The following excerpt from andrew mortons new book, wallis in love, details just what happened to simpson after her partner gave up the throne on december 10, 1936. The jewellery of wallis simpson the duchess of windsor. Wallis simpson jewels photo courtesy of sothebys wallis simpson jewels from the book grandi collezioniste di gioielli di stefano papi and alexandra rhodes leonardo arte, milan 2000. Wallis simpson, american socialite who became the wife of prince edward, duke of windsor edward viii, after the latter had abdicated the british throne in 1936 in order to marry her, sinceas a woman twice divorcedshe was socially and politically unacceptable as a prospective british queen. This royal assemblage on the list of famous collections was originally sold in 1987, by sothebys in geneva for the. The story of a calculating social climber from pennsylvania who managed. The jewels of wallis simpson, duchess of windsor wallis simpson in blue jewels wallis simpson was an american socialite whose third marriage caused her harsh criticism in britain because her new husband was the heir to britains throne, and was forced to abdicate in order to marry her. A royal jewelry feud finally comes to light lady pamela hicks told the story of her fathers battle with wallis simpson, and because this is 2019, it happened on a podcast. Were taking a look at the jewels of wallis simpson, duchess of windsor. Wallis simpson was born bessie wallis warfield on june 19, 1896, in blue ridge summit, pennsylvania. After his abdication, the duke of windsor couldnt offer wallis simpson the throne, but he showered her with lavish jewels for the rest of.
The duchess of windsor jewels were unique, not only because of the. Stunning jewels owned by wallis simpson on display at sothebys ahead of auction. Wallis simpson and the aftermath of the abdication. Betsy prioleau discusses wallis simpson, duchess of. So scribbled the maryland expat wallis warfield simpson in 1937, in an erratically punctuated letter to the man she called david but who had been officially known as edward viii, by the grace of. And her book the real wallis simpson is dedicated to rescuing simpson from decades of bad press. Even after he abdicated the throne in 1936 to marry her, edward viii may not have been wallis simpsons true love according to a new biography that tells a different story about the american. The first full scale biography of wallis simpson to be written by a woman, exploring the mind of one of the most glamorous and reviled figures of the twentieth century, a character who played prominently in the blockbuster film the kings speech this is the story of the american divorcee notorious for allegedly seducing a british king off his throne. Wallis simpson s 200piece jewelry collection went on sale on april 3, 1987.
The spectacular jewellery collection of wallis simpson. Queen elizabeth ii was 45yearsold in 1972 when she visited paris on official duty. Wallis simpsons marriage to edward viii in 1937 was a royal scandal that required him to abdicate the throne. The jewels of wallis simpson, duchess of windsor wallis simpson in blue jewels wallis simpson was an american socialite whose third marriage caused her harsh criticism in britain because her new husband was the heir to britains throne. Wallis simpson the duchess of windsor jewellery collection. Besides causing a crisis in the british monarchy, the socialite assembled a worldclass selection. Book of extraordinary jewels by john traina in 2020. It seems to have been written solely as an excuse for the author to beguile readers with groundless and unproven speculation that the duchess may have suffered from dsd disorder of sexual development, may have been an hermaphrodite or semihermaphrodite, appeared to be. Duchess of windsor cartier pink and white diamond thistle pin 1940s.
If you are into all things about the british crown, this book will shed much light. While on honeymoon with her third husband, the man who had been king edward viii, now the duke of windsor, wallis simpson wrote plaintively to her second husband, ernest, i. The prince of wales, later king edward viii, at ascot races with wallis simpson in 1935. Wallis simpsons jewelry collection went on sale in 1987. The extraordinary jewellery collection of wallis simpson, the duchess of windsor.
The jewels king edward viii gave wallis warfield simpson set international society, and the press, agog. However, she was married to another man, and she had already divorced her first husband to marry him. Wallis simpson reportedly left king edward viii on his. The danish and british royal families in particular, so get your snark on. Edward viii and wallis simpson treasures to go on sale. The jewels made more than twelve million dollars about eight million pounds sterling at auction this week 2010. I was expecting lots more from this biography of wallis simpson, but aside from quoting from some of wallis s more recentlydiscovered letters, sebba does little but rehash the old familiar stories. The story of the duke and duchess of windsor has been written about extensively in the history books. Learning about wallis s life as she grew up in america, and the sad story of her first marriage, gave great insight into how she became the infamous twicedivorced wallis simpson. The real wallis simpson, duchess of windsor by pasternak, anna isbn. They cover the time from their first meeting up until they get together in france for their marriage and the editor provides a lot of context as the book.
What annoyed the queen when she visited wallis simpson and. I was expecting lots more from this biography of wallis simpson, but aside from quoting from some of walliss more recentlydiscovered letters, sebba does little but rehash the old familiar stories. Her father died shortly after her birth and she and her widowed mother were partly. This book captures the story of the fall of king edward viii through the life of his wife, wallis simpson. The duchess of windsor collection for the love of wallis. The jewellery of wallis simpson jaquo lifestyle magazine. The book is comprised of previously unseen letters that mostly passed between wallis simpson and edward, whom she calls david. Edward viii and wallis simpson treasures to go on sale this article is more than 6 years old family gifts and jewellery owned by duke and duchess of windsor to be auctioned at sothebys in london. The duchess of windsor collection reached the highest world record for a singleowner jewelry sale ever conducted. Personal items including a cartier watch and an ornate gold pencil holder that once belonged to wallis simpson and king edward viii are up for auction in the u. Wallis, duchess of windsor born bessie wallis warfield. Learning about walliss life as she grew up in america, and the sad story of her first marriage, gave great insight into how she became the infamous twicedivorced wallis simpson.
April 24, 1986 this post will be about some of the items in her magnificent jewelry collection. How meghan markles divorcee predecessor wallis simpson. Exceptional jewels and precious objects formerly in the collection of the duchess of windsor view past auction details. Duchess of windsor wallis simpsons jewels on display at. A clip from the tv documentary, wallis loved and lost, by claire walding. There were 20 individual lots but it was the sparkling and slinky cartier onyx and diamond panther bracelet which drew the largest bid making more than. When told through this lens, you can see the heart break and sadness of their life and unwillingness of the royal family. The tragic, untold story of the duchess of windsor by hugo vickers.
The legacy that has remained about wallis simpson seems to imply that she was grasping socialclimber who was determined to marry the king of england. Even if that means taking some of the shine off king edwards crown. The author of the book you see here suggests with the help of documents and letters that had previously been unseen that mrs simpson was more of a victim. Wallis, the duchess of windsor, was one of the most controversial figures in the history of the modern british royal family due to causing the abdication of king. Wallis simpsons marriage to edward viii was shockingly. However, while the queen was in the french capital she visited her dying uncle, edward, duke of windsor, and. The jewels were purchased anonymously when wallis simpson died in 1986. The wallis simpson jewelry collection consisted of 214 pieces. Anne sebbas book is an interesting and informed account, particularly of wallis simpsons early life and background. A rare piece of jewelry that belonged to wallis simpson goes up for auction the rare, freshwater asymmetrical pearl was once just the clasp for her purse. The extraordinary jewellery collection of wallis simpson. The daughter of baltimore residents teackle wallis warfield and alice montague, wallis dropped.
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