Summary
19 August 2011
Wallis Simpson, the woman whom Edward VIII abdicated the throne for, may still have been in love with her husband, Ernest Simpson. Previously unseen letters from Wallis to Ernest suggest she felt lonely and wasn’t keen on marrying the British royal.
Reporter:
Farhana Haider
Edward and Mrs Simpson lived in exile in France
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The popular image is that of a rather cold, scheming woman who wormed her way into the affections of Britain's future king. But previously unseen letters suggest that Wallis Simpson was an insecure woman who felt trapped by her relationship with Edward. The letters have been uncovered by Anne Sebba. She says they show that Wallis Simpson might still have been in love with her second husband Ernest Simpson.
Additional extracts reveal the extent of Mrs Simpson's continued love for her former husband, even writing to him while on her honeymoon with Edward. Anne Sebba says that as an American, Mrs Simpson loved the access to the highest levels of English society, to be showered with expensive jewellery, to be the mistress of the future king. But she expected the eventual fate of most mistresses, which is to be dumped.
But he didn't dump her, causing the biggest constitutional crisis for centuries. Despite the widespread criticism of his relationship with the American divorcee, Edward VIII renounced his throne in December 1936. Edward and Mrs Simpson married in June 1937 following her divorce from Ernest.
Farhana Haider, ´óÏó´«Ã½ News
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Vocabulary
- scheming
given to deceiving others
- wormed her way into
seduced
- insecure
lacking self-confidence
- felt trapped
felt unable to avoid or escape fate
- uncovered
revealed
- to be showered with
to receive many
- to be dumped
to be abandoned
- constitutional crisis
The marriage was opposed by the king's government in the United Kingdom on religious, legal, political, and moral grounds. Mrs Simpson was perceived as an unsuitable consort because of her two failed marriages.
- widespread criticism
opposition from different quarters
- renounced
gave up
