End of a Love Story

Life Magazine [GREAT PHOTOS] ^ | 1972

[T.L.Sink]

Maybe it's nostalgia. Maybe it's just maudlin sentimentality. But in this coarse age of cynicism and skepticism about nearly everything perhaps it's good to recall an event that (hard to believe today!) was a true love story. That was when the uncrowned king, Edward VIII, abdicated the throne of England for a divorced (taboo in the Church of England) American commener named Wallis Warfield Simpson. Edward abdicated and became the Duke of Windsor and Governor of Bermuda. He and Wallis travelled the world together. But wherever they went with their mountains of luggage they always conveyed the sense that they were really in love. His brother, George VI, became king and his daughter - Elizabeth - is now queen. By the way, this is the story of a new film. When Edward died in 1972, Wallis was with him and called to her "David" (his non-regal name) to see how was was coping with his final illness. When he died at the age of 77, something else died in the public psyche. But only for the moment because what this love story embodied was something eternal. RIP

[T.L.Sink]

“Love makes all things new again.” - St. Paul

[Ladycalif]

He was a nazi.

[Tupelo]

“He was a nazi”
Maybe not a card carrying Nazi, but he sure did admire Hitler. and Wallis (a real slut from what I have read) was an even stronger Nazi sympathizer.

[Cincinna]

Read an actual biography of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor befor you go all gooey and sentimental.

Edward VIII did not abdicate to marry Wallis. He could have easily had a Morgantic marriage and retained the throne. Churchill persuaded the government to force his abdication because Esward and Wallis were Nazi sympathizers. Pictures show them posing with Hitler, whom they greatly admired.

Indeed, when WWII broke out , Churchill had them sent to the Bahamas, out of contact with Hitler. History later revealed that Esward and Wallis had entered into an agreement with Hitler. They would support him in the war against his own country, Britain, & when the Nazis won the war, they would restore Edward to the throne.

It was hardly a love match. Both were of rather ambiguous sexuality, & it is believed the marriage was never consummated.

So called romantic stories about Nazis are anything but.

[PGalt]

Quite a story and quite an issue. Lots of nostalgia in that magazine. Thanks for posting.

[rlmorel]

Interesting link. When Life went under and closed its doors, all those lefties who worked there (and I will bet that 95% of them were indeed lefties) went to Time, Newsweak and so on.

I read through a few issues, they were completely infatuated with liberal politicians and liberal viewpoints.

The passage of time sure does make me see that much more clearly.

[Redbob]

Well there you go: truth rears its ugly head and banishes maudlin sentimentality!

And here *I* was going to characterize Edward and Wallis’ story as a simple triumph of horniness over common sense!

[LibFreeOrDie]

LIFE left out one photo...

From http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2701965.stm

Following Edward's accession, the German embassy in London sent a cable for the personal attention of Hitler himself. In part, it read: "An alliance between Germany and Britain is for him (the King) an urgent necessity."

Alan Lascelles, Edward's private secretary, gave his own harsh judgment of the situation. "The best thing that could happen to him would be for him to break his neck."

In October 1937, Edward and his wife - by now the Duke and Duchess of Windsor - visited Nazi Germany. They met Hitler, dined with his deputy, Rudolf Hess, and even visited a concentration camp. The camp's guard towers were explained away as meat stores for the inmates.

[Radix]

I cannot help but wonder where those details are rooted.

No matter.....

It is called “His Story” for good reason.

[Cincinna]

Read the real story; it is a page turner. There was a murder, and they absconded with a cheerful of Royal jewels when they left England.

Someone should make a film about it, but tell the true story.

[rlmorel]

I don’t know much about them, to be honest. All I ever really knew of them was the “gooey and sentimental” version, not much else. A man who gave it all up for the woman he loved and such.

Just as the only views I ever heard on Joseph McCarthy were the ones they told me in school and I heard on the news.

I will say, I just saw the movie tonight “The King’s Speech” and it was excellent. They made Edward VIII out like a complete pussy and a jerk, and boy...Wallis was portrayed a a complete horse-face.

Don’t know the truth, but I sure did like George VI a lot better than Edward VIII, in the movie at least. I am not into British royalty enough to go learn more, but...I am well aware of the Nazi sympathizers in England before the war, and am not at all surprised to hear he would have been one of them. Shameful.

[Cincinna]

See photo of the Windsors posing with Hitler himself, posted above.
I have read almost every book ever written on the subject, & they all agree. They were Nazis.

[investigateworld]

They have a funny saying in the UK: “Edward gave up being the Chief of the Royal Navy, to become Third mate on a American tramp”.

[sockmonkey]

They made Edward VIII out like a complete pussy and a jerk, and boy...Wallis was portrayed a a complete horse-face.

I saw "The King's Speech", too, and having grown up on the gooey and sentimaental version of Edward and Wallis, I was quite surprised.

[Prov3456]

Just returned home from watching The King's Speech, the movie about this man's brother, Albert, who became King George VI when David abdicated the throne. It's an excellent movie - tells the story well. First movie I've seen in a long time, and I wouldn't mind if it wins the Oscar. :)

[stevem]

I will say, I just saw the movie tonight “The King’s Speech” and it was excellent. They made Edward VIII out like a complete pussy and a jerk, and boy...Wallis was portrayed a a complete horse-face.

Interesting. My wife and I just saw it tonight as well. It was an excellent movie. I know nothing about Edward in real life. If he was a Nazi sympathizer he was probably worse than the clown he was in the movie.

[Cincinna]

The story it tells is based on lies. The Windsors were Nazis even before he abdicated. Some fine FReeper was kind enough to post the actual photo of the Duke & Duchess posing with their pal,Adolfo Hitler.

[musicman]

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[4FreeSpeach]

There is one recent historical account on the fascinating 2010 podcast “Everything you never learned in history class”, re: Edward, that has some more salubrious details like Edward was impotent and pickled most of the time as well as Herman Goering being a photographer at Edward and Wallis’ wedding. Other factoids are already posted in this thread.