Messages

16

The Windsors / Re: King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson (Duke and Duchess of Windsor)

« on: September 02, 2011, 06:22:13 AM »

I think Elizabeth felt that her brother-in-law's return would steal the thunder of her husband. That may be true in the early years, but after the war, the king had achieved great popularity and David's return would not have been such a threat. Even Queen Mary had hoped that it would be. Elizabeth however refused to budge and continued the persecution of the Windsors. It was not until very late in their lives did the Queen Mother bowed to public opinion pressure to invite the Windsors to the Queen Mary event. She finally found it in her heart to forgive Wallis after seeing how distraught she was at David's funeral. But by that time it was too late.

Eric, I really don't think the Queen ever forgave her.  In one of your previous posts, you quoted her as saying "You think I'm a nice person but I'm not" was spot on.  I think at the funeral she was just being polite and saying a comforting word to the widow.  At the same time, I don't think she let her dislike for the Windsors' consume her; she had more important things to do in her role as Queen and then Queen Mother.  But if a problem or concern came up about the Windsors, she could pull all those negative attributes out of her bag and use them.

17

The Windsors / Re: King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson (Duke and Duchess of Windsor)

« on: August 31, 2011, 12:23:14 PM »

Gerta, I think, by that time, they were fairly isolated. The friends of their generation were dieing off and ill health prohibited the socialising they were know for in the past.  Wallis controlled who the Duke met, and eventually, Mairte Blum controlled who SHE  met.
 Everyone here are making posts that they can support,  I think a fairly pro-con treatment.  However, I tend to agree with Eddie's take on the relationship.

Just out of curiosity, is Suzanne Blume still alive and is there anything left of Wallis estate?

18

The Habsburgs / Re: Crown Prince Rudolph--controversies, affairs & his death, Part II

« on: August 30, 2011, 08:20:36 PM »

   According to hungarian wikipedia Mitzi Kaspar died in Vienna Jan 29th 1907, so that narrows down the search. It also states that on Rudolfs death she was left a substantial amount of funds in his will. Hopefully this means she was solvent at the time of her death, & therefore must have a grave site.

 Is it true she died of complications of syphllis?

19

The Windsors / Re: King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson (Duke and Duchess of Windsor)

« on: August 30, 2011, 07:13:27 PM »

Toward the end of their lives, did they have many close friends?  I know Wallis had some french aristos but did the Duke have many male friends?

20

The Windsors / Re: King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson (Duke and Duchess of Windsor)

« on: August 30, 2011, 06:09:01 PM »

I don't think Wallis had the capacity to love.  (Maybe this was due to her abusive 1st marriage.)  To me she always looked rather brittle and hard and this was several years before the abdication crisis and after.  She was stuck with an emotionally stunted man-child and she just didn't have the capacity to give him the love and care he needed.  Honestly, I think she showed more love to her dogs than she did to him,  When they got on in years it seemed she had the attitude of "I'm bored, amuse me!"  Even in some of the newsreel clips I have seen of them, when he would touch her hand she looked grimacing.  Really, I pity them both.

21

The Windsors / Re: King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson (Duke and Duchess of Windsor)

« on: August 30, 2011, 03:20:57 PM »

My scottish great-grandmother once said that "The Scots can hold a grudge to the grave and back".  It sounds like this is exactly what the Queen Mother did!

22

The Windsors / Re: King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson (Duke and Duchess of Windsor)

« on: August 30, 2011, 02:24:22 PM »

I don't have any references at hand, but what was the story with Dickie Mountbatten and the Windsors.  Was it Mountbatten who went over to France to warn them of "bad news" regarding the King's decision?

23

The Windsors / Re: King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson (Duke and Duchess of Windsor)

« on: August 30, 2011, 02:01:36 PM »

Let's change the scenario here.  Say that when the Duke received the letter from his brother the day or two before the wedding regarding the HRH for Wallis that he did indeed give her permission to use the title.  Do you think that would have changed their future together?  Would they have returned to England after the wedding?  I dont' think so.  The royal family and the cabinet were so upset, angry and hateful to this couple that I think they would have stayed in France for some time.  Would the Duke have still made his trip to Germany?  Of course. He still wanted to do something useful and show off his new wife.  Would they still be sent into "exile" to a remote area like the Bahamas?  Yes.  The Duke was definitely a thorn in the side with the war starting and his german sympathies would not have been appreciated.  After the war and into the 1950's and 60's, the Queen may have let them come back but I think the Queen Mother would have seen that this would never happen.