From the time I was a young girl, I’ve had an interest
in the Abdication of Edward VIII, later Duke of York, to marry “the woman I
love” – an American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Edward Albert Christian George
Andrew Patrick David was born June 23, 1894.
His family called him David. I
have his memoirs titled A King’s Story.
It’s a grand look behind the scenes at the British monarchy and the
Victorians. His grandmother was Queen
Victoria. His reign lasted 326 days.
To me, he is a romantic figure. I’d love to have dinner with a Prince who
gave up a throne for a woman. It is
said, though raised as a future King, David was not really suited to his role. I’d like to find out why, but I’d like to
understand what Wallis’ hold over him was.
As you can see by the photo, she was no great beauty (their wedding day).
Many of my heroes are aristocracy, and my WIP called
Royal Secrets is about a prince who abdicates.
This story was inspired by Edward’s story, though apparently the Duke
and Duchess of Windsor, living in retirement in France, were never truly
happy. I’d like to know if it was the
Crown or the King wearing it she coveted.
A bit about the person: He played the bagpipes. He liked spending time on the family yacht.
He was very much for the working man. He rode, shot, and hunted as gentlemen
did in those days.
I found this tidbit interesting: In 1917,
during the First World War, he began a love affair with Parisian courtesan Marguerite Alibert, who kept a
collection of his indiscreet letters after he broke off the affair in 1918 to
begin one with an English married woman, Freda
Dudley Ward, a textile heiress. In 1923, Alibert was acquitted in a
spectacular murder trial after she shot her husband in the London Savoy. (Wikipedia).
I’d ask Edward (preferably without Wallis):
What was it about Wallis that drew you to her so
passionately?
Did you ever really want to be King?
Why did they call you the Playboy Prince?
You
gave up a throne—were you happy as the Duke of Windsor with ‘the woman I
love’?
Would you be my prince charming?
(although he was very short and I’m 5’8”, I’d wear flats).
I’d show David my latest release from The Wild Rose
Press,
Morgan D’Arcy: A Vampyre Rhapsody.
Rhapsody is a collection of short stories starring my favorite hero,
Morgan. There’s a free read on my website called Vampyre Interlude. It is a Morgan story, perhaps., his darker
side.
About Linda:
Born in South Carolina, Linda has
lived in England, Canada, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Atlanta and Houston.
She’s seen a lot of this country from the windshield of a truck pulling a horse
trailer, having bred, trained and showed Andalusian horses for many years.
Linda has won several writing
awards, including the Georgia Romance Writers Magnolia Award. She is the mother of two wonderful sons, a
retired legal assistant, member of the Houston Symphony League, and enjoys
events with her car club. Among her
favorite things are her snazzy black convertible and her parlor grand piano. She loves to dress up and host formal dinner
parties.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LNightingale
Web Site: http://www.lindanightingale.com
– Visit and look around. There’s a free continuing vampire story.
Blog: https://lindanightingale.wordpress.com/
- Lots of interesting guests & prizes
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lbnightingale1/
Book Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlbRLTFQUHE
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It is a fascinating story and I'll bet was quite the scandal at the time? And she certainly wasn't beautiful any more than Camilla, and yet Charles chose Camilla over Diana. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteHi Lucy, thanks for stopping by. The British government kept the matter quiet as long as they could, making the press agree not to release the scandal while in America and Canada it was front page news. If you are interested, a highly slanted tale is available from Masterpiece Theatre called Edward & Mrs. Simpson.
DeleteSounds like a great dinner party!
ReplyDeleteGood luck and God's blessings
PamT
Thanks, Pam. If only...but he is gone now and so is Wallis. He was the grandson of Queen Victoria.
DeleteWow, what a dinner party! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tena, for joining our little get together. Isn't he handsome? I think so.
DeleteI've never been interested in British Royalty, so I had no idea. But, I must say, this story piqued my interest big time. Wow, fascinating. I'm sure that would be quite a dinner. Although, I don't think a cheater makes a very good Prince Charming. :)
ReplyDeleteHe wasn't cheating. She was. :-)
DeleteSaw a great documentary on the couple and how mean his sister-in-law (married to his brother) was to the couple. Many evidently thought David did not have the brains or the temperament to be king. Nice post and good luck with all your creations.
ReplyDeleteI saw that documentary, too, Susan. That sister-in-law was the Queen Mother (who recently passed away), often referred to as "beloved Queen Mother." She hated that her husband with his stutter was forced to be king and had to appear so often in public. David was raised to be king, not Bertie, and she resented David's sloughing off of his duties. But you're right about him not having the temperament to be king. Still, it does make a romantic story--giving up the throne for the woman he loved.
DeleteA fellow author told me about the documentary, but I'd already missed it. I try but I can't seem to dislike him. I read his memoirs A King's Story and you can see the man behind the actions.
DeleteI love the stories of the monarchy and have a decent understanding of the lines. I've always wondered about David and if they really were very much in love. You never know with people, especially those from that class. Very interesting post and the book sounds great!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kara. I also am very interested in the monarchy. This was a toss-up between the Duke of York and Charles II. Maybe Diane will have be for dinner again and I can invite the Merry Monarch.
DeleteA great post and an interesting dinner guest!
ReplyDeleteWouldn't he be an intriguing guest? I can imagine him in the picture Diane used--both of us in formal, as it was then. Sigh.
DeleteNice post, and a delightful dinner!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Elizabeth. Good to see you here!
DeleteI'm always interested in the story because of the couple's connections to the Hotel del Coronado near San Diego. Great post!
ReplyDeleteNow that I didn't know. Must do more research. Thanks for the tip Marissa.
DeleteWho's for dinner . . a great title. I love all the ideas that come to mind about it.
ReplyDeleteHmm, you raise some intriguing questions about Prince David. Very intriguing.
There are many questions, including the Hitler connection--which I don't believe. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteAnother side of my fascinating friend!
ReplyDeleteI can complain an equally fascinating friend, MM--editor, tutor, and author.
DeleteI love finding out about the royal family, especially from that era. We Brits love a good royal scandal ;)! (and we're all obsessed with Will and Kate). Great post - he'd make a very interesting dinner guest, I'm sure!
ReplyDeleteI've always been fascinated by royalty, too. I suppose partially because if all the blog they wear! :-) Great dinner guest, Linda. I had no idea they weren't especially happy after the abdication. In fact, I'd always imagined they had their HEA ending!
ReplyDeleteI meant the "bling" they wear! (Stupid auto correct!)
ReplyDelete