For the love of this woman, a man on whose empire the sun had never set and whose head was adorned with a crown with the largest diamond in the world, took it off like a tired hat. Even her closest friends could not unravel the secret of her charm. But even the most implacable enemies could not deny her this charm. She once said that you can’t be too rich or too slim - and until the end of her long life, full of excitement, she remained the standard of harmony and style.

Who was she?

One of the most elegant and sophisticated women of the 20th century, a fashionista and a smart girl? A libertine who shocked the European elite of the 1930s with an unprecedented scandal? or even - according to rumors - a spy for the Third Reich?

Bessie Wallis Warfield was born on June 19, 1896 in the United States, and was named after her father, Tickle Wallis Warfield, and her mother's sister, Bessie Buchanan Merriman. Wallis belonged to a family of noble blood originally from the Southern states, but the family’s financial situation left much to be desired. When her father died of tuberculosis - the girl was not even a year old - her mother was left absolutely without any means of subsistence.

She was a cheerful creature blowing bubbles, but her mother, keen on spiritualism and horoscopes, read with some alarm about her baby:

“Those born under the sign of Gemini are a sparkling, loving and cheerful person, never limited to one object of love. Early or multiple marriages are likely. family life relates easily and simply, with sincere interest. Emotions relate more to intellectual processes than to the body. Extremely curious and eager to experience everything life has to offer. She loves traveling and loves to do many things at once."

Young Wallis on her prom in college, in a special memorial book, she wrote her life motto: “Everything that exists is love” and followed it all her life. Out of great love, she married the brave pilot, Captain Spencer. In gratitude for this love, she endured his drunkenness and bad temper for five years. And then she left him once and for all. But there was no way back to her old life, and Wallis remained in China, in Shanghai.

The Gemini woman perfectly adapts to any situation, showing enviable agility and remarkable intelligence. She is full of optimism and cheerfulness, loves to study and sooner or later gains widespread popularity. She is able to quickly and easily establish any contacts and connections, and has an excellent sense of proportion.

Indeed, she had no shortage of contacts. Sociable and amiable, she led a rather cheerful, somewhat chaotic - quite in the spirit of the 1920s - life. I learned to play poker great. She attended various social events, at one of which she met the future Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ptalia and the future son-in-law of Mussolini, Count Galeazzo Ciano.

She had to pay dearly for her fleeting romance with the handsome count: having barely recovered from her abortion, she was forever deprived of the opportunity to have children. But this did not spoil her character. Her lively and light disposition attracted eyes and hearts to her. Seven years after the divorce, in 1928, Wallis married the co-owner of a transport company, a certain Mr. Simpson, and a couple of years later moved to live with him in London.

So, Wallis Simpson, without having any youth (she was already 38! and this was in those days in the absence of anti-aging procedures and modern cosmetics), nor beauty, suddenly became everything for the Prince of Wales, thereby proving that “a woman’s charms depend not only on her beauty,” as it was written in one of the magazines of that time. The British were shocked by her manners, and especially by the way she treated the prince: for example, Wallis could hit Edward on the hand - as she once did when he tried to pick up a bunch of lettuce with his fingers - she could straighten the prince’s tie in front of everyone or pull a cigarette out of his mouth ... Wallis was strong woman, and, most importantly, completely indifferent to Edward’s title - she could be strict and gentle with him, sincere and caring, and all this was very much to the prince’s liking.

At first, Mrs. Simpson did not take Edward's advances seriously. And neither the everyday armfuls of flowers, nor expensive gifts and even the Windsor family jewels, attached to the bouquets by the ardently in love Prince of Wales, could not convince her of the seriousness of his intentions. Many years later, when the National Archives declassified Scotland Yard documents on the abdication of Edward VIII, it turned out that Wallis had been under surveillance from the very beginning of her affair with the Prince of Wales. As a result of this surveillance, it was reliably established that Mrs. Simpson at that time had a close relationship with one more person, in addition to the king and her own husband - he turned out to be a former military pilot, and since 1927. - Ford car salesman, the famous Don Juan of that time, Guy Trundle, Guy Marcus Trundle, who was even interrogated by the Scotland Yards and admitted to receiving money and gifts from her.

Those who believe that having good manners means giving up spontaneity and individuality will be disappointed. Good manners combined with innate sociability allowed Wallis to enter high society through her former fellow Americans, among whom was socialite Thelma Furness, the passion of the crown prince.

The Gemini woman can pick up the key to communicating with any person. He speaks well, always weighs each word in advance, expressing himself accurately, clearly and purposefully. Her feelings and intellect are refined. This is a self-taught genius. She makes an indelible impression on those who recognize the breadth and diversity of her views and interests.

Those who knew Wallis personally claimed that she was prettier in real life than in the photo. But no one ever considered her a beauty. Back then, “femme fatales,” bright ones, were in fashion: what was called “chic.” And Wallis... Sweet, pleasant to talk to, but flat, like a fish, with a heavy chin, and not the first youth - thirty-five years old...

But it was then and it was in Thelma’s house that she was destined to meet her prince. The first meeting was ruined by some taunt made by Wallis towards His Highness. This was hardly an accident. She was not so naive as not to know that this would surprise and offend a man who was accustomed to ladies in eternal curtsy... Thelma was naive, not noticing the alarm signal in the prince’s flushed face. Otherwise I wouldn’t have gone for a ride around the world soon. Returning six months later, the short-sighted beauty realized that her place next to the prince was taken.

The Gemini woman hates rudeness, she is diplomatic and helpful. Love for her is more friendship than passion.

Sociability, loyalty and understanding - these are the treasures that the future king of England discovered in the American woman.

In addition, Wallis had a quality that many women lack: she knew how to listen. Eyewitnesses noted that during the conversation there was a feeling that the whole world for her was concentrated in the interlocutor. An unloved child, not a very happy man, the prince blossomed next to this woman, who warmed him with support and smart, refined flattery - whatever you say, Wallis’s brain was all right. Although gossips They never tired of hissing that, while walking around Chinese brothels, Wallis had mastered oriental erotic techniques, which was how she “kept” the prince, supposedly almost impotent.

But the whispers behind the back of the “acceptable” favorite turned into screams in the face of the “unacceptable” bride - when Edward VIII, who became king, wanted to marry her.

People with posters "Down with the prostitute!" and "Wally, give us back our king!" stood for days in front of the Prime Minister's house. Insulting letters were sent to her from all over the world, some containing threats to kill her. Unable to withstand the general hysteria, Wallis fled from England to the south

France. But even there, in protest against her presence, guests left the hotels in droves. Wallis was drowning in a sea of ​​hatred. It’s amazing how people can unite in the fight against the happiness of their neighbor... And in London, Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin threatened with his resignation and unrest in the country if the king did not leave his crazy idea...

“I cannot fulfill the duties of a king as well as I would like without the help and support of the woman I love...” - these words from Edward VIII’s radio address spread throughout the world. A request for the text of the speech even came from Spain, where there was a civil war going on and bombs were exploding. He addressed the people on December 11, 1936, having signed the act of abdication the day before. They were given the title of Duke and Duchess of Windsor, but their wedding was ignored by the entire royal family.

Wallis said that since David's abdication, she has been haunted by guilt. “He was created for a different life,” she explained. “He’s used to being needed.” Trying to create the illusion of busyness for her husband, Wallis scheduled the Duke of Windsor’s every day literally minute by minute, arranging receptions, interviews and even forcing him to write memoirs - four books by Edward were published: “A King’s Story” (1951), “The Crown and the People” "(The Crown and the People, 1953), "Returning to the Windsors" (Windsor Revisited, 1960) and "A Family Album", 1960 - about clothing, traditions and habits in the royal family, starting from the time of Queen Victoria and until the time Edward left England.

Trying to comply with royal traditions, Wallis slept in a separate room, carefully preparing for each nightly visit from Edward. The Duchess of Windsor paid a lot of attention to her appearance, and she was rightfully considered the most elegant woman in the world. She appeared every now and then in Vogue magazine and maintained friendly relations with Christian Dior and Pierre Cardin. Everything in her house was just as impeccable - food, dishes, and furniture. As for food - in 1942. There was even a book published by Wallis Windsor called Some Favorite Southern Recipes of the Duchess of Windsor.

In fact, Wallis with her own hands created a small kingdom for her husband, where Edward ruled alone, without a prime minister or parliament. This is most likely why, when the Duke of Windsor was asked many years later if he regretted losing his crown, he replied: “I gained more than I lost.” And even to the very sensitive question of whether his decision would change if it were possible to return everything back, Edward, without hesitation, answered that he would have done the same thing.

Edward & Wallis, Duke & Duchess of Windsor, 1971The feelings of the Duchess of Windsor, it seems, have not changed over the years either - she argued her love for her husband precisely by the fact that he valued her very highly. In 1956 Wallis's autobiography, The Heart Has Its Reasons, was published.

The love story for which the king abdicated the throne shook the whole world. Films were made and books were written about the Windsor couple.

Wallis died in April 1986 at the age of 90. She was buried in London, next to her husband: this was the last will of the former king of England.

In 1987, after the famous couple passed away, the Duchess of Windsor's jewelry appeared at a Sotheby's auction in Geneva to benefit the Pasteur Institute (a scientific institute in Paris engaged in research in the field of infectious diseases and vaccines). During the two-day auction, all 306 lots were sold. The total sales amount remains an absolute world auction record to this day. jewelry included in the same collection.

P.S. On November 30, 2010, Sotheby's auctioned 20 exquisite items that belonged to the Duchess in London. David Bennett, head of jewelery at Sotheby's Europe and Middle East, said: "We are extremely honored to offer the jewels of a woman who was a style icon, a model of elegance and sophistication for her and subsequent generations."

The current reigning Elizabeth II would hardly have become queen if not for the intervention of one woman - Wallis Simpson. For her sake, Elizabeth's uncle Edward VIII abdicated the throne, as a result of which his brother George VI became king and Princess Elizabeth became heir to the throne. Today I will tell you about this woman with the strongest energy.

“I have found it impossible... to perform the duties of king without the help and support of the woman I love,” said Edward VIII in his farewell speech during the renunciation. Meanwhile, the woman for whom he gave up everything was not young at all - she was 41 years old. Not at all beautiful - photographer Cecil Beaton said about her, “What an ugly woman!” And besides, Wallis Simpson stole Edward (then a prince) from her friend Thelma Furness - a dazzling beauty and heartbreaker! How do you like this “alignment”?

Prince Edward completely lost his head over Wallis. This woman, with all her shortcomings, always received everything from men - and received it easily, as if at the snap of a finger. By the time she met Edward, she was already married for the second time, but this did not bother the prince. But it embarrassed the entire prim royal family and conservative Englishmen. “Down with the prostitute!” - people shouted on the streets. - “Give us back our king!” There was a very similar reaction 400 years ago when Henry VIII was about to marry Anne Boleyn.

When, after the death of his father, Prince Edward became king, the issue of relations with Wallis became especially acute. The mistress of a prince is one thing - you can close your eyes, but the wife of a king with such a reputation and such origin is quite another. Not only was Wallis an American, a Catholic (the British are Protestants), twice divorced, but there were also a lot of rumors about her. For example, that she was the mistress of Joachim Ribbentrop, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nazi Germany. Or she had a connection with Mussolini’s future son-in-law Galeazzo Ciano. From him she became pregnant, had an abortion - unsuccessfully and could no longer have children. In addition, there is a version that Wallis’s first husband was a big regular at Chinese brothels, where over time he began to take his wife, thus forcing her to participate in orgies. Therefore, one explanation for Wallis's surprising popularity among men was her sexual skills, which she acquired from prostitutes. Good future queen!

King Edward had 3 options:

1. Break up with Wallis.

2. Marry Wallis - which would lead to popular protests, government resignation and unrest.

3. Abdicate the throne.

He chose the latter. His coronation was scheduled for May 12, 1937. April 27 was completed divorce proceedings Wallis Simpson with her husband, which began immediately after Edward's accession to the throne. The coronation celebrations were not in vain - on the appointed day the king was crowned, but not Edward, but his brother. And on June 3, 1937, Edward and Wallis got married. No members of the royal family attended or sent congratulations. Unless Edward's brother, the new King George VI, insisted that he be given the title Duke of Windsor. The king literally “knocked” this title out of parliament, along with the address “His Royal Highness” - but with the condition that the children of Edward and Wallis would not inherit it. But Wallis could not have children.

Some contemporaries claimed that Edward and Wallis tenderly loved each other all their lives. Others say Wallis used the prince to become queen and didn't quit after her abdication only because she couldn't afford it. So she had fame and a romantic aura of a woman for whom the king left everything - Time magazine named her woman of the year in 1936, but otherwise she would have been condemned and forgotten. Nevertheless, throughout the 35 years of his marriage, Edward was very happy - they said that if he had to be separated from his wife, he always looked restless and devastated.

What were the secrets of the attractiveness of this amazing woman?

1. Wallis was an excellent listener - a quality that other femme fatales I wrote about a little earlier had. When someone talked to her, it seemed to him that she was listening only to him and there were no other people around.

2. In addition to her ability to listen, Wallis was an excellent conversationalist. Every morning she read 3 newspapers - thus she was aware of all the news and could support any conversation, as well as be an interesting storyteller from whom she could learn new things.

3. She was a subtle psychologist who knew how to feel people and make an impression. She even started using a British accent in her speech.

4. Wallis had her own bright, individual style that made her irresistible. Impeccable taste, which was admired by the designers of that time - Cartier, Givenchy, Schiaparelli, Chanel. If you look at Wedding Dress Wallis - you can hardly imagine what other woman it would look like that on. It suited only her.

5. Wallis Simpson always knew how to entertain friends and guests well, she often arranged themed parties, prepared cocktails of her own invention. There was never a dull moment with her.

6. She remembered that her husband was brought up in strict royal traditions, that before meeting her he was preparing to be a king and really wanted to be one. Therefore, in their own home She tried her best to observe these traditions. For example, they, like all members of the royal family, had separate bedrooms. And Wallis always carefully prepared for her husband’s visits.

Story Wallis Simpson, the woman who “stole the king,” and Prince Edward inspired many directors. The following films were made based on it: "The Woman He Loved" (1988), "Wallis and Edward" (2005), "The King's Speech!" (2010), “We Believe in Love” (2011), “The Crown” (2016).

She: American, daughter of a banker

He: king of great britain

Happy hours don't watch...

The story of the king, who gave up the throne for the sake of the woman he loved, began in November 1930, when the favorite of the Prince of Wales (the future Edward VIII), Thelma Furnis, invited the wealthy American couple, the Simpsons, to a country estate in Melton Mowbray, in Leicestershire. This is how the 36-year-old heir to the British throne met 34-year-old Wallis Simpson. The American woman charmed him with her free demeanor, ability to listen, sense of humor, love of travel, and deep knowledge of topics such as politics, art, sports, and literature. The prince, according to Wallis’s recollections, liked her at first sight due to the lack of snobbery inherent in aristocrats, and touched her heart with the pain of loneliness hidden in his gaze. Simpson guessed correctly: Edward lived in an atmosphere of constant prohibitions - to his face royal blood You can’t drive a car fast, get involved in gliding, take part in horse racing, so as not to cause harm to your health, and do many of the things that are available to your peers.

Light flirtation between a married American woman and a British prince quickly grew into a strong attraction, although until 1934 their romance remained platonic. On January 20, 1936, King George V, Edward's father, died, and the prince assumed the rights of succession to the throne. True, he did not remain King Edward VIII for long: on December 10 of the same year, the newly-crowned monarch signed an abdication of the throne for himself and his descendants, since the crowned relatives, as well as the government of the country and many ordinary British people did not approve of his desire to marry Mrs. Simpson. Her sins in the eyes of those around her were her humble position, the experience of divorce (before the businessman Simpson, Wallis was the wife of naval pilot Winfield Spencer) and open betrayal of her current husband. Wallis received a second divorce, and on June 3, 1937, in France, the couple exchanged marriage vows, which they kept for 35 years until Edward passed away. No relatives were present at the wedding ceremony, but notification was received from the new King of Great Britain, George VI, that the couple was given the title of Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

Love Formula

Prince Edward's act is the only case of a monarch voluntarily abdicating the throne in British history. The radio message he made on December 11, 1936, saying that he could not and did not want to give up the woman he loved for the privileges and responsibilities of a king, was listened to by millions of people around the world. The couple had no children, and they devoted their free time to travel, picnics and yacht trips, horse riding, skiing, caring for pets - Wallis adored dogs, and going out.

In many European countries, the disgraced couple was received with great honor. Raising a toast to his wife, the Duke of Windsor called her his muse, lover, like-minded person and best friend, emphasizing that he never regretted what he gave up to be with her. The love story of Prince Edward and Wallis Simpson inspired singer Madonna to make her directorial debut. She shot the feature film “WE. We Believe in Love" (2011), which tells the story that kings can do anything if they follow the voice of their heart.

One of the most famous English monarchs, Edward VIII (1894 - 1972) was the first and only king in English history to voluntarily abdicate the throne. The reason for everything was a passionate love for an American woman.

With parents

Avoiding ceremonies since childhood, the young heir avoided the royal court. He traveled a lot, visited Canada, America, India and Africa, was fond of sports, had affairs with women, but did not think about marriage. The royal family watched with chagrin the behavior of the careless and flighty prince, seriously worrying that he was unlikely to be capable of deep feelings and lasting relationships in marriage. However, the relatives, as it turned out, were very mistaken.

With great-grandfather

When the heir was thirty-six years old, he met Mrs. Wallis Simpson (1896 - 1986), née Warfield, who was destined to change his life and the course of English history. She was living in London at the time with her husband, wealthy businessman Ernest Simpson.

Mr. &Mrs. Ernest Aldrich Simpson

The meeting of the future lovers took place in early November 1930, when Wallis was invited to a dinner party and informed that the Prince of Wales would also arrive there. The woman was seriously worried, but her doubts and fears were completely in vain. Edward turned out to be easy to communicate with, loved to joke and did not attach any importance to titles and ceremonies. The evening in the company of mutual friends was relaxed and fun.

Simpson recalled that Edward had light, slightly Golden hair, a snub nose, and his eyes expressed depth and sadness. The English prince was fascinated. And although Wallis was not beautiful and, according to contemporaries, she did not stand out in anything special, she had an amazing charm that attracted men to her.

After that meeting, the heir repeatedly tried to meet with his new acquaintance, but she did not agree for a long time, fearing that their relationship would develop into something more. Finally, she relented.

They met a second time, and the prince confessed his love to Wallis. The woman, in turn, reciprocated and did not hide the fact that for several years she had been collecting newspapers that mentioned Edward in some way. The lovers did not even think of hiding their passionate romance. They appeared together on the streets of the capital, the heir took his girlfriend to the most expensive restaurants, theaters and often appeared with her in society. The royal family, hoping that the prince's unexpected love affair would turn out to be just a passing infatuation, chose to wait. But time passed, and the Prince of Wales, it seemed, did not even think about parting with dear Wallis.

Six years after their meeting, in January 1936, the English King George V died, and his heir, Edward, ascended the throne. In that terrible night, when the prince lost his father, he called his beloved and promised that he would never leave her and saw no reason for anything to separate them. Then Mrs. Simpson hardly believed her lover. However, when a few days later Edward went to her husband and said that he wanted the one he had loved for many years to attend his coronation, Wallis finally believed in the seriousness of the prince’s feelings. She agreed to her presence at the coronation, and Mr. Simpson, tired of his wife’s long love affair, said that he would not interfere with their union and would leave his wife as soon as she asked. She, without hesitation, with the consent of her husband, filed for divorce.

After the official dissolution of the marriage of the Simpson spouses, the question arose in the royal family about the legal union of Edward with an American. So unequal marriage could only be morganatic, as sometimes happened with monarchs from other countries, but neither the royal family nor the English parliament wanted to agree to such a union. Parliament strongly advised the king to break off the scandalous relationship with an American woman, who was also twice divorced and had a far from impeccable reputation.

Nevertheless, the king was so blinded by love that neither his past life nor the rumors around his beloved interested him at all. Relatives for a long time tried to hush up the reigning monarch’s affair with Wallis Simpson, however, a few months later, they gave Edward a choice: either the throne or an American woman. His choice without hesitation fell on his beloved, and the price for love was the abdication of the English throne.

On December 10, 1936, Edward VIII made a speech to his people that separated him from the royal family forever: “You all know the circumstances that forced me to abdicate the throne. But I want you to understand that in making this decision I have not forgotten my country and empire, which I, as Prince of Wales and later as King, served faithfully for twenty-five years... But you must also believe that It is impossible for me to fulfill my duty as a king as I would like, without the help and support of the woman I love...” Then he signed fifteen papers, thereby depriving himself of royal power forever.

Mrs Simpson, who was out of the country at the time, had mixed reactions to the unexpected news. On the one hand, she was glad to join her life with her loved one, on the other hand, knowing what consequences Edward’s abdication of the throne would lead to, she burst into tears, calling him “a real fool.” And he, having finally received freedom, according to witnesses, sang songs for a long time that evening and was in particularly high spirits until he sailed from England.

Edward's brother George became the new English king, and the former monarch went to France, where his wedding to his beloved Wallis took place on June 3, 1937. The wedding took place in a small church in the presence of several witnesses: the young people did not want to organize magnificent celebrations. Edward was happy and never regretted his decision.

The former English king was given the title of Duke of Windsor, however, contrary to tradition, Wallis was deprived of the right to be called a duchess. Under pressure from Parliament, George VI signed the relevant papers, according to which neither Edward’s wife nor children could be given a high title, which greatly offended his brother.

A few years later, World War II began. Edward and his wife sympathized with Hitler. However, when German troops entered France, the Duke of Windsor began to prepare to leave. Having reached the French border, he and Wallis left the country and headed through Spain to New York. The couple lived there until the victory in the spring of 1945. Throughout the war, Edward was governor of the Bahamas. After the war, the loving couple returned to France and settled in the former palace of Charles de Gaulle.

With Hitler

In the winter of 1952, King George VI of England died. Edward went to England alone, without his beloved wife. However, after the funeral of the Duke’s brother, another unpleasant news awaited him. Elizabeth II, having become queen, forbade Edward and his wife to appear in Windsor Castle and tried to do everything possible to scandalous story at home they forgot as quickly as possible.

Elizabeth

The couple lived amicably and happily: they traveled a lot, the Duke played sports, wrote memoirs, Wallis provided home comfort, and in the mid-1950s her book with the romantic title “The Heart Has Its Rights” was published. Their family idyll lasted for several years until Edward fell ill with cancer. He died on May 28, 1972.

Wallis for a long time I couldn’t believe that my loved one was no more. Together with the body of her husband, she arrived in London. Elizabeth II invited her to live in the royal residence, where Wallis was treated with the utmost respect and courtesy. She carried herself proudly and with dignity, and in the most tragic days for her she maintained her composure. On the day of the funeral ceremony, not a single tear was seen on the face of Edward’s widow. She only categorically refused to see the face of her late husband, explaining to everyone that she wanted to remember him alive. By a strange coincidence, the day of June 3, when the Duke of Windsor was buried, was the day of their wedding anniversary - thirty-five years ago, Edward and Wallis were called husband and wife.

Wallis and the Queen Mother at Edward's funeral

Two years earlier, at an official reception in the White House, when the Duke and his wife visited the United States, Edward unexpectedly admitted: “I was very lucky that an amazing American woman agreed to marry me, and for thirty years she was my loving, devoted and caring companion.” .

With Nixon

Wallis survived her husband by fourteen years. In the last few years before her death, the widow of the Duke of Windsor was paralyzed and did not get out of bed. All this time, Elizabeth II helped Wallis, and when she died, the Queen of England came to her funeral and burst into tears.

Elizabeth

The former king of England and his wife bequeathed their entire fortune to the Pasteur Institute in Paris, since they had neither children nor loved ones to whom the spouses wanted to leave an inheritance.

Text by Anna Sardaryan

Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor - the woman with whom Edward VIII abdicated the throne. And the story of this love is a real romance in diamonds. The Wallis collection was one of the largest and most expensive collections of precious stones and jewelry in the world, which testifies to the deep love and affection that her husband had for her. The prince was proud of “his dear Wally” and believed that his beloved woman should always attract admiring glances.

Their romance began in the 1930s. The heir to the throne, the Prince of Wales, fell madly in love with the wife of businessman Simpson. Even when his father died in January 1936 and he had to take on the burden of power, Edward did not want to part with Wallis. At the time of his accession to the throne, Edward was forty-two years old. And he still wasn't married. But when the ministers started talking about the fact that now it was definitely necessary to get married, Edward said that he would only marry Wallis Simpson, and as soon as possible. A scandal of national proportions broke out. Everyone was shocked by the thought of renunciation. But spineless, soft-bodied Edward showed determination for the first time in his life. They said that he himself asked Wallis' hand from her husband! Mr. Simpson easily agreed to a divorce - just to be away from all this storm... And Edward easily signed a renunciation on December 10, 1936: “I, Edward VIII, King of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions, Emperor of India, hereby declare my firm and the final decision to abdicate the throne and express the desire for this act to come into effect immediately...” And within six months they got married.

Wallis and Edward lived very happy life. Traveled a lot. We received guests. They gave each other gifts.

This is what Baroness de Rothschild says about Wallis in her memoirs: “... I must admit: she was exemplary! Impeccable! Her obsession - the desire for perfection - did not leave Wallis for a minute. She took the basic principle of elegance literally: “Less is more.” In other words, she believed: more modest dress, the more luxurious it will look. Great cut, one color, no bling at all. No bows, frills, frills... Wallis determined once and for all what suits her and what doesn’t. She knew that beautiful woman it cannot be named. She knew the joke Cecil Beaton had made about her: “What an ugly beauty!” - and instead of being upset about it, she went on a counterattack and sharpened another weapon: “Yes, I’m ugly, which means I should be flawless." Great philosophy and object lesson for the school of temptation. Wallis did not need dresses out of the ordinary to attract attention... But against the backdrop of her outfits, the jewels that her husband gave her with incomparable generosity only benefited. This was a woman who knew how to make a man give only the most magnificent stones.”

Let's see what jewels the loving husband showered on his wife.

Back in 1935, Edward gave Wallis a diamond brooch in the shape of three petals, which were the symbol of the Prince of Wales. It was a declaration of love and his proposal to become queen.

Much later, Elizabeth Taylor simply coveted this brooch. And in 1987, Taylor’s dream-passion came true - she bought this brooch at the Sotheby’s auction, which was held immediately after the death of the Duchess of Windsor in 1987.

Mrs. Simpson's favorite jewelry manufacturer was the French company Cartier. One of the most famous pieces of jewelry produced by the company is the “Panther on a Sapphire Ball” pendant.

It is made in the form of a white gold panther, studded with diamonds and lapis lazuli, with yellow eyes. The figurine of a predator sits on a large, absolutely circular deep sapphire cabochon of blue color. Panthers - unofficial symbol jewelry house Cartier, and their luxurious, aggressive images often appear in their collections. The Duchess of Windsor also wore a black and white panther bracelet made of onyx and diamonds.

One of Wallis's most expensive pieces of jewelry was a gold Cartier heart brooch. Her husband gave it to her for her 20th wedding anniversary. The heart is surmounted by a ruby ​​crown, and in the center are the emerald initials W and E (Wallis and Edward).

In 1940, the Duchess was presented with another brooch - “Flamingo” made of diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds in combination with white gold.

One of the Duchess's favorite pieces of jewelry was a Cartier diamond bracelet with nine multi-colored crosses studded with precious stones.

It was made in 1935 and originally had a single aquamarine cross on which was engraved a reminder of the assassination attempt on the king - "God Save the King for Wallis 16.VII.36"; Since then, every year the husband gave the duchess one cross with its own meaning.

It’s incredible how much of his feelings and imagination the king put into this gift and how romantic he presented it. Each cross was made to order in the Cartier workshop. Some of them were made especially for the Duke personally by Cartier director Jeanne Toussant. Edward gave one of the first crosses to his beloved during a cruise along the coast of France. Wallis ordered tea, and they brought her a mug of water with a cross at the bottom. The Duchess found the next cross while walking with the Duke on the beach. She walked in search of shells, but instead found a multi-colored cross, shimmering in the rays of the warm sun.

The necklaces that belonged to Mrs. Simpson are also fascinating. One of them is made of gold threads and decorated with amethysts and turquoise. This necklace from the duchess's constant favorite, Cartier, is a prominent representative of the so-called “garland” style, fashionable in the mid-20th century.

There is a funny story connected with one of the duchess's necklaces. For their wedding anniversary, the Maharaja of Baroda gave the couple Winzdorov gems amazing size. From them, a piece of jewelry was ordered, in which the duchess shone at the gala reception. Everyone admired it... until the wife of the Maharaja of Baroda accidentally let slip that these stones had previously been in her anklets. After such an embarrassment, the duchess no longer wore the necklace and its fate is unknown.

Each event in married life was celebrated with the gift of jewelry, often bearing facsimiles of the Duke's handwritten initials and romantic wishes. So, wedding ring for the Duchess was a ring with emeralds and diamonds, with the inscription “From now on we belong to each other.” Every time the Duchess of Windsor wore a new piece of jewelry, it created a sensation in secular society.

Wallis loved jewelry and believed that people should see them, otherwise they could not be truly appreciated. The Duke was so jealous of the Duchess's jewels, in the design of which he himself took part, that in his will he ordered them to be dismantled so that they would not go to any other woman.

The collection of the Duchess of Windsor was one of the largest and most interesting in the world. Biographers estimate that she received a gift of a jewelry masterpiece every two weeks of her life with the prince.