turn a death ear and say they were neutral but it was my favorite hero "Churchill" that said, "we cannot be immune to what is going on around us but we must fight against "Hitler" I just love Churchill since I learned he asked the USA for aids but we kept postponement due to not wanting to be part of the WWII involvements. However, they finally helped out (through the documents that I saw) and helped Britain to gain more ships to help themselves through their battles. I am glad FDR came through and helped out because I was getting disappointed when I learned of this which was in "Darkest Day of Churchill" and it was shown in that last movie that was excellent that helped Churchill after all. Loved it! I wished there was more to that movie back in 2018 or 2019. In fact, the actor that played Churchill got an Oscar for his excellent performance which he gave.
You argued your point really well! The love story of Edward & Wallis took place about half a century too soon - at the time, a marriage between them would have been very controversial - also that illfated trip to Germany proved their critics right - Wallis was politically ignorant and Bertie was simply naive - but other than that they neve4 set a foot wrong again and if given a chance they would have been very popular as King and his American queen.....but we had our most beautiful Queen and so all turned out well in the end
@@ilovebeinagirlrubbish. The working class still hated him for breaking the moral rules that having money enabled him to do.
Wallis may have been the love of Edward's life, but he was not the love of hers
Yep, correct. Imo
100%…she didn’t even want to stay. She started the affair with her husband’s knowledge. She started the affair while his girlfriend (who, Wallis knew) was away. There will always be a Meghan Markle, or Wallis Simpson but I believe that they are both a fantastic symbol of “Beware what you ask for”!!!
Remember their last interview a few years before he died. They both gave the impression as being utterly unhappy with each other. What a wasted life.
It was palpable. Even though they tried to hide it. As you get older you need a sense of duty or legacy. All they did was party and travel. You could see the emptiness in their eyes. His especially. Truly sad.
They were not unhappy with each other, but their life was dull in many ways
Et j’ai vu un documentaire documentaire, comme quoi pendant la seconde guerre mondiale, il a tout fait pour décourager les États-Unis de s’engager dans la guerre. Il voulait perdre son pays.
They were two solipsistic people, who really couldn’t care less about duty and responsibility.
Spricht der Rechtschaffene! Diesem muss man misstrauen!
Edward didn’t want the hardship of being the King, just privileges that comes with it. You can’t have it both ways!
Sounds like Harry!
@eileengreaney8559 - sounds like Prince Andrew too. It runs in the family.
Hint to Megan Markle and Prince Harry!
He'd rather betrayed his country and his duty, for an American thing. Sounds like a certain recent royal that needs exiling.
As the Late Queen said you can not be half in and half out. I think Harry got the lazy genes from David and the love of status over Duty. Wants all the bells and whistles car sirens blaring.
His abdication was a well instigated gift to England and the world facing WW2. Thank you Mr. Baldwin ✝️
Baldwin CAUSED THE Abdication
They wished Edward 8 th would fall off his horse and break his neck? That’s an awful thing to say
@@Hypnobunny1 Not about the abdicated King and wife who thought Hitler was a great leader, he and Wallace were guests of and pictures of them with him as guests were splattered all over the international press as Hitler was finishing preparations to march into Poland. Not when intelligence picked up their discussion of Hitler taking England and he would reinstate him to the throne with her as Queen maybe they might be of help. It's a miracle worse wasn't said. Instead, they devised a plan to cooerce them to the Bahamas, made him Governor and literally held them under house arrest when more intelligence was divulged of a possible SS plan to kidnap them in Portugal and hold them for ransom. Edward loved Germany, they were Nazi sympathizers, it was well known by Baldwin, FDR, Churchill and their espionage organizations and she'd had an affair at one time with Ribbentropp and they remained close. They were both loose cannons and sans allegiance to their nations, character or loyalty, awful thing to say indeed..
In 1935/36 nobody knew that the world was facing WWII.
@@rossadams451 the reason for my gratitude.
George V had said this of his son Edward VIII: "After I am dead, the boy will ruin himself in 12 months." He wasn't joking. Edward's reputation for his impatience, affairs with married women, and the inability to properly settle down didn't make him a suitable king.
Even apart from the Wallis factor, I find it strange that Edward thought he would abdicate but yet still stay and play a significant role in Great Britain. How exactly was that ever going to work? You can't have a king and an "alternate-king" who used to be the "real king."
I think they said he thought he would only be exiled for a year and then come back. Now I'm not sure what in the world gave him that idea or time frame but he clearly should've went over those stipulations before hand.
@@leeariana11 until they found out how much Edward was aligning with hitler. Search for the documentary, The Nazi King.
Certainly sounds like Hairbrain, eh? And just as stupid.
@Mark Thompson Since the moment he was born, it was drilled into him that he would be king...and that was during the age of devine right and deference. He believed he deserved what he wanted. I think embedding narcissism into royals (including abdicators) is a real problem. I think Queen Elizabeth's groundedness and character was rare indeed.
It certainly shows how self-centered he was.
Wallis was backed into a corner and felt forced into marrying him. Play with fire…..you may get burned. She enjoyed being his mistress, no responsibility, just the fun. It backfired. She was involved with an emotionally repressed party boy with a mother complex. He wanted a lover that would mother him. That can get old really quickly.
Immature , mummy’s boy, gosh I wonder who that reminds you of.
Or, can it?
As they say , “Beware what you wish for , you just may get it “
@@therealhousewifeofballtown - Boy is that the truth!
King Charles married his mistress. The Queen gave her the title as Queen consort.
There are two realities that, in my opinion, are not mentioned in this interesting film. Firstly Edward Vlll did not want the throne and saw Wallis Simpson as a way out. He knew beyond doubt that the ‘establishment’ would never accept her as Queen and, by marrying her, would release him of his duties and he could go on leading his former life as Prince of Wales. This would never happen. Secondly Wallis Simpson never really loved Edward and saw his, basically, as a week man who she was despised. She was flattered of course by his attention to her (every woman would have been) but marriage never entered her head until it was too late. Ultimately they lived a shallow and unfulfilled life together.
Terribly sad really.
@@electraruby4078 I dont feel sad for n.azis. They both got what they deserved
“Every woman would have been”? What nonsense. He was clearly a vain, weak man capable of sick, obsessive behavior like threatening to kill himself over Wallis. That’s not love, it’s abuse. Have you ever dealt with someone who’s threatening to kill themself? I have, twice (not over me, but I was one of the people they each chose to tell). It’s a horrific, manipulative, exhausting experience. David/Edward was clearly mentally ill, and any woman with sense would run from that, not be flattered by it. Even with all his money. A gilded cage is still a cage. Don’t presume to speak for “every woman.”
She was always flaunting her affairs under his nose.
Eh, I disagree with him not wanting to be king. He actually wanted to still be a working royal
As the years passed she became more abusive and humiliating to him. A fashion model demonstrating a line of the highest fashion for Wallis said she was an awful person to deal with. She controlled and abused Edward, it was a sick relationship. She punished him constantly like telling him in public to buzz off mosquito, or like a child sending him to bed crying. She was masochistic to him and he ate it up. He did what ever she told him and yes he was a huge security risk with his relationship with the Nazi.
I needn’t say what and who this Reminds people of
@@itsme1585those were my thoughts exactly! 😂
She was an awful woman and he was like most of the royals, extremely entitled and mainly focused on the pleasures he sought in life. I feel only a little sympathy for him.
Yes..its funny how history repeats...now it's Harry in the clutches of Meghan, who bends him like a pretzel....maybe they do like being mistreated like they have treated others all their life!!
He became obsessed with her because of how she stood up to him. He was so needy and needed to be punished by her. She just got to where he couldn't even function unless she was there. So, she started treating him worse and worse. Not condoning. Just you can only take so much of that needy of an individual. She couldn't even leave the room without him needing her. Wear you down sooner or later.
After learning so much information- a ton of it out there- over the years about Edward and Wallis, I have come to the conclusion that they were just a pair of rather stupid, self absorbed, selfish, self-indulgent, petty, spoiled people who deserved each other. I don’t feel one bit sorry for either one of them. Reminds me a lot of the never ending Harry and Megan saga. Freaking boring.
Funny it reminds me rather of Charles and Camilla. We'll see.
@@meeeka exactly 💯
I think so too. This two was made for each other.
You are 100 per cent correct in your opinion. They were basically trivial people. But they had a good time at OUR expense!
@@andrewgibbon-williams7974 In what way at your expense? Live and let live!
another source that is rarely quoted are the letters Edward sent to Freda Dudley Ward while she was his mistress which are published in the book - Letters from a Prince. They show him to be a immature man with no sense of responsbility or willingness to take on his duties. Tommy Lacelles was right in the judgement of his character.
Lascelles was a lapdog liar and possibly the lover of Cosmo Lang.
He was an immature man, a playboy who enjoyed the high life but didn't want the responsibility of being the monarch. Wallis mothered him, ordered him about (which he loved) and he worshipped her, but while she remained witty and good company all her life, he was apparently dull and boring and very clingy.
exactly
Unfortunate their own letters are hardly ever recognized as a source to the truth. Too bad since their own words are much closer to the REAL truth than any author could ever come up with. One really should read the letters (the ones from Edward to Freda, the ones between Edward and Wallis etc) instead of spreading a lot of lies and rumors
This docu very much sugar-coated Edward VIII and all that happened around the abdication, etc. He never, never was "the most popular monarch of the last one- or two-hundred years" as stated towards the end of the docu. Utter BS! Awfully done and extremely one-sided.
Edward was a spoiled man,,,,Wallis was a social climber....they were perfect for each other,, they were stuck with each other
No wonder prince Philip called Meghan Wallis.
People who attended their parties claimed he was boring and she was interesting. Sitting next to him at dinner was seen as a punishment because it would be a bad night
He was sick and lapped up being bossed around and belittled by a dominant mother figure. A blessing in disguise for the UK that he abdicated to his brother.
I think there is a VERY strong case to be made that Edward indeed did NOT wish particularly to be king. He never was one to comply easily with expectation. During the first WW he was weirdly eager to fight, saying he had brothers who could step up should he fall in combat - but he was angrily frustrated that he was not allowed anywhere near the front lines. His world tour as Prince of Wales with Dickie Mountbatten was rife with inappropriate conduct. His hysterical behaviour upon the death of his father was quite telling. It could be argued that he decided to marry inappropriately KNOWING he would likely have to abdicate. The difficulty of his life afterwards lay mostly in his not having a role. He didn’t seem to understand that leaving as he did would render him irrelevant. He thought he could return to England with his wife after a suitable period of time and take up life as a sibling of the King, that his popularity somehow guaranteed him forgiveness for his questionable behaviour and dereliction of the sacred duty that he really never was interested in, even from boyhood on. He thought he could live the entitled life he loved by simply chucking the tedious part about being the monarch. It was the high life he loved and that’s what had dazzled Wallis. Of course, he always wanted to be the big man in her eyes, the one to delight her with Mediterranean cruises, jewels, parties and the pomp of Royal life. But after the abdication their life in the jet set became rudderless, empty. The one role they were charged with (Governorship of Bahamas) was a scurrilous disaster. It showed how right the palace, the government and the church were in their considered opinion that Edward’s character was fundamentally unsuited to have been king. It worked out well, actually … he didn’t want to be king and the palace government and church didn’t want him to be king either! Poor Wallis didn’t realize or understand the quagmire she had stumbled into until it was far too late.
He seemed to change markedly after WWI, as you say, he was frustrated and angry about not being allowed to go on the front line. He blamed his father and became very bitter towards him. I think that's when he decided he wanted no part of the monarchy but was too weak to break away entirely until after his father's death and wanting to marry Wallis etc.
The real hero of the story is King George VI
Never wanted it but stepped up and saved the monarchy.
Not sure he ever got enough credit. Elizabeth was destined to be QE2 no matter what.
Yes, no secret. All laid out in Morton’s book about Wallis.
@@zzzbbbooo In 1911 Prince Edward (David) was invested as Prince of Wales. The ceremony was virtually a state event … and he was the first heir to be invested in Wales for centuries. He was 16. He HATED it. He was defiant and belligerent about the whole thing and called the ceremonial robes ‘ludicrous’. Even as a teenager he was viscerally opposed to the responsibilities of his birthright and the pomp and ceremony of tradition. My point is that he was never comfortable with the requirements, formalities and proscribed life into which he was born. His conduct during WWI was very odd in that he WANTED to fight on the front line and railed at the unfairness that he wasn’t allowed to. He repeatedly ranted about having 3 brothers to take his place if he was killed. He did grow to appreciate the privilege, the deference, the money, the ‘fast’ life, the complete protection of the Palace and he revelled in that. But nothing in his behaviour ever indicated that he was interested in any charity or in SERVING his people as monarch.
Sounds a lit like Harry and Meghan
History is that he threatened to kill himself if she didn't marry him. Her very letters explain how toxic and codependent the relationship was. Even this documentary stresses how obsessed he was and states in today's terms it would also be called stalking.
It was not a love story by any means. England is blessed he never took the throne.
I like to believe God knows why he renounced the throne and thank God he did.
She wasn't forced to marry him. She wanted to.
@@mrsx7944 No, she MAY have wanted to marry him, but as the historian said, she didn't suffer fools and treated him as an equal. She got her power from bringing a King down to her level or giving the appearance that she had climbed to his. When she realized that he was no King-he was weak and needed her by his side to feel validated otherwise he would crumble; he was hooked on HER for his very existence-she probably began to despise him. She left for France to put some space between them, but it was too late and she was trapped… He gave up the throne to be with his emotional crutch, but the world thought he had given up the throne for love. As it was, she was getting death threats for distracting the King from his duty. If she didn't marry him it would be considered proof that she was just a gold digger who abandoned the gold mine when it flooded-and the perceived double whammy would necessitate her looking nervously over her shoulder for the rest of her life, albeit a severely shortened one.
The woman who defends Wallis has some mad skills with rose colored glasses. She is totally romanticizing a very unhappy story (except that it was really good that dimwit Edward did not remain King.) This is the first I've heard of Wallis being 'extremely kind.' She made fun of Bertie's wife, who, unlike Wallis, was a bit plump and not at all fashionable. Meanwhile Wallis was basically anorexic and wore gorgeous couture clothes. Wallis was bright and witty, and socially ambitious, clearly at any cost. She was also a woman of the world, who is rumored to have 'special skills' that made her popular with men. She abandoned a perfectly good marriage to climb the social ladder with Edward, and belatedly realized she had hitched her wagon to a really, really bad star. Amazingly, she actually thought she could get out of what she had dug herself into, even after the affair had gone public. Was she totally unaware of social convention, mores - American or British or otherwise -- or any other aspect of reality? Did she really think she could sidestep the court of public opinion? She couldn't possibly have been so stupid, so one assumes she must have een arrogant. Or maybe she thought the weak man she was in love with could actually wield some power. Oops. Edward outsmarted her with his weakness and she was done for. He was obsessed to the point of derangement, and threatened to kill himself if she didn't marry him. It is conceivable he would have done so. He was that unstable. So Wallis gave in and entered a marriage that did not, in fact, make them happy. As time went on, and they both grew bitter -- he bitter with the fact that he could not be fancy pants Prince any more, and she with the fact that she had married a wacko who would not leave her alone. He was shallow and so stupid as to imagine that after abdicating he would somehow manage to have royal honors. He was also totally fixated on Wallis. Party guests would see - Edward's eyes would follow her wherever he went. If she left the room he would soon go in search of her because he couldn't bear to be out of her presence ( translation: he was obsessive and nuts). She eventually began to ridicule him and treat him with open scorn. Their lives devolved into one long, bitter spending spree of boredom. It is one of the saddest and most frustrating stories. They had so much and resented that they didn't have more. Such selfish idiots.
This just proves that you haven’t read much about Wallis yourself but have only listen to those rumors which always have surrounded this couple. If you’ve bothered to read other books beside Andrew Morton, Anne Sebba, Andrew Lownie and some others and instead read Greg King, Susan Williams, Michael Bloch, Anna Pasternak etcetera you would learn that there’s always two side of a story. Only your comment about Wallis having some “special skills” are long ago considered just nasty gossip. Edward and Wallis are somewhere between these outrageous stories and the more balanced ones. And again, if one wants the real truth then read the letters they wrote where there’s also proves that Wallis was indeed kind and considerate about people
When she said "loyal," I actually laughed. She certainly wasn't loyal to her second husband.
Agreed!!
I agree. She was annoying and inaccurate in many of her statements.
@@tamararutland-mills9530 only because she shares facts that doesn’t suits your already hateful opinion….? 😊
I don't know.... I could be wrong, but this documentary seems a tad biased in favor of them both and leaves out some well known details about how Wallis felt about Edward. It sure feels like this documentary wants me to believe a tarted up version of the actual events. He gave up everything for love? He stated that he never wanted to be king, but you left that out. You left out a lot.
His butler walked in on King E. and W. He was down on all fours painting her toenails. The butler immediately resigned.
Check that out in urban dictionary
And you know this how ?
Wallis wanted to climb to the top socially. She never counted on him falling, seriously, for her.
They were also living beyond their means and Ernest Simpson went along with it neither of them thinking the King would end up obsessed.
@@misscoutts6193 Very sad, all around.
She wanted to be Queen, not just another mistress.
The similarities between the personalities and bad qualities of these two and the Skidmarkles are mind boggling.
Agree❤❤❤
Markle is foul. Wallis wasn't.
certainly are, and I still say that Ms Markle lacked real understanding of how the monarchy worked, and thought she would somehow be Queen one day. She really reminds me of Wallis, although I think Wallis was much more intelligent.
The woman historian is overdoing the ‘Wallis was lovely’ line. Duff Cooper who was an intimate friend of the royals, and Edward in particular, gives an absolutely definitive account of the abdication crisis in his very readable diaries. It is particularly striking what he says about Wallis after a long chat when she was feeling swept along and not in control ‘She’s intelligent and a nice enough woman, but she is as hard as nails, and she doesn’t love him’
She never loved him she didn’t have the balls to get out!
I fail, as an outsider, to understand what was lovely about Wallis either physically or morally.
Anna is far too intelligent to believe that *Wallis was lovely, misunderstood, and under appreciated* drivel that she's peddling. On most subjects she makes sense. On this one she's completely off the rails.
Toto je pekna zena?
@@evadinusova4737She was not at all conventionally pretty. She was very tiny, 5' 2" tall, measuring 31-23-30, with dark center-parted, upswept hair, a rather large nose and hands, which she hated. She was however, always impeccably dressed. Her hairdresser came every day assuring that her hair and makeup were always perfect. Her clothes were only the finest, always classic and stylish. And she had millions of dollars of fabulous jewelry. So, though not a beauty, she knew how to present herself in the very best way possible.
The fact that she wrote many letters to her ex-husband saying how much she still loved him and wished she was still with him. I don’t think she realized how much he could force Wallis into marriage. They both wound-up in a very unhappy situation.
She wasn't forced into anything.
yes indeed.
@@mrsx7944 yes she was. He threatened to commit suicide if she left him, and when he made that abdication speech made it impossible for her to back out.
This is enormously romanticized and exaggerated version of the story. Edward was undoubtedly just a very weak character who on the top of that was blessed with being very stubborn and childish. And one more thing to mention, from what I have gathered previously there was no love story in the later life of Windsors but rather miserable coexistence where the couple hardly spoke with one another..... sad story to the end
Based on your comment I can tell that you haven’t bothered to read much about this couple. This documentary actually paints a much more balanced view than a lot of others. There are many books out there which I’ve read them all (almost). There’s 50% negative ones BUT there are also 50% positive ones so the real truth lies somewhere in between. And it’s just plain lies that they didn’t spoke to each other. This is a letter from Wallis written from New York in November 27th 1955:
“Darling One,
Your letters have been wonderfully amusing and full of details re progress - a great help. I have had Charlie [Murphy] for the week-end and we did a lot of work. I am all wound up in the thing like you got. The first 5 chapters have been handed over. I saw Beaverbrook Thursday. He was very nice in his fashion. We gave him the 5 chapters to read. I have done most of the Xmas shopping for the Paris staff and for our really good friends here. Has the wall been started? Davy Crockett is a bad dog - chews everything and lamps and tables fly with his games - an amusing little personality but not up to Trooper’s looks or affection. Maybe we should have stuck to the oldies. Never will I be away from you for so long again. Can’t wait for Friday - we sail at 12 noon. Everyone has been too divine to me - we have good friends here in spite of the stinking press and Arnory. I love you more & more and hope Fruity destroyed nothing at the Mill. Your
WALLIS”
Yes, and on the other hand, George VI was strong in character who won the love and respect for his people.
Because she didn't get what she wanted, which was to be queen. That was her only interest in him, really; she never figured that he would bow out and cash in!🙄
The sad thing, is that for both brothers, they did not grow up with parents who were very openly loving or nurturing toward them. Mary of Tek, their mom, was said to be a very cold & distant individual & you can see that in every video & picture of her; that she doesn't really emanate a loving energy. George the 5th, was also said to be a better king, than he was a father; he put duty ahead of family. So of course, the boys had this trauma where as adults, they were essentially looking for nurturing partners that gave them the love & attention that they craved from their parents deep down & that's why BOTH brothers pursued the women they did. Its why Elizabeth & Margaret both had some loving, nurturing, supportive relationships with their dad, because he was devoted to giving them the love that he did not receive, in the best way he knew how to give it. So Edward giving up his kingship for a woman, went so much deeper than just him being stubborn or selfish. There was a part of him that was a child crying out for love & Wallis gave him the type of attention & devotion he craved.... so of course, he wasn't going to let go of her for anything & he was willing to abdicate, & give up one thing that he didn't really want to do (being a king), in order to have the other that meant so much more to his inner child... emotional fulfillment & security.
I feel like many royal families over the centuries, did not understand the importance of emotional validation... it lends to why there have been so many interpersonal issues within royal family dynamics. Affairs, divorces, etc... When you're raising future leaders, they need to be well-rounded. You don't just give children the basics & expect them to step into roles of leadership where they cannot set a full example. However, I feel like William & Kate will be the first, at least for the British Monarchy, to embody how crucial that all around love & support system is, in order to truly thrive.
Garbage.
Agree❤❤❤
THe King George the 6th was starved and torured and abused for years by an abusive nanny , which gave him a stutter etc and had far far more excuse to not be a good person or KIng due to the trauma yet he was the better one as king father adn husband.While this happened to him as achild David was spoiled
@celissiwillis9399 Duty is supposed to come first for our Monarchs and it was a
different time, most parents weren't emotional then, especially the upper classes
the adults were brought by strict nannies and the children were and only saw parents for a short time each day
luckily for Bertie his wife did come from a loving family
and King George and Queen Mary adored Elizabeth and Margaret
but our late Queen put duty first, the only time she didn''t was when Diana died
and put her grandsons first and was criticised for it
Ja, sie hatten die richtige MUTTER. ❤
I don’t think Wallis expected her relationship with him would be any different than his previous relationships with married women. I think he had a mother-complex and was emotionally immature, but I don’t think he was stupid. I think the aristocracy wanted him out and he was willing to go, with her as his excuse. Mrs. Simpson got trapped!
The original idea of a royal wanting to enjoy his wealth without accepting the duty…his brother’s ability to do just that was extraordinary..maybe less pathetic stories of Wallis and Edward and more about George and his daughter Elizabeth..after all, what did the Duke and Duchess do with the rest of their lives? Anything productive? Anything at all?
Read about all her work while in the Bahamas during WWII!!!! Patricia Gambino Harrington
Yes. Her jewelry (which he bought) fetched millions of dollars which were left to the Pasteur Institute in France. Within a few years, they had a cure for AIDS.
He complained constantly about wanting a job. He had one. It was called "king",
He had said that in his long years as Prince of Wales. He was King for less than a year.
Nobody wanted him to be crowned King, not even his mother.
Trying to paint Edward VIII as simply naive, completely misses the mark. He was a man who lacked sufficient intellect to understand who the real power brokers are and how power is wielded, particularly in regard to the looming conflict with Germany. If he had understood that his job was to put on a good front for the establishment - as his brother did - then there would not have been a crisis, leading to his abdication. I agree that his affair with Wallis Simpson was a convenient way to get rid of him.
Or he did know and his behaviour was deliberately done for outcome
He should have been cut off of all funds and titles. He just wanted to be supported and do nothing.
Sounds like Harry…
David relished the perks available to him as Prince of Wales, but not the responsibilities. The public loved him, but everyone enjoys play time and only children expect to play forever. David rebelled against his duty. Rebellion is what David loved most in Wallis. She was brash, vulgar, and irreverent. These were traits that he envied and admired and to such a point that he seemed to consider her his muse or mentor. He even found it delicious when she scolded, condescended, or ordered him about. People who lack certain traits will sometimes choose a partner with an over abundance of those traits.
Sounds very familiar to Harry and his wife.
Rule over yourself, or be ruled by others. Did Theodore Roosevelt say that?
"Men can never escape being governed. Either they must govern themselves or they must submit to being governed by others."
reminds me of Princess Margaret Rose
@@Norsknurse- yes….!!!
Except, he is now of little use to her and this will come to an end.
I have never seen two people completely ruin their lives quite like these two have. Simpson is quite a remarkable woman in comparison to M’s ways, which leave a lot to be desired. Simpson never spoke badly of the royals publicly.
Contrary to the Windsors, who did the best they could with what they had. More ups than downs.
Agree❤❤❤
I visited Cat Cay Bahamas in 1981. There was this little building, maybe 1200 sq. ft. which I was informed had served as a sort of Gentleman’s’ Club. On one wall was carved numerous names of Members and Guests in no particular order or grid. Within the bunch, fitted about a third way from the bottom was inscribed “Edward”.
Interesting use of biographers: anti-establishment/pro-personal life vs. pro-establishment. I found it interesting that Alexander Larman was careful to point out that the insiders who ran the country felt their goal was to maintain stability, even at the cost of ruining the life of the monarch. Even Churchill, pro-personal life, changed his mind once he became an insider. The biographer Anna Pasternak called the insiders an "unholy" trinity but admitted that the former king was so naive that the Nazis felt he could be manipulated to their advantage. We'll never know if Edward VIII could have grown into an appropriate monarch but it does seem that Heaven decided the UK needed George V at that moment in history.
Well, this was sympathetic towards the Windsors, especially the woman commentator. I'm sure they each did have some good points but unfortunately, were shadowed by poor decisions. History proved that the unholy Trinity got it right, Edward would have destroyed Britain.
They were Hanoverians not Windsors...that was made up as we were at war with their cousin. Read about the dysfunctional bunch that were their ancestors.
They lived an empty life.
Wallis and her husband were greedy, they wanted the jewels, status and money. Ernest pimped his wife to Edward. Their complaint being they got caught up in their own net and all 3 paid the price. She may have had lovely qualities but greed over road those qualities.
He always looks so sad.
The woman in this documentary is off her rocker. Why is she pushing that Edward and Wallis would've been a great couple to rule? This lady was seen out and about having a relationship with another man while married. Who would want that person as a Queen? They weren't using Wallis as a scape goat, it was her fault. Regardless if they let them marry, the man would've been a terrible king.
I fully agree. She was so annoying and inaccurate. Why did they ever bring her on to what was otherwise a good documentary. It left out a lot, but this woman commentator totally failed to reflect on the other side of Wallis, which was marked with cruelty, abuse and unfaithfulness. She is the only one who portrayed her as being very kind. Well, she’s the first one who ever said that!
I find this a very amusing comment considering who our next queen will be😂😂😂
@@peanuts4434 "their" next queen, I have a strong dislike for as well
@@peanuts4434 exactly. some people have short memories. that describes cowmilla to a T 😂
I really enjoyed this documentary and the comments and observations of those contruibuters who took part. Thankyou.
Edward is like Prince Harry in that he was weak and could be easily controlled.
If he could be easily controlled he would still be in England - miserable as “ the spare “. Think about it.
هل تريده أن يبقى خلف أخيه ويليام إلى الأبد لن يصبح ملك لماذا تريدون منه أن يبقى إلا يرى حياته
David was very broken and needed a controlling-mother-figure of a woman, which echos EXACTLY what Harry needed. Harry foolishly fell for Meghan because she'd researched everything Diana, she knew he was broken and she knew his vulnerabilities, so all she needed to do was wear Diana's perfume and cosplay Diana's wardrobe....he was ripe for the picking.
@@kholowedalmold3394 it makes him angry that nobody cares what he does. He's just a little child throwing a temper tantrum trying to get attention!
I always thought the King never really wanted to be king and Wallis was merely his excuse - when Wallis tried to get out of the marriage, the King does several things to prevent it. Wallis’ letters to her soon to be ex husband detail how much she didn’t want to marry the King but ended up having little choice in the matter
This! ⬆️ Not only was she personally threatened but also blackmailed by threats to Mr. Simpson. From her personal letters, it never really occurred to her until it was too late that she was anything other than simply another one in Edward's revolving door of married mistresses. And, it appeared that the *temporary* affair was utilized to promote Mr. Simpson, his business, and their social standing. She offered, on several occasions, to end the affair in the best interests of the country and the monarchy but Edward VIII would have none of it. Since Edward was not the sharpest crayon in the box, I think he really believed he could marry her and have her crowned queen consort. And, he was shocked that he had to choose between the crown and Wallis. I also think that he believed that he would be able to return to England and party at Fort Belvedere as he had prior to his abdication. And it was a very sore point with him.
No, he didn't want to be King but she wanted to be queen, so she played him up with the assumption that his family would accept her. Well, that wasn't going to happen and Edward refused to let her go. He pulled a fast one on her and she got just what she deserved!😒
Wallis was the mother figure he desperately craved as his own mother was so cold and distant (to all her children).
So very true THANK YOU for your intelligent comment! Even Princess Margaret said Queen Mary was cold! There is a documentary called, "The lost Prince" about Mary and George's youngest son and how he was treated, it is on RUclips! Patricia Gambino Harrington
So, he married a woman who didn't love love him and despised him, but married him because she had rolled the dice and it came up snake-eyes? Okay. Edward just drawing the short straw, eh?
@@katemaloney4296 she did LOVE him, his mother didn't love any of her children! I know someone who knew both the Duke and Duchess personally and also met her uncle's grandson! If people would read the truth about her and also the letters that they wrote to each other instead of the BS the current Royal family want you to believe people might learn something!!!! Patricia Gambino Hawl
@@frankharrington4881 - Little Prince John was “hidden” away, but very well cared for. He was raised by his nannies and nurses. As cold and cruel as that may sound, all royal children from that era were raised that way. They were “presented” to their parents two/three times daily, for interaction. Queen Mary loved John, but the attitude of the day dictated how he was treated. The royals could not allow the Monarchy to be tainted with a seriously ill prince. Queen Mary was conservative with her own emotions due to her upbringing. The Victorian era was extremely restrictive, especially for women…….,even though behind closed doors things were very different, including Queen Victoria herself……..very liberal in her boudoir.
Sounds like Charles and Camilla. He once described his mother as cold not affectionate and Camilla provided all of that for him.
I do believe Wallis was a bit of a scapegoat. Wallis was used as an excuse to get rid of him when they couldn't say out loud that they thought he would be a terrible king (and he was). Wallis wanted to leave, though. She saw what a huge mess their relationship was making and tried to leave but Edward guilted her into staying by saying he'd kill himself if she left and Wallis began to resent him for that.
Poor Edward and Wallis- now we have tampons and Cowmilla 😢
Don’t be so crude.
@@Scorpio72350 I think crude is probably all this one knows. Ignore.
The British people should put up a statue to thank Wallis for saving them from Edward. He’d have been a terrible king. Thank god Harrible came second in line. Can you imagine him and MeMe on the throne? The monarchy would collapse.
Harrible...that's good!
The monarchy NEEDS to collapse! What a sham.
The similarities are chilling. My mother saw them when they visited New Orleans. Scary looking lady but incredible jewelry.
I'm a dumb American, I don't get Harrible? Help please
@@lorildiamond4987 instead of horrible.
A brief overview of their relationship. I found the comments made by the woman, Anna Pasternack, to be naive and slavish in her admiration of Wallis Her pretended 'love' for Edward, (she was indulging in affairs throughout their lives, , before and after marriage). In their later years when he was ailing, she gave up all pretense at love, indeed, showed no compassion whatever, he was no longer of any use to her, he was forever asking for her, it was pathetic. He was known to have stated on more than one occasion that if the Nazis would bomb the hell out of London maybe the British would come to terms with Germany and he could return to his position as King (under the watchful eyea of the Nazis). I believe that those words were put into his head by Wallis, she had no great admiration for him, thought him weak and pursued from the outset her ambition to be queen of England.. her ultimate status symbol. Anyone wanting to know more should read 'The Traitor King'.
What an interesting documentary. There have been a number of theories over the years - that Wallis was caught in her own game and could't back out of the relationship when it came to the crunch or that she deliberately schemed her way into the heart of Edward but wasn't able to fulfil her plan when he abdicated. This documentary now posits a third theory - that Wallis was used as a convenient disposal mechanism for a king most saw as unfit to rule. Either which way, and whether she did truly love him or not, I believe they must have led a hollow and unfulfilled life with no real purpose in life and isolated from any family. But it appears much of this was brought on by Edward himself.
Hmm. The construct of Wallis as the mechanism to get rid of David as king, definitely has been put forward many times. Especially with the evidence of the smear campaign against Wallis being made public.
The Idle Rich. They were miserable.
wallis was not kind nor loyal. she was unfaithful to her husband and when married to Edward, it is well documented that she was very uncaring, condescending and cruel towards him.
Actually not true at all. This is a quotation from a letter wrote she wrote to Edward on October 29th 1955 while in New York:
“Darling darling one,
I do miss you so much and have had a most difficult time… Please do not sleep in your bedroom at the Mill. It is the perfect fire trap - you could never get down the stairs. You must sleep in my room. I never thought of this before and have had night nerves over it…Papers not bad but always something to hurt a girl.. Darling this is a mixed up letter but it has been an awful week.… Miss you miss you love again, WALLIS”
If she DIDN’T care for him she wouldn’t have cared if he would have died in a fire.
@@Line-hz9zhNow I don't know what to believe! They were probably a normal couple, but people always want to believe the worst.
Not true! Please stop spreading misinformation on Wallis
She was unfaithful to her first husband too.
Queen Elizabeth’s grandfather, King George the 5th, was a “diligent, dutiful king”. I especially applaud how love of country and service to that country is ingrained in monarchies. Much respect. “Heavy is the crown” and all that.
He cared more about his stamp collection than his children! A shining role model.
Some amazing new footage - in colour! - which I hadn’t seen before.
I noticed as well, but can't help but wonder if some of the films were colourised.
This an antiquated assessment of the Windsor’s ,we now know so much more of the dark back story. Ms. Simpson was a very conflicted woman,caught up in an intrigue beyond her ability to comprehend. We should thank her for providing us with what would be the King’s reason for addiction.
Conflicted? Oh please. She was out to grab everything she could by any means that she could find. But, as the greedy often find, it can go wrong. She was despicable.
Mrs Simpson's first name was spelled "Wallis".
If this never happened we would not have had the late Queen Elizabeth.
If he was king, the monarchy would be history. There would be no QEII or King Charles.
Or Charles and Camilla. Or Andrew.
I read somewhere that Wallis was willing to be his mistress so he could stay as king. Interesting to think that might have happened, we might not have been graced with Her Majesty, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
She still would have been Queen but it would take twenty years more for that to happen. She would have been Queen for 50 years instead of 70 years.
Something had to be done. Not by him though, he was off into luxurious exile with Mrs S
@@mattieb7348 that's true.
Elizabeth would have been Queen, as Edward and Wallis had no children. She would have ascended after Edward’s death.
@@anneinohio8232wallis simpson has been once pregnant by one of her former partners and had a planned abortion, so she could not be pregnant again.
I always found their relationship dynamic to resemble that of a car crash...painful, yet you just couldn't look away. And yes, this biography is waaaay too romanticized in light of what we know about them now.
And I'm sorry, but why Ms. Paternal was lit from behind for her interviews is beyond me...looks like she forgot to comb her hair.
Like slowing down to see the body half through the windshield.
Wallace details in her letters to her husband, Earnest, that to her, it was a bit of fun that got very out of hand, swallowed up by circumstance, scandal and a weak, spoilt man that was obsessed with her. She wanted out, but there was no going back. She really loved Earnest but realised it too late. Edward & Wallace had a very dull life post abdication; lots of partying & affairs to hide empty lives. She was naive, but at least did maintain a public dignity following it all and lived with her lot
there are a lot of things to call Wallis, none of them would be 'naive'.
In my (American) opinion…Edward’s abdication gave England King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II, so things worked out well. The success, or lack thereof, of the marriage between Edward & Wallis, is and was their own personal business.
Don't do the crime if you can't do time, Edward and Wallis.
What also occurred was Edward VIII also spent what the king should have had for the coronation. King George VI also had to borrow monies to give to Edward VIII for his support and to pay for the coronation. 😮
It's great that he abdicated and gave the crown to his brother. This woman saved the English people from disaster. If he became king, today the nation would speak German. He would end like Mussolini.
The lady historian sees Mrs. Simpson as a personal hero and seems blind to anything that speaks otherwise.
Why does this historian FAIL to brush her hair before being filmed in a documentary. She looks like she just entertained the fleet.
The music plays the whole way through almost louder than the historians telling us how marvelous Wallis was and how misunderstood.....I am not so sure, especially in view of the personal letters that have come to light between Wallis and Ernest and the fact that Edward told Hitler to blitz London killing 40,000 of his previous subjects.
She is Anna Pasternak who wrote the soppy gloppy book Princess in Love about Diana and Hewitt based on Hewitt's letters from Diana and his story. She is related to Boris Pasternak who wrote Dr. Zhivago but is not quite his equal in writing talent. Very well spoken though.
They are definitely “white washing” this historical event. You are right. They were Nazi sympathizers. King Edward lived his life angry about how the royal family treated her. Bares an awful lot of similarities to Prince Harry. History repeating itself 😮
When asked about his life and he said he had no regrets, you have to think what else could he have said, anything to the contrary really would have confirmed they had led a useless life without purpose or accomplishment. The entitlement he still felt to keeping things like the HRH title for his wife is not surprising as he had lived a life of being almost worshipped as the future King, he wanted the biggest slice of cake with icing and to eat all of it. Denying her the full title was the price he paid along with never being allowed to live in England again and I think it was deserved after all he chose to abdicate.
The male narrator/scholar (with the beard) is excellent. Articulate, insightful, unsentimental.
The world has improved so much. Thank God!!!
You think?
No matter what, at that time a twice divorced foreigner with a checkered past simply could not become the Queen of England. The end of the story.
Wallis might have been a good excuse for the establishment to dump him, but I don’t think the guy ever wanted to be King in the first place. So she was HIS excuse.
He hated all the ceremonial duties required of the office, and his entire history was based on partying and screwing around.
The lady commentator should read two books: TRATOR KING, by Andrew Lownie, and ,THE KING HOW HAD TO GO, by Adrian Phillips. The Duke and Dutches of Windsor are presented with extensive documentation. The contrast is striking, polar opposites from the lady’s point of view.
Your historians are remarkably kind to Edward and Wallis. They (Wallis and Edward) were more than just sympathetic to the fascists. There’s a lot of evidence for the “conspiracies “ regarding Edward providing aid and comfort to the enemy.
Moreover, these tragic lovers visited Dachau, implicitly endorsed the jailing of political enemies, jews, and the disabled. They were extraordinarily antisemitic. Neither expressed remorse for any of this after the war.
This documentary has two historians who don’t cover the continued communication between Edward and the Nazis beyond mislabeling it as “conspiracies”
What qualities are there to celebrate?
Who cares what you think you know
There’s also a lot of evidence of the total opposite. So there’s more accurate to believe that the real truth is somewhere in between. I can’t understand the hate people have towards this couple. They weren’t evil or bad people. Read their letters and you can find that out for yourself. The book “Wallis and Edward, letters 1931-1937: the intimate correspondence between the Duke and Duchess of Windsor” edited by Michael Bloch for instance
@@sonyaskogstad3849
Oh so sorry but this is fact. Do some research of your own.
The female historian is dreadful and spouts absolute nonsense. Edward viii has been exposed with more recent cast iron evidence that he was a traitor. No ifs no buts
They didn't visit Dachau.
Wow, great film clips!
First time l've seen Queen Mary in a shorter dress
I noticed that too! I was a little shocked!
this is the best thing I've seen on this topic. they could not be unambiguous figures, but they were so often turned into caricatures. your film gave me real pleasure. thank you.
This is one of the best documentaries I have seen in a long time. As a graduate student years ago, I studied Wallis. Back then in 1998, her letters had not been documented as such then. SO, it was a lot of books, micro-phish (), and old Time and Life magazine articles, that said very little. I am torn with my feelings on all of this, as they were reported even then to have supported Adolf Hitler. (not a fan of this.) Yet so much has been said, and she is thought of as being unfeeling, cold, and mean spirited to him. Years ago, I met one of Mr. Sydney's nieces in Kentucky one summer. (Mrs. Abercrombie). We sat down and had dinner and spoke at length about her uncle having worked for the Duke and Wallis. Yaw, she told me the direct opposite of what has been said about her. Mr. Sydney's niece said, they were devoted to each other. Sydney was with them for a lot of years, and always spoke of how well Wallis ran a household, and further, how much they cared for each other. When I read some of your comments, truly, I feel blessed to learn more and read more about this subject. What I do know for sure is she was a complicated woman, that got entangled in something, she did not know how to set free. May they all Rest In Peace !!
Thank you for that post! I read Greg Kings biography about Wallis and it painted her in a so much better light than all others! When the King and Queen of England were pretending to be suffering during WWII, Wallis and Edward were in the Bahamas and Wallis helped a native nurse run many clinics for babies! She got very hands on washing, feeding, changing diapers and rocking the babies herself! When she found the nurse was taking public transportation to other nursing jobs Wallis out of her pocket bought the women a car! She worked at a canteen cooking eggs for service men! But the royals did not want that told! I worked at a jewelry store in Asheville NC my hometown and the man, Walter that trained me to be a cert gemologist appraiser worker for yrs in Miami and met the Duke and Duchess. He said the Duke always wanted to buy Wallis jewelry and her answer, "darling I have enough!" However she would return by herself and buy the Duke tie clasp or cufflinks and always had them engraved, to my darling David from your ever loving Wallis! Walter told her she was always dressed so nice her answer, "Mr. Demorsky I am not a beautiful woman I am nothing to look at and he gave up everything for me if I can dress nice and make him proud that is the least I can do!" The Duke and Duchess also loved to buy Christmas presents for all their staff and the staff's children she personally wrapped the gifts herself and played with the children! If you haven't read the before mentioned biography please do so! Sorry didn't mean to write so long of a post! Patricia Gambino Harrington(sorry for the different names on this, but I post on my hubby Frank's acct)
Actually it is true that they were both Nazi sympathizers. On his end because of German family ties and on her end relationships with Nazi’s including Ribbentrop. The book “Traitor King”, published in 2022 is well researched and follows with evidence of those relationships. She is not a victim and she got herself into that mess. Further given those letters and documentation she treated him horribly to the end of his life. Edward was weak and had no ruling ability.
@@kimclarke5018 according to his nurse Oonagh Shanley stated she was very tender and loving until his last breath! There were members of the aristocracy and British Royal family that were Nazi sympathizers! And Wallis did NOT have an affair with any Nazi! Some more rumors started by people like Jack Aird and others who did not like the Windsors! But Karma is definitely a witch look What the current Royal family is dealing with!!!! Patricia Gambino Harrington
@@kimclarke5018 Yes he was weak, and I am sure he talked himself out of having any regret. There is an interview with them and he spoke very assuredly he had no regret. Um, um, I am not sure how this was possible. I do know, money became a factor for both of them for some reason. Also, as she aged and required more help she unable to secure funds for the things she thought she needed. My brother played polo down in Palm Beach and there was a lady there, that Wallis would get money from. My brother who is 16 years older than me, (50 me)used to always tell us how she had fanciful tales about Wallis. Further, her home fell into some disrepair. When Dodi (Diana's boyfriend father) purchased it, he said it was in terrible condition. This all just seems to be a somewhat cautionary tale of love... just sad on many levels.
Thanks for writing the truth ❤ I would’ve loved to be with you and talk about it 😊
One only have to read the letters Wallis and Edward wrote to each other, or letters Wallis wrote to her aunt Bessie and other friends, to get proofs that WE loved each other. No author or historian can NEVER take away the facts which these letters show no matter how hard they try to
Did that lady call Wallis loyal? After that, it was hard to take her seriously.
Wow, talk about rewriting history on so many levels. It certainly adds an interesting layer in regards to present connections with an American women. For 90 odd years it has been known how disappointed the people were by his choice in stepping down. Wallis only threat had been only that she was a foreign, American woman.These narrators are all royal approved cronies. Willis didn't want to marry him. He stepped down without her whole understanding which forced her into marriage. Imagine if she didn't despite what Edward did.
🇬🇧 My Great Aunt was cook to Wallis Simpson when she stayed at the Beach House Felixstowe awaiting her divorce . Also my birth Mother's second husband, Gordon Rogers, ( of the Rogers Brothers Felixstowe ) , bought Harvest House Hotel, Felixstowe, this is where Wallis and Edward 8th spent some time.
Interesting documentary except for the absolute drivel emanating from Ms. Pasternak.
Wallis was not mischaracterized. She was a married woman who decided that being the mistress of the crown prince was good for her ambition. And if her ambition was ended in one spot, she helped in another (Nazi Germany). And I don't see how noble it was to forgo your responsibilities when you are past college age. It's disgusting. I haven't found them to be a sympathetic couple since I grew up. He was immature and she was ruthless. I don't think she was as grasping or as narcissistic as Megan Markle but definitely as ambitious. She just had class where Megan doesn't and doesn't know it due to growing up in Hollywood.
Stop hate on Meghan - Wallis was ugly and a racist - Meghan is beautiful and classy. She'add beauty to that family..The only reason you don't like Meghan because she had one drop of African Blood.. That family needs that one drop- She is Original (Royals African bloodlines)..Her Bloodline is oldest then European....😊.God pick Maghan for Prince Harry..Harry love Maghan, she is in the family for a reason.. GOD NOT DEAD HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING....
@@AliceArceneaux 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Megan NEVER thought of herself as black so why should anyone else? To say that she is somehow above criticism because she has a certain type of DNA is actually the mindset of the Nazis. She has EARNED every criticism laid before her. And God isn’t always behind marriages. Lots of times, God doesn’t come into it. And that’s why it doesn’t last. And believing that people don’t like Megan because she is black is immature and narcissist. Megan has behaved very badly. End of story.
@@AliceArceneauxAmericans can’t stand Meghan Markle because she is a proven liar. Americans can’t stand Harry because he is an self-entitled elitist spoiled brat. Most Americans can’t afford Netflix, let alone a fifteen room California mansion. Nazi uniform wearing anti-Constitutionalists and no name actresses don’t deserve your admiration.
@@AliceArceneauxwhy do you always bring it down to race ? Megs passed herself off as white her whole life. If the RF were racist why did they give her a huge wedding and the king walked her down the aisle and accompanied her mother. She isn't up to being a royal she lacks the qualities required, duty, integrity, honour and self sacrifice.
Stop with the race card. She has always played "White."@@AliceArceneaux
And we now know from her letters she didn't want to marry him!
Wasn't it "little " man she called him
Yes all his lovers called him little man
He was a little and meek man. He was considered very annoying after getting to know him in the least. But because he was PoW he was invited to the glamorous parties.
What letters are you specifically referring to?? You should read more books about the subject. For instance the private letters exchanged between Wallis and Edward, that is the real truth in their own words.
May 4th 1936 Wallis writes to her aunt Bessie: “It would be extremely difficult to go back to life in Bryanston Court as it was before. In other words I’ve outgrown it and Ernest. So that, should I say I will give up the King tomorrow, I still could not make Ernest happy, as I would be discontented and always regretting having given him up and wondering what would have happened if I hadn’t… I am very sorry for Ernest and have tried to make things as easy as possible, and of course being a strong and noble character and a wonderful friend to me he will find his feet again and I feel that he should have the chance to find happiness again - especially when I know I can only make him unhappy by remaining 2 miserable people”.
November 30 1936 Wallis writes to her friend Sibyl Colefax: “I am planning quite by myself to go away for a while…. After a while my name will be forgotten by the people and only two people will suffer instead of a mass of people who aren’t interested anyway in individual feelings but only the workings of a system.”
December 12th 1936 (the day after the abdication) Wallis writes to Edward:
“Darling, My heart is so full of love for you and the agony of not being able to see you after all you have been through is pathetic. At the moment we have the whole world against us and our love… If we could have been together during the waiting it would have been so much easier. I long for you so… “
December 14th 1936 Wallis to Edward: “Darling, It is practically the last straw the intervention. I didn’t think the world could put more on two people whose only sin is to love”
December 18th 1936: “That England could have turned on the Prince of Wales has been a cruel blow to my faith in mankind. However we will find a new strong life built on our lonely love which has stood a test to prove its greatness. The anguish and loneliness of these months will be terrifying but we must take it and use our last remaining strength to endure it. I love you my own dear David. WALLIS”
“Sunday the 28th [February] 1937
Lou Viei Wallis to Edward: “I want to see you so much my sweetheart some days I feel I can’t go on alone.”
Wallis writes to her aunt Bessie 5 June 1944, Nassau Bahamas: “We had a nice party here to celebrate our seven years of bliss - just think 5 of which have been war years and 4 in the Bahamas - not as planned!…”
Thursday [7 February 1952] Wallis to Edward: My own darling one.. I hate, hate having you go away alone - but you are not really alone because I am so much a part of you… Darling I shall miss you each second and you know that I love you more than anything in the world for always my dearest darling David.”
March 22nd 1953, Wallis to Edward: “I will be so happy to have you back again. A big hug and a bigger kiss from me.”
November 27th 1955: “Never will I be away from you for so long again. Can’t wait for Friday - we sail at 12 noon... I love you more & more.. Your WALLIS”.
@@Line-hz9zh try reading the letters she sent to Ernest
@@PFOZ-nf7xp I’ve read them. They’re in the book “that woman” by Anne Sebba. The letters Wallis sent to Ernest just show two things. First, one have to have in mind that Wallis had fled to France after the abdication crisis and was close to a nervous breakdown. Her life was threatened and she was the most hated woman in the world and in this state of mind she merely wrote to Ernest as a friend that she missed the simplicity of life as it used to be. Second, Ernest was a friend and some even says Wallis regarded him as a brother. One also have to have in mind that during this time she also wrote letters to her aunt Bessie and to her husband-to-be, Edward, and those letters are letters of love and affection. And it’s funny, there’s hardly none of the letters in that book by Anne Sebba exchanged between Wallis and Edward. No author can never make that private correspondence between WE irrelevant. The few letters Wallis sent to Ernest ceased to exists after 1-2 years but the letters to Edward continued thru their marriage and the last public one is dated in 1955 ending with “Never will I be away from you for so long again. Can’t wait for Friday - we sail at 12 noon... I love you more & more.. Your WALLIS”.
But if you have some letters from Wallis to Ernest where she writes that she loves him and wants him back, please show them to me 😊
Edward and Wallis were two of the most despicable jerks in UK history. In the recent show, "My Grandparent's War," actor Kit Harrington recounts how his grandfather, who was a part of the English security services and an attorney, was a "minder" of Wallis and Edward once they were banished to the Bahamas. Harrington's grandfather, from first-hand experience, found the disgraced king and his wife to be truly awful people.
Where is my grandfather's war? I can't quite place it
@@lorildiamond4987 I believe they originated in the UK, but they're showing on PBS
Up until Harry and Meghan
@@lisaseatle4965 While that’s funny, Harry and Meghan don’t come close. First off, Edward was THE KING! He threw away the top job over a divorced hag. Harry’s chances of becoming king would require a significant tragedy. Secondly, Edward and Wallis were Nazi sympathizers. I’m not aware that Harry and Meghan are running off and palling around with the likes of Vlad Putin or Kim Jong Un. Harry is similar to Edward in that he seems rather naive and foolish, although Harry seems to have a bit more depth of character than Edward. Meghan certainly holds similarities to Wallis. She seems an entitled status climber.
@@lisaseatle4965CHARLES AND CAMMILLA 😅😅
Oddly enough, to me, it seems like he really never expected to happen what happened. He expected he could resign and still call the shots. The fact that a tippy toed around the nazis is a prime example of that.
That one child who needed more of a mother's love.
oh boo hoo
This is inevitable when you choose a man for no other reason than because he is his father’s son.
Correct me if I'm wrong ok. My understanding is that Wallis was extremely power hungry, and her heart was with a low ranking soildier of sorts. Obviously she turfed her soilder boy for a man that could fill her grandiose narcicistism. Edward was a man that wanted his cake, eat it too, with his evil little cherry right on top.
Going to used bookstores and finding books written at the times of events, I noticed an assumption made during his Grandfathers reign, Edward 7th. David became upset with any mention of his becoming King someday "Don't call me that!" It was assumed that his love for his Grandfather was the reason. Considering what was to come, I have to wonder if using "love" as an excuse is a means of controlling criticism while getting out of a job he never wanted. One of his best friends wrote that he only cared about being King if it was something SHE wanted. She fled and tried to stop him from quitting but he said he follow her wherever she went. Imagine how trapped she became if he was using her for his exit excuse and refused to marry him. If she was hated for his abdication, what kind of hate would be directed at her then?. Makes me wonder, that's all.
Art Buchwald, the columnist, was living in Paris in the 1950s. In his book, "We'll Always Have Paris," he recounts attending a party where the Windsors were present. Anything German was not popular at that time. Art recounts that the duke sat a piano and began singing German songs until Wallis distracted him. Art wrote, "The British government should have given her a medal for getting that idiot off the throne."
There seems to be A LOT of rewriting history in this. Never saw anything anywhere about Wallis being this wonderful hard-working Woman. That said, Wallace Simpson does deserve a statue in London because she saved England from the horrors of having this insipid man as king. God knows what would've happened during World War II with him on the throne and his Nazi proclivities.
"She was loyal"?!! Hilarious statement!
She was.
Cheated on two husbands, waited until Thelma Furness was back in America for an extended time to jump into bed with Edward, yeah, so very, very loyal.
Very interesting doccie and lovely cello-centric soundtrack.
How could they give her HRH if she had divorced him as she had done twice before it would have been hard at that time to remove it
Wallis wasn't any better than her Royal sisters in law.
Camillia got HRH. She was a divorcee.
Meghan was a divorcee.
They are are styled HRH.
Other documentaries have expressed that Churchill did not sympathize with this couple at all... I'm not sure about the opinions of these experts 🙄
Wallis wrote to her ex husband Simpson when it became clear that abdication was the only course open to the King, that she regretted it all and that Simpson was her only true love. In other words that she really believed she would be Queen and when that did not happen, she wanted out, but simply could not because the ex King threatened suicide if she left him. He was weak, and she was a gold digger who thought she would get the ultimate prize, but didn't. She also thought that the Nazi plan to put Edward and herself onto the British throne would get her what she wanted, but that never came about either. For those two to mix with Nazis, giving the Nazi salute was just diabolical and self destructive. They deserved their miserable lives.
Edward and Wallis accepted the friendship of Hitler but that was before anyone was aware of what his real intentions and motives were. The fact is that Hitler used many European Aristocrats and intended to set up Nazi headquarters in their lofty mansions and Residences, and to steal their artifacts when he assumed he would take over and reign Supreme in the Third Reich.
This is also depicted in the movie, Remains of the Day. Some aristocrats were flattered by the German high commanders and their attention and seemingly friendly desire to want their companionship.
People did not know Hitler wanted to irradicate certain ethnicities of people until he started doing it after the war began in 1940. Even the German citizens did not know what Hitler was doing.
Quite delusional.
Winds of war were on the rise as early as '36. Jews were being persecuted as early as '36. To think otherwise is not just naive, but as we know now, extremely dangerous!
Edward knew exactly what Hitler was all about, he had been briefed by his govt before abdication what was going on, Germany re-arming, the Jews being targeted, he knew.