This Day in History: 3 June 2020
3 June 1937
83 years ago, today, the Duke of Windsor, formerly known as King Edward VIII, married Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee. The year prior, he had abdicated the British throne in order to marry her. Before this took place, Wallis had finalised her divorce, and had her surname legally changed. The two married at the Chateau de Cande in France's Loire Valley, with the ceremony conducted by a clergyman, witnessed by only around 16 guests. After the marriage, Wallis acquired the title of the Duchess of Windsor, but King George VI, under pressure from his ministers, denied her the title of 'royal highness', that was enjoyed by her husband.
Edward and Wallis had met and fell in love in 1934, despite Wallis' marriage to Ernest Simpson, an English-American businessman. Before this, Wallis had also been married and divorced to a US Navy pilot. The royal family disapproved of Edward's married mistress, but 2 years later, he had his heart set on marrying her. To the Church of England and many British politicians, to marry an American woman twice divorced was unacceptable. Before this could be discussed, however, Edward's father, George V, died, leading Edward to be proclaimed as King. Still, he proposed a morganatic marriage, where Wallis would be granted no rights of rank or property, but Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin rejected this. With no resolution possible, the king renounced the throne on December 10. Throughout their marriage, they lived mainly in Paris, where Edward would die, but the couple nevertheless were buried together, after their deaths, at Frogmore, on the grounds of Windsor Castle.
Want to find out more about the truth of the marriage between the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson? Click here for more information.
No comments:
Post a Comment