Wallis Simpson

Wallis Simpson
source
Name	Wallis Simpson
Title	Duchess of Windsor
Spouse	Earl Winfield Spencer Jr., Ernest Simpson, Edward VIII
Issue	None
House	House of Windsor
Father	Teackle Wallis Warfield
Mother	Alice Montague Warfield

Wallis Simpson was an American socialite and the wife of Edward VIII, the former King of the United Kingdom, who abdicated the British throne to marry her. Born in Pennsylvania, she was raised in a family of modest means and was educated at Oldfields School in Glencoe, Maryland, where she befriended Mary Kirk, a future Vogue (magazine) editor. She later moved to Baltimore and became a prominent figure in the city's high society, attending events such as the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. Her life was marked by her relationships with prominent men, including Earl Winfield Spencer Jr., a United States Navy officer, and Ernest Simpson, a wealthy businessman with ties to London and the City of London.

Early Life

Wallis Simpson was born on June 19, 1896, in Monroe Hall, a hotel in Pennsylvania, to Teackle Wallis Warfield and Alice Montague Warfield. Her early life was marked by frequent moves, including to Pittsburgh and Baltimore, where she attended Oldfields School and developed friendships with girls from prominent families, such as Maryland's Calvert family. She was particularly close to Mary Kirk, who would later introduce her to New York City's high society, including Vogue (magazine) editor Carmel Snow and The New Yorker founder Harold Ross. Wallis Simpson's family had ties to the South, including Virginia and Kentucky, and she often visited relatives in these states, attending events such as the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

Marriage and Divorce

In 1916, Wallis Simpson married Earl Winfield Spencer Jr., a United States Navy officer, and the couple moved to San Diego, where they became friends with other naval officers, including Chester Nimitz and William Halsey Jr.. However, the marriage was unhappy, and they divorced in 1927. Wallis Simpson then married Ernest Simpson, a wealthy businessman with ties to London and the City of London, and the couple moved to Mayfair, where they became friends with prominent socialites, including Cecil Beaton and Noël Coward. However, this marriage also ended in divorce, in 1937, after Wallis Simpson met Edward VIII, the Prince of Wales, at a party hosted by Lady Furness, an American socialite and the mistress of the prince.

Relationship with Edward VIII

Wallis Simpson's relationship with Edward VIII began in 1934, while she was still married to Ernest Simpson. The couple's romance was widely reported in the press, including The Times and The Daily Telegraph, and caused a scandal due to Wallis Simpson's status as a divorced woman. Edward VIII was the Heir apparent to the British throne, and the British government, including Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin, and the Church of England, led by Archbishop of Canterbury Cosmo Gordon Lang, opposed the marriage. Despite this, Edward VIII decided to abdicate the throne in order to marry Wallis Simpson, citing his desire to marry the woman he loved, as expressed in his famous Abdication Speech, broadcast on BBC Radio.

Duchess of Windsor

After Edward VIII's abdication, he was given the title Duke of Windsor by his brother, the new King George VI, and Wallis Simpson became the Duchess of Windsor. The couple married in a civil ceremony in France in 1937, attended by friends such as Oswald Mosley and Diana Mitford. They lived in Paris and became prominent figures in the city's high society, attending events such as the French Open at Roland-Garros and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, they were also shunned by the British royal family and the British government, and were not allowed to return to the United Kingdom for many years, except for a visit to Scotland in 1967, where they stayed at Balmoral Castle.

Later Life and Death

In the 1950s and 1960s, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor lived a relatively quiet life in Paris, although they still attended high-society events, such as the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix. Wallis Simpson died on April 24, 1986, at the age of 89, at her home in Bois de Boulogne, Paris, surrounded by friends, including Pierre Cardin and Yves Saint Laurent. She was buried alongside her husband, who had died in 1972, at the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore House, Windsor Castle, in a ceremony attended by members of the British royal family, including Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Legacy

Wallis Simpson's legacy is complex and multifaceted, with some viewing her as a romantic figure who inspired Edward VIII to abdicate the throne, while others see her as a manipulative and cunning woman who caused a constitutional crisis. She has been the subject of numerous books, films, and television programs, including The King's Speech, which tells the story of King George VI's accession to the throne, and W.E., a film directed by Madonna that explores the relationship between Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII. Her story has also been referenced in popular culture, including in the works of Noël Coward and Evelyn Waugh, and continues to fascinate people around the world, including in the United States, United Kingdom, and France. Category:American socialites