Life With The Duke (1945-1972)
At the end of World War II, Wallis and the Duke of Windsor, settled into a life of exile in France. The couple took up residence at the Villa Windsor in the Bois de Boulogne, Paris, where they lived in relative seclusion but remained figures of fascination for the public and media
The Windsors settled into a luxurious but carefully managed existence, supported by a stipend from the British government and the Duke’s personal wealth.
They entertained frequently, hosting dinners attended by European aristocracy, American celebrities, and business elites. Wallis maintained her love of fashion, often wearing couture from designers such as Christian Dior and Givenchy. She became an enduring style icon, with her impeccable wardrobe and jewelry collection widely admired.
Despite their glamorous façade, tensions remained with the British royal family. The Duke made occasional trips to England, but Wallis was never fully accepted by the monarchy. Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) reportedly never forgave her for the abdication crisis, and Wallis was not invited to official royal events.
Visits to the United States
Wallis and Edward frequently traveled to the United States, where Wallis maintained strong social connections. They often visited New York City, staying at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, where they entertained friends from the world of fashion, business, and high society. Wallis particularly enjoyed shopping and attending social events in Manhattan, finding American society more welcoming than the stiff formality of British aristocracy.
The couple also spent time in Palm Beach and New York’s Long Island, visiting wealthy acquaintances such as the Vanderbilts and the Biddles. These trips reinforced Wallis’s deep connection to the American elite, even as she remained estranged from her homeland’s broader society due to lingering resentment over the abdication.
Memoirs and Public Image
In the 1950s, Wallis and the Duke collaborated on their memoirs, an effort to reshape their public image and secure financial stability. The Duke published A King’s Story (1951), detailing his perspective on the abdication and his love for Wallis. Later, in 1956, Wallis released her own autobiography, The Heart Has Its Reasons, which recounted her version of events, though it carefully avoided deeper political controversies. The book was well received, but critics noted its carefully curated narrative.
By the 1960s, both the Duke and Duchess faced health problems. Edward, a lifelong smoker, developed throat cancer. As his condition worsened, Wallis became his primary caregiver, though she still maintained their social calendar to some extent. Despite their personal struggles, they continued to receive high-profile visitors, including Richard Nixon and the former Empress Zita of Austria.
In 1972, Queen Elizabeth II made a significant gesture by arranging a visit to see the ailing Duke in Paris. It was the first time she had seen him in many years, and it marked a brief moment of reconciliation. Edward died shortly after, on May 28, 1972. Wallis, though devastated, maintained a composed public appearance at his funeral, which was held at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor. She stood apart from the royal family, a symbolic representation of her lifelong exclusion from their inner circle.