Wallis Simpson

Wallis Simpson as a six-month-old child in the arms of her mother, Alice Montague Warfield

A ten-year-old Wallis Simpson as a schoolgirl with long hair and a hat on

Spencers

Wallis Simpson and Prince 1935

King Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson on holiday in Yugoslavia, 1936

Herman Rogers; Katherine Rogers; Wallis, Duchess of Windsor; Peregrine Francis Adelbert Cust, 6th Baron Brownlow

Wallis Simpson (born Bessie Wallis Warfield; June 19, 1896 – April 24, 1986) was an American socialite who became the wife of Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor, formerly King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom. Her marriage to Edward, who abdicated the throne to marry her, caused a crisis in the British monarchy. Wallis Simpson was born in Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania, and was married twice before her marriage to Edward. Her relationship with Edward began while she was still married to her second husband, Ernest Simpson. This relationship led to Edward's abdication in December 1936, an event that shocked the world and altered the course of British royal history.

Early Life

Wallis was born to Teackle Wallis Warfield and Alice Montague in a boardinghouse in Pennsylvania, due to the early death of her father, she grew up in a financially strained household but was introduced to high society through her uncle, Solomon Davies Warfield. Despite her modest upbringing, Wallis was educated at the most prestigious schools, including Oldfields School, where she developed a taste for luxury and high society.

Marriages

Wallis's first marriage was to U.S. naval officer Earl Winfield Spencer Jr. in 1916, but the marriage was troubled and ended in divorce in 1927. She then married British-American businessman Ernest Simpson in 1928, which brought her into the British social circle where she met Prince Edward.

Relationship with Edward VIII

Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII met in 1931, and their relationship became public knowledge by 1934. Edward was deeply in love with Wallis, and his desire to marry her led to a constitutional crisis. As King, Edward was the head of the Church of England, which at the time did not permit the remarriage of divorced people if their former spouses were still alive. Wallis's two living ex-husbands made her marriage to Edward impossible in the eyes of the church and the government.

Abdication

In December 1936, Edward made the decision to abdicate the throne in favor of marrying Wallis, stating that he could not carry out his duties as king "without the help and support of the woman I love." The abdication was a scandal of unprecedented scale, leading to Wallis being vilified by the press and public. Following the abdication, Edward was created Duke of Windsor by his brother and successor, King George VI.

Later Life

After marrying in June 1937, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor lived in France and were largely ostracized by the British royal family. During World War II, they were suspected of harboring pro-Nazi sympathies, which further alienated them from the British public and royal family. After the war, they lived a life of relative obscurity, with occasional public appearances and no official roles within the royal family. Wallis Simpson died in 1986 and was buried next to Edward at the Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore.

Legacy

Wallis Simpson remains a controversial figure in British history. Her life and marriage to Edward VIII are often cited as examples of the clash between personal happiness and public duty. Her story has been the subject of numerous books, films, and television series, reflecting the enduring fascination with her life and the abdication crisis.