The Exiled Windsors (2023) - FULL DOCUMENTARY - HD
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- Опубліковано 6 бер 2023
- The year; 1936. Behind the doors of 10 Downing street. Controversy. Suspicion. Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin has a difficult decision to make. The King of England, and of Great Britain, is infatuated with divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson. The King has been showering his mistress with extravagant gifts, a warning to the security services of possible blackmail. Fears grow, too, of his association with fascist sympathisers, and the possibility the king could attempt to overthrow the government to keep his seat of power on the throne. At the very least, would the affair trigger civil unrest and turmoil in an already unstable country. The Prime Minister must make that difficult decision. To spy on the head of state, the monarch, is an extraordinarily controversial and intrusive act, but Baldwin finally gives the order. The British intelligence service began to spy on the King. And so began one of the greatest constitutional crises in centuries… Edward and Wallis - The Exiled Windsors.
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We need to stop romanticizing this story, from all docu's so far, they truly were unfit for the job and we are truly lucky he never became king. Even the love affair from all we hear, most especially her own letters confirm it wasn't a match make in heaven. Fact's are better than fiction in my opinion.
We also need to stop vilifying the story and Wallis and Edward. And we need to stop to repeat rumors and lies. Their marriage wasn’t a fairytale but they shared a deep love and concern for each other (which their letters show and close friends witnessed about). So yes, the real facts are indeed better than fiction and lies/gossip! Documentaries are mostly based on the recent books by Anne Sebba and Andrew Lownie and Andrew Morton so those sources are not reliable.
We also need to realise that old docs like these are surfacing due to the coronation and the ridiculous antics of H&M
Clicks mean £££
None of us know exactly what happens behind the scenes they’re just a family with skeletons in the cupboard like most fortunately we’re not in the public eye being dissected
I’d never leave the house if so 😂
He actually was king.
Agree. I was looking for those bits of information. Sadly they weren’t covered here.
I told someone recently that when it comes to Queen Elizabeth, The UK got extremely lucky. They were so offended. I agree with you completely.
Stop slobbering over these two. The only good thing about their situation is that it spared us their reign and gave us Elizabeth the Great.
Well said
Amen, brother.
Good to see, as the need to remove Henry from the line of succession is similar now.
If the most awful thing happened and Henry was needed to take the role. This would be v much a dangerous situation with Rachel who is he'll bent on destruction of the royal family.
I could easily see civil unrest if Henry was ever in the position to be in any form of power.
I hope he's been written out of the line of succession already.
Just my opinion.
@@Threadbow DON'T WANT TO KNOW YOUR OPINION 🫠
@@cb4883 not opinion, but facts.
If they would stop their campaign against the royals, apologising then perhaps they maybe more liked.
The fact that those two spent time prancing about Germany with Hitler tells us all we need to know.
Yes if nothing else, they weren't too bright.
Declassified documents proved none of the rumors used to smear him or her. He was loyal to his country his entire life.
The thing that is forgotten is that the UK wanted peace with Germany and that the prime minister Chamberlain visited Hitler several times hoping to find peace with Germany.
That tour of Germany wasn't one of Edward's better decisions.
@@CoolChevereChamberlain The Appeaser. "In the name of God GO!"
Wallis was backed into a corner and felt forced into marrying him. Play with fire…..you may get burned. She enjoyed being his mistress, no responsibility, just the fun. It backfired. She was involved with an emotionally repressed party boy with a mother complex. He wanted a lover that would mother him. That can get old really quickly.
Immature , mummy’s boy, gosh I wonder who that reminds you of.
Or, can it?
As they say , “Beware what you wish for , you just may get it “
@@therealhousewifeofballtown - Boy is that the truth!
King Charles married his mistress. The Queen gave her the title as Queen consort.
Remember their last interview a few years before he died. They both gave the impression as being utterly unhappy with each other. What a wasted life.
It was palpable. Even though they tried to hide it. As you get older you need a sense of duty or legacy. All they did was party and travel. You could see the emptiness in their eyes. His especially. Truly sad.
They were not unhappy with each other, but their life was dull in many ways
Et j’ai vu un documentaire documentaire, comme quoi pendant la seconde guerre mondiale, il a tout fait pour décourager les États-Unis de s’engager dans la guerre. Il voulait perdre son pays.
They were two solipsistic people, who really couldn’t care less about duty and responsibility.
Spricht der Rechtschaffene! Diesem muss man misstrauen!
Baldwin and the government were absolutely right in not wanting Edward as king. Edward's subsequent interactions with Hitler proved them right. A reign with Edward as king would have been disaster for England and the world.
Absolutely.
Interesting that no mention is made of the now-commonly-accepted view that Wallis never wanted to marry Edward, but was backed into a corner when he threatened to kill himself if she left him. Her letters to her previous husband appear to confirm how trapped she felt and it's doubtful that she was ever truly happy or fulfilled in her marriage to Edward. A pretty sad story really.
I absolutely agree. Not the love story for the centuries.
She would have been very happy to be Queen. As to her being a Socialite her family had a little money but no great wealth and the only place she had any clout was Baltimore hardly a bastion of high society. Most Americans of her time were ashamed of her being American. She was very very low class.
And it would have only delayed Elizabeth's accession by 25 years or so.
Wallis pursued him and wanted him just as much. It was only when he wanted to abdicate that she tried to back out. She didn't try hard enough. The King, being the head of the church of England, was just not allowed to marry a divorcee. She was an unsuitable married gold digging socialite and not very loyal (to her husband).........
More proof that they were both nutters.
I believe, had Edward VIII not abdicated the throne, he would have ultimately lead the downfall of the British Monarchy. He was truly unfit to be the King.
How? Give ONE plausible thing to back that up. Edward had no power as a monarch. He couldn't just give Hitler Great Britain. The whole abdication crisis PROVES his powerlessness. They wouldn't even let him have his sidepiece. Do you think they would've let him ruin the monarchy? If anything, it might have helped their image since Edward was for the working class and marrying a divorcee might've made him even more relatable.
@@ilovebeinagirl Thank You!
I've just learned that Britain was going to turn a death ear and say they were neutral but it was my favorite hero "Churchill" that said, "we cannot be immune to what is going on around us but we must fight against "Hitler" I just love Churchill since I learned he asked the USA for aids but we kept postponement due to not wanting to be part of the WWII involvements. However, they finally helped out (through the documents that I saw) and helped Britain to gain more ships to help themselves through their battles. I am glad FDR came through and helped out because I was getting disappointed when I learned of this which was in "Darkest Day of Churchill" and it was shown in that last movie that was excellent that helped Churchill after all. Loved it! I wished there was more to that movie back in 2018 or 2019. In fact, the actor that played Churchill got an Oscar for his excellent performance which he gave.
How short-sighted to ignore the fact that the abdication led to the magnificent reign of Elizabeth II. The self-indulgent Windsors proved themselves unfit and unwilling to serve GB. Their lack of heirs would also have damaged the monarchy. Thank God for the wisdom of the stuffed shirts in gray suits!
I’m 66 and I’ve read many clips of the horrible way this woman treated the ex king especially when he was dying. Apparently he kept calling her and she would ignore him, even the attendant nurse would ask her to come sit with him and she refused. He, apparently, died alone. So this narration seems to be glossing over the real story. Someone needs to check this out.
I also learned that the letters she wrote another suitor showed she loved that other man and her relationship with King Edward VIII was not really as strong as she gave the impression causing more problems and just thinking of herself -by giving parties at the expense of Edward. What a horrible woman- sounds familiar with a woman like Meghan Markle. Who's not a good partner to Prince Harry who at one point did try to avoid Meghan by attending a wedding in which he flew to Jamaica, and she flew after him since she was invited too. She actually stayed at that wedding until she came back home together. She was not going to be ignored and made it clear.
There are a lot of misogynous comments here. As if men are too stupid and unable making up their own minds and or get to decisions they would never make without the women at their side. Including the consequences that come with that. I seriously doubt that.
I noticed the woman who keot referring to the "unholy trinity" bent over backwards to paint them as victims, completely blameless of anything.
@@homegown1234 When will that „blame the woman“ ever end? Mister H.Mountbatten-Windsor was 33 years when he married. Hardly someone who was inexperienced and did not already paid with years of his youth for the entertainment of the public. There is no plan B for Royals to retreat somewhere.
Wow. I watched two documentaries on Wallace and Edward. She was a horrible woman. She didn’t love him. She made a fool out of him. Poor guy.😢😢😢
Even apart from the Wallis factor, I find it strange that Edward thought he would abdicate but yet still stay and play a significant role in Great Britain. How exactly was that ever going to work? You can't have a king and an "alternate-king" who used to be the "real king."
I think they said he thought he would only be exiled for a year and then come back. Now I'm not sure what in the world gave him that idea or time frame but he clearly should've went over those stipulations before hand.
@@leeariana11 until they found out how much Edward was aligning with hitler. Search for the documentary, The Nazi King.
Certainly sounds like Hairbrain, eh? And just as stupid.
@Mark Thompson Since the moment he was born, it was drilled into him that he would be king...and that was during the age of devine right and deference. He believed he deserved what he wanted. I think embedding narcissism into royals (including abdicators) is a real problem. I think Queen Elizabeth's groundedness and character was rare indeed.
It certainly shows how self-centered he was.
Edward didn’t want the hardship of being the King, just privileges that comes with it. You can’t have it both ways!
Sounds like Harry!
@eileengreaney8559 - sounds like Prince Andrew too. It runs in the family.
Hint to Megan Markle and Prince Harry!
He'd rather betrayed his country and his duty, for an American thing. Sounds like a certain recent royal that needs exiling.
As the Late Queen said you can not be half in and half out. I think Harry got the lazy genes from David and the love of status over Duty. Wants all the bells and whistles car sirens blaring.
His abdication was a well instigated gift to England and the world facing WW2. Thank you Mr. Baldwin ✝️
Baldwin CAUSED THE Abdication
They wished Edward 8 th would fall off his horse and break his neck? That’s an awful thing to say
@@Hypnobunny1 Not about the abdicated King and wife who thought Hitler was a great leader, he and Wallace were guests of and pictures of them with him as guests were splattered all over the international press as Hitler was finishing preparations to march into Poland. Not when intelligence picked up their discussion of Hitler taking England and he would reinstate him to the throne with her as Queen maybe they might be of help. It's a miracle worse wasn't said. Instead, they devised a plan to cooerce them to the Bahamas, made him Governor and literally held them under house arrest when more intelligence was divulged of a possible SS plan to kidnap them in Portugal and hold them for ransom. Edward loved Germany, they were Nazi sympathizers, it was well known by Baldwin, FDR, Churchill and their espionage organizations and she'd had an affair at one time with Ribbentropp and they remained close. They were both loose cannons and sans allegiance to their nations, character or loyalty, awful thing to say indeed..
In 1935/36 nobody knew that the world was facing WWII.
@@rossadams451 the reason for my gratitude.
History is that he threatened to kill himself if she didn't marry him. Her very letters explain how toxic and codependent the relationship was. Even this documentary stresses how obsessed he was and states in today's terms it would also be called stalking.
It was not a love story by any means. England is blessed he never took the throne.
I like to believe God knows why he renounced the throne and thank God he did.
People who attended their parties claimed he was boring and she was interesting. Sitting next to him at dinner was seen as a punishment because it would be a bad night
Wallis may have been the love of Edward's life, but he was not the love of hers
Yep, correct. Imo
The woman historian is overdoing the ‘Wallis was lovely’ line. Duff Cooper who was an intimate friend of the royals, and Edward in particular, gives an absolutely definitive account of the abdication crisis in his very readable diaries. It is particularly striking what he says about Wallis after a long chat when she was feeling swept along and not in control ‘She’s intelligent and a nice enough woman, but she is as hard as nails, and she doesn’t love him’
She never loved him she didn’t have the balls to get out!
I fail, as an outsider, to understand what was lovely about Wallis either physically or morally.
Anna is far too intelligent to believe that *Wallis was lovely, misunderstood, and under appreciated* drivel that she's peddling. On most subjects she makes sense. On this one she's completely off the rails.
Toto je pekna zena?
@@evadinusova4737She was not at all conventionally pretty. She was very tiny, 5' 2" tall, measuring 31-23-30, with dark center-parted, upswept hair, a rather large nose and hands, which she hated. She was however, always impeccably dressed. Her hairdresser came every day assuring that her hair and makeup were always perfect. Her clothes were only the finest, always classic and stylish. And she had millions of dollars of fabulous jewelry. So, though not a beauty, she knew how to present herself in the very best way possible.
As the years passed she became more abusive and humiliating to him. A fashion model demonstrating a line of the highest fashion for Wallis said she was an awful person to deal with. She controlled and abused Edward, it was a sick relationship. She punished him constantly like telling him in public to buzz off mosquito, or like a child sending him to bed crying. She was masochistic to him and he ate it up. He did what ever she told him and yes he was a huge security risk with his relationship with the Nazi.
I needn’t say what and who this Reminds people of
@@itsme1585those were my thoughts exactly! 😂
She was an awful woman and he was like most of the royals, extremely entitled and mainly focused on the pleasures he sought in life. I feel only a little sympathy for him.
Yes..its funny how history repeats...now it's Harry in the clutches of Meghan, who bends him like a pretzel....maybe they do like being mistreated like they have treated others all their life!!
He became obsessed with her because of how she stood up to him. He was so needy and needed to be punished by her. She just got to where he couldn't even function unless she was there. So, she started treating him worse and worse. Not condoning. Just you can only take so much of that needy of an individual. She couldn't even leave the room without him needing her. Wear you down sooner or later.
There are two realities that, in my opinion, are not mentioned in this interesting film. Firstly Edward Vlll did not want the throne and saw Wallis Simpson as a way out. He knew beyond doubt that the ‘establishment’ would never accept her as Queen and, by marrying her, would release him of his duties and he could go on leading his former life as Prince of Wales. This would never happen. Secondly Wallis Simpson never really loved Edward and saw his, basically, as a week man who she was despised. She was flattered of course by his attention to her (every woman would have been) but marriage never entered her head until it was too late. Ultimately they lived a shallow and unfulfilled life together.
Terribly sad really.
@@electraruby4078 I dont feel sad for n.azis. They both got what they deserved
“Every woman would have been”? What nonsense. He was clearly a vain, weak man capable of sick, obsessive behavior like threatening to kill himself over Wallis. That’s not love, it’s abuse. Have you ever dealt with someone who’s threatening to kill themself? I have, twice (not over me, but I was one of the people they each chose to tell). It’s a horrific, manipulative, exhausting experience. David/Edward was clearly mentally ill, and any woman with sense would run from that, not be flattered by it. Even with all his money. A gilded cage is still a cage. Don’t presume to speak for “every woman.”
She was always flaunting her affairs under his nose.
Eh, I disagree with him not wanting to be king. He actually wanted to still be a working royal
Edward was a spoiled man,,,,Wallis was a social climber....they were perfect for each other,, they were stuck with each other
No wonder prince Philip called Meghan Wallis.
I think there is a VERY strong case to be made that Edward indeed did NOT wish particularly to be king. He never was one to comply easily with expectation. During the first WW he was weirdly eager to fight, saying he had brothers who could step up should he fall in combat - but he was angrily frustrated that he was not allowed anywhere near the front lines. His world tour as Prince of Wales with Dickie Mountbatten was rife with inappropriate conduct. His hysterical behaviour upon the death of his father was quite telling. It could be argued that he decided to marry inappropriately KNOWING he would likely have to abdicate. The difficulty of his life afterwards lay mostly in his not having a role. He didn’t seem to understand that leaving as he did would render him irrelevant. He thought he could return to England with his wife after a suitable period of time and take up life as a sibling of the King, that his popularity somehow guaranteed him forgiveness for his questionable behaviour and dereliction of the sacred duty that he really never was interested in, even from boyhood on. He thought he could live the entitled life he loved by simply chucking the tedious part about being the monarch. It was the high life he loved and that’s what had dazzled Wallis. Of course, he always wanted to be the big man in her eyes, the one to delight her with Mediterranean cruises, jewels, parties and the pomp of Royal life. But after the abdication their life in the jet set became rudderless, empty. The one role they were charged with (Governorship of Bahamas) was a scurrilous disaster. It showed how right the palace, the government and the church were in their considered opinion that Edward’s character was fundamentally unsuited to have been king. It worked out well, actually … he didn’t want to be king and the palace government and church didn’t want him to be king either! Poor Wallis didn’t realize or understand the quagmire she had stumbled into until it was far too late.
He seemed to change markedly after WWI, as you say, he was frustrated and angry about not being allowed to go on the front line. He blamed his father and became very bitter towards him. I think that's when he decided he wanted no part of the monarchy but was too weak to break away entirely until after his father's death and wanting to marry Wallis etc.
The real hero of the story is King George VI
Never wanted it but stepped up and saved the monarchy.
Not sure he ever got enough credit. Elizabeth was destined to be QE2 no matter what.
Yes, no secret. All laid out in Morton’s book about Wallis.
@@zzzbbbooo In 1911 Prince Edward (David) was invested as Prince of Wales. The ceremony was virtually a state event … and he was the first heir to be invested in Wales for centuries. He was 16. He HATED it. He was defiant and belligerent about the whole thing and called the ceremonial robes ‘ludicrous’. Even as a teenager he was viscerally opposed to the responsibilities of his birthright and the pomp and ceremony of tradition. My point is that he was never comfortable with the requirements, formalities and proscribed life into which he was born. His conduct during WWI was very odd in that he WANTED to fight on the front line and railed at the unfairness that he wasn’t allowed to. He repeatedly ranted about having 3 brothers to take his place if he was killed. He did grow to appreciate the privilege, the deference, the money, the ‘fast’ life, the complete protection of the Palace and he revelled in that. But nothing in his behaviour ever indicated that he was interested in any charity or in SERVING his people as monarch.
Sounds a lit like Harry and Meghan
He was sick and lapped up being bossed around and belittled by a dominant mother figure. A blessing in disguise for the UK that he abdicated to his brother.
In my (American) opinion…Edward’s abdication gave England King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II, so things worked out well. The success, or lack thereof, of the marriage between Edward & Wallis, is and was their own personal business.
Don't do the crime if you can't do time, Edward and Wallis.
He complained constantly about wanting a job. He had one. It was called "king",
He had said that in his long years as Prince of Wales. He was King for less than a year.
Nobody wanted him to be crowned King, not even his mother.
another source that is rarely quoted are the letters Edward sent to Freda Dudley Ward while she was his mistress which are published in the book - Letters from a Prince. They show him to be a immature man with no sense of responsbility or willingness to take on his duties. Tommy Lacelles was right in the judgement of his character.
Lascelles was a lapdog liar and possibly the lover of Cosmo Lang.
He was an immature man, a playboy who enjoyed the high life but didn't want the responsibility of being the monarch. Wallis mothered him, ordered him about (which he loved) and he worshipped her, but while she remained witty and good company all her life, he was apparently dull and boring and very clingy.
exactly
Unfortunate their own letters are hardly ever recognized as a source to the truth. Too bad since their own words are much closer to the REAL truth than any author could ever come up with. One really should read the letters (the ones from Edward to Freda, the ones between Edward and Wallis etc) instead of spreading a lot of lies and rumors
This docu very much sugar-coated Edward VIII and all that happened around the abdication, etc. He never, never was "the most popular monarch of the last one- or two-hundred years" as stated towards the end of the docu. Utter BS! Awfully done and extremely one-sided.
This is enormously romanticized and exaggerated version of the story. Edward was undoubtedly just a very weak character who on the top of that was blessed with being very stubborn and childish. And one more thing to mention, from what I have gathered previously there was no love story in the later life of Windsors but rather miserable coexistence where the couple hardly spoke with one another..... sad story to the end
Based on your comment I can tell that you haven’t bothered to read much about this couple. This documentary actually paints a much more balanced view than a lot of others. There are many books out there which I’ve read them all (almost). There’s 50% negative ones BUT there are also 50% positive ones so the real truth lies somewhere in between. And it’s just plain lies that they didn’t spoke to each other. This is a letter from Wallis written from New York in November 27th 1955:
“Darling One,
Your letters have been wonderfully amusing and full of details re progress - a great help. I have had Charlie [Murphy] for the week-end and we did a lot of work. I am all wound up in the thing like you got. The first 5 chapters have been handed over. I saw Beaverbrook Thursday. He was very nice in his fashion. We gave him the 5 chapters to read. I have done most of the Xmas shopping for the Paris staff and for our really good friends here. Has the wall been started? Davy Crockett is a bad dog - chews everything and lamps and tables fly with his games - an amusing little personality but not up to Trooper’s looks or affection. Maybe we should have stuck to the oldies. Never will I be away from you for so long again. Can’t wait for Friday - we sail at 12 noon. Everyone has been too divine to me - we have good friends here in spite of the stinking press and Arnory. I love you more & more and hope Fruity destroyed nothing at the Mill. Your
WALLIS”
Yes, and on the other hand, George VI was strong in character who won the love and respect for his people.
Because she didn't get what she wanted, which was to be queen. That was her only interest in him, really; she never figured that he would bow out and cash in!🙄
The sad thing, is that for both brothers, they did not grow up with parents who were very openly loving or nurturing toward them. Mary of Tek, their mom, was said to be a very cold & distant individual & you can see that in every video & picture of her; that she doesn't really emanate a loving energy. George the 5th, was also said to be a better king, than he was a father; he put duty ahead of family. So of course, the boys had this trauma where as adults, they were essentially looking for nurturing partners that gave them the love & attention that they craved from their parents deep down & that's why BOTH brothers pursued the women they did. Its why Elizabeth & Margaret both had some loving, nurturing, supportive relationships with their dad, because he was devoted to giving them the love that he did not receive, in the best way he knew how to give it. So Edward giving up his kingship for a woman, went so much deeper than just him being stubborn or selfish. There was a part of him that was a child crying out for love & Wallis gave him the type of attention & devotion he craved.... so of course, he wasn't going to let go of her for anything & he was willing to abdicate, & give up one thing that he didn't really want to do (being a king), in order to have the other that meant so much more to his inner child... emotional fulfillment & security.
I feel like many royal families over the centuries, did not understand the importance of emotional validation... it lends to why there have been so many interpersonal issues within royal family dynamics. Affairs, divorces, etc... When you're raising future leaders, they need to be well-rounded. You don't just give children the basics & expect them to step into roles of leadership where they cannot set a full example. However, I feel like William & Kate will be the first, at least for the British Monarchy, to embody how crucial that all around love & support system is, in order to truly thrive.
Garbage.
Agree❤❤❤
THe King George the 6th was starved and torured and abused for years by an abusive nanny , which gave him a stutter etc and had far far more excuse to not be a good person or KIng due to the trauma yet he was the better one as king father adn husband.While this happened to him as achild David was spoiled
@celissiwillis9399 Duty is supposed to come first for our Monarchs and it was a
different time, most parents weren't emotional then, especially the upper classes
the adults were brought by strict nannies and the children were and only saw parents for a short time each day
luckily for Bertie his wife did come from a loving family
and King George and Queen Mary adored Elizabeth and Margaret
but our late Queen put duty first, the only time she didn''t was when Diana died
and put her grandsons first and was criticised for it
Ja, sie hatten die richtige MUTTER. ❤
Wallis wanted to climb to the top socially. She never counted on him falling, seriously, for her.
They were also living beyond their means and Ernest Simpson went along with it neither of them thinking the King would end up obsessed.
@@misscoutts6193 Very sad, all around.
I don’t think Wallis expected her relationship with him would be any different than his previous relationships with married women. I think he had a mother-complex and was emotionally immature, but I don’t think he was stupid. I think the aristocracy wanted him out and he was willing to go, with her as his excuse. Mrs. Simpson got trapped!
He always looks so sad.
His butler walked in on King E. and W. He was down on all fours painting her toenails. The butler immediately resigned.
Check that out in urban dictionary
And you know this how ?
They lived an empty life.
After learning so much information- a ton of it out there- over the years about Edward and Wallis, I have come to the conclusion that they were just a pair of rather stupid, self absorbed, selfish, self-indulgent, petty, spoiled people who deserved each other. I don’t feel one bit sorry for either one of them. Reminds me a lot of the never ending Harry and Megan saga. Freaking boring.
Funny it reminds me rather of Charles and Camilla. We'll see.
@@meeeka exactly 💯
I think so too. This two was made for each other.
You are 100 per cent correct in your opinion. They were basically trivial people. But they had a good time at OUR expense!
@@andrewgibbon-williams7974 In what way at your expense? Live and let live!
The woman who defends Wallis has some mad skills with rose colored glasses. She is totally romanticizing a very unhappy story (except that it was really good that dimwit Edward did not remain King.) This is the first I've heard of Wallis being 'extremely kind.' She made fun of Bertie's wife, who, unlike Wallis, was a bit plump and not at all fashionable. Meanwhile Wallis was basically anorexic and wore gorgeous couture clothes. Wallis was bright and witty, and socially ambitious, clearly at any cost. She was also a woman of the world, who is rumored to have 'special skills' that made her popular with men. She abandoned a perfectly good marriage to climb the social ladder with Edward, and belatedly realized she had hitched her wagon to a really, really bad star. Amazingly, she actually thought she could get out of what she had dug herself into, even after the affair had gone public. Was she totally unaware of social convention, mores - American or British or otherwise -- or any other aspect of reality? Did she really think she could sidestep the court of public opinion? She couldn't possibly have been so stupid, so one assumes she must have een arrogant. Or maybe she thought the weak man she was in love with could actually wield some power. Oops. Edward outsmarted her with his weakness and she was done for. He was obsessed to the point of derangement, and threatened to kill himself if she didn't marry him. It is conceivable he would have done so. He was that unstable. So Wallis gave in and entered a marriage that did not, in fact, make them happy. As time went on, and they both grew bitter -- he bitter with the fact that he could not be fancy pants Prince any more, and she with the fact that she had married a wacko who would not leave her alone. He was shallow and so stupid as to imagine that after abdicating he would somehow manage to have royal honors. He was also totally fixated on Wallis. Party guests would see - Edward's eyes would follow her wherever he went. If she left the room he would soon go in search of her because he couldn't bear to be out of her presence ( translation: he was obsessive and nuts). She eventually began to ridicule him and treat him with open scorn. Their lives devolved into one long, bitter spending spree of boredom. It is one of the saddest and most frustrating stories. They had so much and resented that they didn't have more. Such selfish idiots.
This just proves that you haven’t read much about Wallis yourself but have only listen to those rumors which always have surrounded this couple. If you’ve bothered to read other books beside Andrew Morton, Anne Sebba, Andrew Lownie and some others and instead read Greg King, Susan Williams, Michael Bloch, Anna Pasternak etcetera you would learn that there’s always two side of a story. Only your comment about Wallis having some “special skills” are long ago considered just nasty gossip. Edward and Wallis are somewhere between these outrageous stories and the more balanced ones. And again, if one wants the real truth then read the letters they wrote where there’s also proves that Wallis was indeed kind and considerate about people
When she said "loyal," I actually laughed. She certainly wasn't loyal to her second husband.
Agreed!!
I agree. She was annoying and inaccurate in many of her statements.
@@tamararutland-mills9530 only because she shares facts that doesn’t suits your already hateful opinion….? 😊
I read somewhere that Wallis was willing to be his mistress so he could stay as king. Interesting to think that might have happened, we might not have been graced with Her Majesty, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
She still would have been Queen but it would take twenty years more for that to happen. She would have been Queen for 50 years instead of 70 years.
Something had to be done. Not by him though, he was off into luxurious exile with Mrs S
@@mattieb7348 that's true.
Elizabeth would have been Queen, as Edward and Wallis had no children. She would have ascended after Edward’s death.
@@anneinohio8232wallis simpson has been once pregnant by one of her former partners and had a planned abortion, so she could not be pregnant again.
Wallace details in her letters to her husband, Earnest, that to her, it was a bit of fun that got very out of hand, swallowed up by circumstance, scandal and a weak, spoilt man that was obsessed with her. She wanted out, but there was no going back. She really loved Earnest but realised it too late. Edward & Wallace had a very dull life post abdication; lots of partying & affairs to hide empty lives. She was naive, but at least did maintain a public dignity following it all and lived with her lot
A brief overview of their relationship. I found the comments made by the woman, Anna Pasternack, to be naive and slavish in her admiration of Wallis Her pretended 'love' for Edward, (she was indulging in affairs throughout their lives, , before and after marriage). In their later years when he was ailing, she gave up all pretense at love, indeed, showed no compassion whatever, he was no longer of any use to her, he was forever asking for her, it was pathetic. He was known to have stated on more than one occasion that if the Nazis would bomb the hell out of London maybe the British would come to terms with Germany and he could return to his position as King (under the watchful eyea of the Nazis). I believe that those words were put into his head by Wallis, she had no great admiration for him, thought him weak and pursued from the outset her ambition to be queen of England.. her ultimate status symbol. Anyone wanting to know more should read 'The Traitor King'.
I always found their relationship dynamic to resemble that of a car crash...painful, yet you just couldn't look away. And yes, this biography is waaaay too romanticized in light of what we know about them now.
And I'm sorry, but why Ms. Paternal was lit from behind for her interviews is beyond me...looks like she forgot to comb her hair.
The original idea of a royal wanting to enjoy his wealth without accepting the duty…his brother’s ability to do just that was extraordinary..maybe less pathetic stories of Wallis and Edward and more about George and his daughter Elizabeth..after all, what did the Duke and Duchess do with the rest of their lives? Anything productive? Anything at all?
Read about all her work while in the Bahamas during WWII!!!! Patricia Gambino Harrington
Yes. Her jewelry (which he bought) fetched millions of dollars which were left to the Pasteur Institute in France. Within a few years, they had a cure for AIDS.
I don't know.... I could be wrong, but this documentary seems a tad biased in favor of them both and leaves out some well known details about how Wallis felt about Edward. It sure feels like this documentary wants me to believe a tarted up version of the actual events. He gave up everything for love? He stated that he never wanted to be king, but you left that out. You left out a lot.
Wallis and her husband were greedy, they wanted the jewels, status and money. Ernest pimped his wife to Edward. Their complaint being they got caught up in their own net and all 3 paid the price. She may have had lovely qualities but greed over road those qualities.
David relished the perks available to him as Prince of Wales, but not the responsibilities. The public loved him, but everyone enjoys play time and only children expect to play forever. David rebelled against his duty. Rebellion is what David loved most in Wallis. She was brash, vulgar, and irreverent. These were traits that he envied and admired and to such a point that he seemed to consider her his muse or mentor. He even found it delicious when she scolded, condescended, or ordered him about. People who lack certain traits will sometimes choose a partner with an over abundance of those traits.
Sounds very familiar to Harry and his wife.
Rule over yourself, or be ruled by others. Did Theodore Roosevelt say that?
"Men can never escape being governed. Either they must govern themselves or they must submit to being governed by others."
reminds me of Princess Margaret Rose
@@Norsknurse- yes….!!!
Except, he is now of little use to her and this will come to an end.
I have never seen two people completely ruin their lives quite like these two have. Simpson is quite a remarkable woman in comparison to M’s ways, which leave a lot to be desired. Simpson never spoke badly of the royals publicly.
Contrary to the Windsors, who did the best they could with what they had. More ups than downs.
Agree❤❤❤
Wallis was the mother figure he desperately craved as his own mother was so cold and distant (to all her children).
So very true THANK YOU for your intelligent comment! Even Princess Margaret said Queen Mary was cold! There is a documentary called, "The lost Prince" about Mary and George's youngest son and how he was treated, it is on UA-cam! Patricia Gambino Harrington
So, he married a woman who didn't love love him and despised him, but married him because she had rolled the dice and it came up snake-eyes? Okay. Edward just drawing the short straw, eh?
@@katemaloney4296 she did LOVE him, his mother didn't love any of her children! I know someone who knew both the Duke and Duchess personally and also met her uncle's grandson! If people would read the truth about her and also the letters that they wrote to each other instead of the BS the current Royal family want you to believe people might learn something!!!! Patricia Gambino Hawl
@@frankharrington4881 - Little Prince John was “hidden” away, but very well cared for. He was raised by his nannies and nurses. As cold and cruel as that may sound, all royal children from that era were raised that way. They were “presented” to their parents two/three times daily, for interaction. Queen Mary loved John, but the attitude of the day dictated how he was treated. The royals could not allow the Monarchy to be tainted with a seriously ill prince. Queen Mary was conservative with her own emotions due to her upbringing. The Victorian era was extremely restrictive, especially for women…….,even though behind closed doors things were very different, including Queen Victoria herself……..very liberal in her boudoir.
Sounds like Charles and Camilla. He once described his mother as cold not affectionate and Camilla provided all of that for him.
Interesting use of biographers: anti-establishment/pro-personal life vs. pro-establishment. I found it interesting that Alexander Larman was careful to point out that the insiders who ran the country felt their goal was to maintain stability, even at the cost of ruining the life of the monarch. Even Churchill, pro-personal life, changed his mind once he became an insider. The biographer Anna Pasternak called the insiders an "unholy" trinity but admitted that the former king was so naive that the Nazis felt he could be manipulated to their advantage. We'll never know if Edward VIII could have grown into an appropriate monarch but it does seem that Heaven decided the UK needed George V at that moment in history.
The similarities between the personalities and bad qualities of these two and the Skidmarkles are mind boggling.
Agree❤❤❤
Markle is foul. Wallis wasn't.
The King is not above Parliament. The King serves at the invitation of Parliament. Figurehead only. Politics. Never.
Please tell Charlie.
@@marylou3995 Charlie, as you disrespectfully term him is doing a pretty good job. Rising up above the jarbs his son and daughter-in-law keep lobbing over the pond.
He should have been cut off of all funds and titles. He just wanted to be supported and do nothing.
Well, this was sympathetic towards the Windsors, especially the woman commentator. I'm sure they each did have some good points but unfortunately, were shadowed by poor decisions. History proved that the unholy Trinity got it right, Edward would have destroyed Britain.
They were Hanoverians not Windsors...that was made up as we were at war with their cousin. Read about the dysfunctional bunch that were their ancestors.
When asked about his life and he said he had no regrets, you have to think what else could he have said, anything to the contrary really would have confirmed they had led a useless life without purpose or accomplishment. The entitlement he still felt to keeping things like the HRH title for his wife is not surprising as he had lived a life of being almost worshipped as the future King, he wanted the biggest slice of cake with icing and to eat all of it. Denying her the full title was the price he paid along with never being allowed to live in England again and I think it was deserved after all he chose to abdicate.
What also occurred was Edward VIII also spent what the king should have had for the coronation. King George VI also had to borrow monies to give to Edward VIII for his support and to pay for the coronation. 😮
wallis was not kind nor loyal. she was unfaithful to her husband and when married to Edward, it is well documented that she was very uncaring, condescending and cruel towards him.
Actually not true at all. This is a quotation from a letter wrote she wrote to Edward on October 29th 1955 while in New York:
“Darling darling one,
I do miss you so much and have had a most difficult time… Please do not sleep in your bedroom at the Mill. It is the perfect fire trap - you could never get down the stairs. You must sleep in my room. I never thought of this before and have had night nerves over it…Papers not bad but always something to hurt a girl.. Darling this is a mixed up letter but it has been an awful week.… Miss you miss you love again, WALLIS”
If she DIDN’T care for him she wouldn’t have cared if he would have died in a fire.
@@Line-hz9zhNow I don't know what to believe! They were probably a normal couple, but people always want to believe the worst.
Not true! Please stop spreading misinformation on Wallis
Edward is like Prince Harry in that he was weak and could be easily controlled.
If he could be easily controlled he would still be in England - miserable as “ the spare “. Think about it.
هل تريده أن يبقى خلف أخيه ويليام إلى الأبد لن يصبح ملك لماذا تريدون منه أن يبقى إلا يرى حياته
I visited Cat Cay Bahamas in 1981. There was this little building, maybe 1200 sq. ft. which I was informed had served as a sort of Gentleman’s’ Club. On one wall was carved numerous names of Members and Guests in no particular order or grid. Within the bunch, fitted about a third way from the bottom was inscribed “Edward”.
The music plays the whole way through almost louder than the historians telling us how marvelous Wallis was and how misunderstood.....I am not so sure, especially in view of the personal letters that have come to light between Wallis and Ernest and the fact that Edward told Hitler to blitz London killing 40,000 of his previous subjects.
Trying to paint Edward VIII as simply naive, completely misses the mark. He was a man who lacked sufficient intellect to understand who the real power brokers are and how power is wielded, particularly in regard to the looming conflict with Germany. If he had understood that his job was to put on a good front for the establishment - as his brother did - then there would not have been a crisis, leading to his abdication. I agree that his affair with Wallis Simpson was a convenient way to get rid of him.
Or he did know and his behaviour was deliberately done for outcome
I have to say, I think Wallis was a better character. Wallis was a woman of her times, find a rich husband....
Are you serious? She was a gold digger pure and simple not a feminist icon. Unless you consider that feminism is all about exploitation of the weak by the ruthless..
The British people should put up a statue to thank Wallis for saving them from Edward. He’d have been a terrible king. Thank god Harrible came second in line. Can you imagine him and MeMe on the throne? The monarchy would collapse.
Harrible...that's good!
The monarchy NEEDS to collapse! What a sham.
The similarities are chilling. My mother saw them when they visited New Orleans. Scary looking lady but incredible jewelry.
I'm a dumb American, I don't get Harrible? Help please
@@lorildiamond4987 instead of horrible.
Mrs Simpson's first name was spelled "Wallis".
The fact that she wrote many letters to her ex-husband saying how much she still loved him and wished she was still with him. I don’t think she realized how much he could force Wallis into marriage. They both wound-up in a very unhappy situation.
George V had said this of his son Edward VIII: "After I am dead, the boy will ruin himself in 12 months." He wasn't joking. Edward's reputation for his impatience, affairs with married women, and the inability to properly settle down didn't make him a suitable king.
This an antiquated assessment of the Windsor’s ,we now know so much more of the dark back story. Ms. Simpson was a very conflicted woman,caught up in an intrigue beyond her ability to comprehend. We should thank her for providing us with what would be the King’s reason for addiction.
Conflicted? Oh please. She was out to grab everything she could by any means that she could find. But, as the greedy often find, it can go wrong. She was despicable.
Wallis was not young nor beautiful. She had an enormous pointed nose and decaying teeth. She reportedly treated Edward badly. I do not understand how Edward could fall for her.
The world has improved so much. Thank God!!!
You think?
If this never happened we would not have had the late Queen Elizabeth.
If he was king, the monarchy would be history. There would be no QEII or King Charles.
Or Charles and Camilla. Or Andrew.
"She was loyal"?!! Hilarious statement!
She was.
You have a divorced king and a divorced Queen Consort. David and Wallis got a slap in the face.
The woman in this documentary is off her rocker. Why is she pushing that Edward and Wallis would've been a great couple to rule? This lady was seen out and about having a relationship with another man while married. Who would want that person as a Queen? They weren't using Wallis as a scape goat, it was her fault. Regardless if they let them marry, the man would've been a terrible king.
I fully agree. She was so annoying and inaccurate. Why did they ever bring her on to what was otherwise a good documentary. It left out a lot, but this woman commentator totally failed to reflect on the other side of Wallis, which was marked with cruelty, abuse and unfaithfulness. She is the only one who portrayed her as being very kind. Well, she’s the first one who ever said that!
I find this a very amusing comment considering who our next queen will be😂😂😂
@@peanuts4434 "their" next queen, I have a strong dislike for as well
@@peanuts4434 exactly. some people have short memories. that describes cowmilla to a T 😂
The male narrator/scholar (with the beard) is excellent. Articulate, insightful, unsentimental.
Some amazing new footage - in colour! - which I hadn’t seen before.
I always thought the King never really wanted to be king and Wallis was merely his excuse - when Wallis tried to get out of the marriage, the King does several things to prevent it. Wallis’ letters to her soon to be ex husband detail how much she didn’t want to marry the King but ended up having little choice in the matter
This! ⬆️ Not only was she personally threatened but also blackmailed by threats to Mr. Simpson. From her personal letters, it never really occurred to her until it was too late that she was anything other than simply another one in Edward's revolving door of married mistresses. And, it appeared that the *temporary* affair was utilized to promote Mr. Simpson, his business, and their social standing. She offered, on several occasions, to end the affair in the best interests of the country and the monarchy but Edward VIII would have none of it. Since Edward was not the sharpest crayon in the box, I think he really believed he could marry her and have her crowned queen consort. And, he was shocked that he had to choose between the crown and Wallis. I also think that he believed that he would be able to return to England and party at Fort Belvedere as he had prior to his abdication. And it was a very sore point with him.
No, he didn't want to be King but she wanted to be queen, so she played him up with the assumption that his family would accept her. Well, that wasn't going to happen and Edward refused to let her go. He pulled a fast one on her and she got just what she deserved!😒
And to think Harry and Meghan think Frogmore is beneath them. MM is embarrassing.
As an American she is embarrassing to us as well.
I really enjoyed this documentary and the comments and observations of those contruibuters who took part. Thankyou.
Queen Elizabeth’s grandfather, King George the 5th, was a “diligent, dutiful king”. I especially applaud how love of country and service to that country is ingrained in monarchies. Much respect. “Heavy is the crown” and all that.
He cared more about his stamp collection than his children! A shining role model.
The lady commentator should read two books: TRATOR KING, by Andrew Lownie, and ,THE KING HOW HAD TO GO, by Adrian Phillips. The Duke and Dutches of Windsor are presented with extensive documentation. The contrast is striking, polar opposites from the lady’s point of view.
Going to used bookstores and finding books written at the times of events, I noticed an assumption made during his Grandfathers reign, Edward 7th. David became upset with any mention of his becoming King someday "Don't call me that!" It was assumed that his love for his Grandfather was the reason. Considering what was to come, I have to wonder if using "love" as an excuse is a means of controlling criticism while getting out of a job he never wanted. One of his best friends wrote that he only cared about being King if it was something SHE wanted. She fled and tried to stop him from quitting but he said he follow her wherever she went. Imagine how trapped she became if he was using her for his exit excuse and refused to marry him. If she was hated for his abdication, what kind of hate would be directed at her then?. Makes me wonder, that's all.
Thank God for King George VI .
And his amazing elder daughter.
If you think about it
, Wallis Simpson (however reluctantly), did the world a big favor by being the reason Edward VIII gave up throne of England.
How could they give her HRH if she had divorced him as she had done twice before it would have been hard at that time to remove it
Wallis wasn't any better than her Royal sisters in law.
Camillia got HRH. She was a divorcee.
Meghan was a divorcee.
They are are styled HRH.
Wow, talk about rewriting history on so many levels. It certainly adds an interesting layer in regards to present connections with an American women. For 90 odd years it has been known how disappointed the people were by his choice in stepping down. Wallis only threat had been only that she was a foreign, American woman.These narrators are all royal approved cronies. Willis didn't want to marry him. He stepped down without her whole understanding which forced her into marriage. Imagine if she didn't despite what Edward did.
Wow, great film clips!
First time l've seen Queen Mary in a shorter dress
I noticed that too! I was a little shocked!
Interesting documentary except for the absolute drivel emanating from Ms. Pasternak.
What an interesting documentary. There have been a number of theories over the years - that Wallis was caught in her own game and could't back out of the relationship when it came to the crunch or that she deliberately schemed her way into the heart of Edward but wasn't able to fulfil her plan when he abdicated. This documentary now posits a third theory - that Wallis was used as a convenient disposal mechanism for a king most saw as unfit to rule. Either which way, and whether she did truly love him or not, I believe they must have led a hollow and unfulfilled life with no real purpose in life and isolated from any family. But it appears much of this was brought on by Edward himself.
Hmm. The construct of Wallis as the mechanism to get rid of David as king, definitely has been put forward many times. Especially with the evidence of the smear campaign against Wallis being made public.
The Idle Rich. They were miserable.
I do believe Wallis was a bit of a scapegoat. Wallis was used as an excuse to get rid of him when they couldn't say out loud that they thought he would be a terrible king (and he was). Wallis wanted to leave, though. She saw what a huge mess their relationship was making and tried to leave but Edward guilted her into staying by saying he'd kill himself if she left and Wallis began to resent him for that.
History doesn't repeat itself, but it sometimes rhymes
Yes, I think Harry chose Meghan because he KNEW society would tear her to shreds & he would have an excuse to leave.
Its alright if you don't want the responsibilities that come with any title, be it King or CEOs of major companies. Make it clear you're moving on and allow someone to step in and take over. But understand you can't then make demands from the same institution or company for you or your mistress/spouse. Edward clearly knew the rules, responsibilities, and duty of his entitled privilege. He chose a woman over all of this...but didnt expect the consequences. As for Wallis, the similarities between her and M are disturbing.
There's no need to insult Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, to Wallis Simpson.
This whole deal got very complicated! Had no idea Churchill was one of Edward's backers. 25;12 This was the first time the royal family were really tainted by scandal? I guess this was the first time for the House of Windsor. Henry VIII provided enough scandal for several generations of royals.
I am really enjoying your channel
Wallis might have been a good excuse for the establishment to dump him, but I don’t think the guy ever wanted to be King in the first place. So she was HIS excuse.
He hated all the ceremonial duties required of the office, and his entire history was based on partying and screwing around.
I am not really sure what to think of this story. So many facets to it.
Did that lady call Wallis loyal? After that, it was hard to take her seriously.
The subject of this documentary is very interesting because it allows us to see how the true facts do or do not reach the public. Some facts are revealed in a distorted way, others are revealed very late, when the protagonists have already died, others are never disclosed, because they are treated as state secrets. The true reasons for the abdication crisis may never be known.
Very true, well said.
The way, that David got treated on his wedding day was a shame. Wallis was as good as Camilla and Meghan.
Maybe he didn't care about being king? Anyone ever thought about that? It's like assuming a son wants to be a plumber because that's what dad and grandpa did.
Look to the private secretaries, they control a lot of the royals public and private lives, they are the ones who advised Mr not a Prince anymore Andrew; not to do the BBC interview but he did, Tommy Laselles reign through three sovereigns finally retiring a little into Elizabeth II reign, was a very powerful man, he controlled a everything and everyone he needed to. The abdication of Edward was for love but , I don’t think Wallis really thought he would give up his throne.
I find it odd that Prince Andrew is more popular in England than Prince Harry, even though Andrew is basically a statutory rapist who had to pay one of his victims $12 million dollars to settle a civil lawsuit. Make it make sense!
Question: is it true that one of his daughters urged or supported "that" interview?
Wallace finally dethrones Edward....she had a Braveheart!
Why does this historian FAIL to brush her hair before being filmed in a documentary. She looks like she just entertained the fleet.
Edward and Wallis were two of the most despicable jerks in UK history. In the recent show, "My Grandparent's War," actor Kit Harrington recounts how his grandfather, who was a part of the English security services and an attorney, was a "minder" of Wallis and Edward once they were banished to the Bahamas. Harrington's grandfather, from first-hand experience, found the disgraced king and his wife to be truly awful people.
Where is my grandfather's war? I can't quite place it
@@lorildiamond4987 I believe they originated in the UK, but they're showing on PBS
Up until Harry and Meghan
@@lisaseatle4965 While that’s funny, Harry and Meghan don’t come close. First off, Edward was THE KING! He threw away the top job over a divorced hag. Harry’s chances of becoming king would require a significant tragedy. Secondly, Edward and Wallis were Nazi sympathizers. I’m not aware that Harry and Meghan are running off and palling around with the likes of Vlad Putin or Kim Jong Un. Harry is similar to Edward in that he seems rather naive and foolish, although Harry seems to have a bit more depth of character than Edward. Meghan certainly holds similarities to Wallis. She seems an entitled status climber.
@@lisaseatle4965CHARLES AND CAMMILLA 😅😅
🇬🇧 My Great Aunt was cook to Wallis Simpson when she stayed at the Beach House Felixstowe awaiting her divorce . Also my birth Mother's second husband, Gordon Rogers, ( of the Rogers Brothers Felixstowe ) , bought Harvest House Hotel, Felixstowe, this is where Wallis and Edward 8th spent some time.
Exceptionally well done and very gracious towards the Windsors. It has become very tiresome through the decades of the vilifying of these two human beings. This episode was done with grace and dignity to them both. I do concur with the sentiment of the future decades to come that they'll be more sympathetic towards Wallis. They truly did deserve at the end to be placed into a church not to be relegated out to the backyard of Balmoral. Petty and vindictive Act by the former Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth. Fast forward in time, no one can disagree or contradict how hypocritical this family has been. Like the saying goes, people who live in glass houses or in this glass palaces should not cast the first stone🤔🥂
They're not buried at Balmoral. They're at Frogmore on the Windsor estate.
Thank you for reiterating their resting place , which I was fully aware of after I had written this. But I chose not to edit myself or correct myself. To me, it was not that important or relevant. But what was the context and what I was trying to express. But the hypocrisy of the Windsor household in the most recent past decades is glaring. I find it so entertaining and distasteful as history progresses. How people choose to have convenient memory lapses or turn a blind eye.
Thanks!!
History repeats itself with Ginge and Muckall .
BORE OFF
Love that. I call them "HazMeg" myself lol.
I call them the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.