Diana Esp Rito Santo

Bessie Wallis Warfield, later known as Wallis Simpson, was born in Pennsylvania in 1896 and grew up in Baltimore. After two marriages, her first to Win Spencer ending in divorce and her second to Ernest Simpson, she met Edward, Prince of Wales, in 1931. Their relationship intensified, and by 1934, she was considered his mistress. Edward's desire to marry Wallis, a divorcée with two living ex-husbands, created a significant constitutional crisis in the United Kingdom. This ultimately led to his abdication from the throne in December 1936, shortly after he became King Edward VIII. They married six months later, becoming the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The couple faced suspicion of Nazi sympathies, visited Germany without government approval, and were appointed governor of the Bahamas during World War II. After the war, they lived a life of leisure as celebrities. Wallis outlived Edward by many years, living in seclusion until her death in 1986, remaining a controversial figure.

Born Bessie Wallis Warfield in Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania, in 1896, she was the only child of Teackle Wallis Warfield and Alice Montague. Her father passed away from tuberculosis shortly after her birth, leaving her and her mother to rely on financial support from wealthy relatives. The family moved to Baltimore, Maryland, where her mother remarried. Wallis attended Oldfields School, a prestigious girls' school, where she was recognized for her intelligence and drive. Despite not being conventionally beautiful, her striking violet-blue eyes, petite stature, sharp wit, and intense focus made her a captivating figure with many admirers.

Wallis's first marriage was to United States Navy aviator Earl Winfield Spencer Jr. in 1916. Their relationship was marked by separations and Spencer's heavy drinking, and it concluded with a divorce in December 1927. During this period, she experienced a fear of flying after witnessing plane crashes. Her second marriage was to Ernest Aldrich Simpson, an Anglo-American shipping executive, in July 1928 in London. The Simpsons lived in Mayfair, but financial difficulties arose. Through social connections, Wallis met Thelma, Viscountess Furness, who introduced her to Edward, Prince of Wales, in January 1931.

The relationship between Wallis Simpson and Edward, Prince of Wales, deepened significantly between 1931 and 1934. By early 1934, while Edward's then-mistress Lady Furness was abroad, Wallis became Edward's paramour. Edward became deeply attached to Wallis, finding her assertive and unconventional nature appealing. Their romance created a constitutional dilemma for the British monarchy. Edward's determination to marry Wallis, who had been divorced twice and had two living ex-husbands, was unacceptable to the British government and the Dominions. This impasse ultimately forced Edward to abdicate the throne in December 1936, just under a year after becoming King Edward VIII.

Following Edward's abdication, he was created Duke of Windsor, and he and Wallis married in June 1937. Despite her title as Duchess of Windsor, she was not permitted to use the style 'Royal Highness.' During the Second World War and its surrounding years, the couple faced accusations of Nazi sympathies, including an unapproved visit to Germany and a meeting with Adolf Hitler. In 1940, Edward was appointed Governor of the Bahamas, and they resided there until 1945. The subsequent decades saw them living a leisurely life as prominent figures in European and American society. After Edward's death in 1972, Wallis lived in relative seclusion. Her life and choices continue to be a subject of historical debate and speculation.