Exile in the Bahamas (1940–1945)

When World War II broke out, Winston Churchill appointed the Duke of Windsor as Governor of the Bahamas in an effort to remove him from Europe, where his alleged Nazi sympathies were causing concern.

The couple arrived in Nassau in August 1940, beginning a chapter of their lives marked by both social activity and deep dissatisfaction. Wallis disliked the Bahamas from the outset. She found the climate unbearably hot and humid, the infrastructure lacking, and the local society uninspiring compared to the refined circles of Europe. She referred to the Bahamas as “a third-class British colony” and longed for the social life of Paris and London. Nevertheless, she attempted to make the best of the situation, throwing lavish parties, redecorating Government House, and entertaining high-profile visitors such as American industrialists and diplomats.

While Edward took on his gubernatorial duties—albeit half-heartedly—Wallis focused on philanthropy, engaging in charity work to improve education and healthcare for Bahamians. However, both she and Edward were viewed with suspicion by British authorities, largely due to their perceived pro-German sentiments. Their movements were closely monitored, and they were kept out of any significant wartime decision-making.

The most dramatic moment of their time in Nassau came in 1943 with the murder of Sir Harry Oakes, a wealthy American-born financier who was one of the richest men in the Bahamas. Edward controversially interfered in the investigation, and rumors swirled about high-level corruption and cover-ups. This scandal only reinforced the Windsors’ reputation for being entangled in dubious affairs.

Despite their discontent with life in the Bahamas, Wallis continued to maintain a luxurious lifestyle. She indulged in fine fashion, maintained correspondence with European friends, and dreamed of returning to the continent. When the war ended in 1945, the couple left the Bahamas with little regret, relocating first to France, where they would spend the rest of their lives in relative seclusion.

While Wallis endured the Bahamas as a reluctant exile, she managed to maintain her social standing and adapt to the circumstances, though she never truly embraced the life there. Her years in Nassau were defined by a mix of boredom, scandal, and a longing for the sophisticated world she had left behind.