Did Queen Elizabeth Visit the Duke of Windsor Before He Died, Per 'The Crown'?
'The Crown' season 3 shows the Queen meeting with the Duke of Windsor, Edward VIII, on his deathbed. It really happened — but it was a fraught reunion.
Season 3 of The Crown will cover the time period between 1964 and 1977, which notably saw the 1972 death of Edward VIII, a.k.a. the Duke of Windsor, a.k.a. the King of England who abdicated after he was unable to marry Wallis Simpson. The relationship between the entire Royal Family and Edward was notably strained after the abdication, although Queen Elizabeth was only 10 years old when it happened and may not have been quite as incensed with him as other members of his family.
Although the precise feelings between the two are not exactly known, we do know that they were able to make amends formally before he died, but that the interaction was uncomfortable—especially because Simpson and Elizabeth apparently clashed. What happened, exactly?
Elizabeth and Edward did see each other years before his death.
After their wedding in 1937, Edward and Simpson lived in France and rarely came back to England. The Royal Family refused to meet with Simpson formally, and the relationship remained estranged. In a rare public event, however, Edward was present during the ceremony of the centenary of the birth of Queen Mary in London in 1967.
Seen here bowing to Elizabeth, everybody looks pretty unhappy as the Queen looks away:
And the whole thing just looks very awkward, although the Queen Mother did give Edward a kiss at one point when she saw him.
Elizabeth did visit before he died.
By 1972, Edward was dying of throat cancer, and Elizabeth came to make a final reconciliation a mere 10 days before he passed away. And...the meeting was real awkward, no surprise. In a 2018 British documentary called Elizabeth: Our Queen, royal historian Hugo Vickers indicated that Elizabeth was "annoyed" by Simpson.
“The dogs jumped up and that rather annoyed the Queen because the Queen doesn’t like badly behaved dogs. And they talked about anything and everything except the one thing that was on everybody’s minds, the poor man dying in his room upstairs,” he said.
Stay In The Know
Select the newsletters you’d like to receive. Then, add your email to sign up.
“The Queen went up to see the Duke of Windsor. With great difficulty he rose from his bed to give his bow because, of course, she was his Queen now, as well as his niece, and it meant a great deal to him that she paid him this final courtesy.” The two apparently chatted, and made as good a reconciliation as possible given the context.
Elizabeth also did attend Edward's funeral and was seen speaking to Simpson after the ceremony:
But the situation remained complex, despite the reunion.
The Crown cast a sentimental glow over the visit.
Spoilers for season three. As might be expected, The Crown depicts their final conversation as a profound closing of a chapter. It's an awkward reunion, as might be expected, but it's also tender—the Queen gently informs the Duke of Windsor that he needn't feel guilty any longer, because everything worked out. She's implicitly saying, of course, that her abrupt ascent to Queen has been a blessing, rather than something she might regret having happened. As with real life, the Duke insists on rising from his seat to bow to the Queen, to which she protests.
In The Crown, the final face-to-face between the two is brief but meaningful, and although we can't really know what happened in that room IRL between the two of them, it's not unlikely that a similar conversation unfolded. What is completely made up, however, is the Duke telling the Queen about Camilla Shand, the woman who has stolen her son's heart. In the episode, the Duke gifts the Queen with the private letters Charles had written to the Duke (ouch!), which is one way the royal family discovers just how serious Charles is about Camilla. (This is a complete fabrication—Charles may have been serious about Camilla, but The Crown's historical consultant has said on the record that the handing over of Duke's letters is merely a plot device.)
For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.
RELATED STORIES
Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award.
Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.
-
This Decades-Old Bag Is the New Luxury Tote Standard
Everyone from fashion editors to Hailey Bieber is carrying it.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
Ciara Knew Russell Wilson Was the One When They Both Forgot to Eat on Their First Date
To be fair, that does sound like a sure sign.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Impact the Election, Even If You Can’t Vote
Missed the deadline to register? Unable to cast a ballot for some other reason? There are still ways you can get involved.
By Jessica Goodman Published
-
How Victoria Justice Learned to Use Her Voice on the Set of 'Victorious'
The former Nickelodeon star recalls what it was like to speak up to adults on set as a child.
By Sadie Bell Published
-
Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones Tease an Announcement: "We've Got Some News to Share"
The former 'Normal People' costars and IRL best friends seem to have a new project in the works.
By Sadie Bell Published
-
The Woman Who Inspired Martha in 'Baby Reindeer' Calls the Series "a Work of Fiction" In a YouTube Interview
A woman has come forward as the alleged inspiration behind Martha in the hit Netflix series.
By Sadie Bell Last updated
-
The Best 'Friends' Episodes of All Time
Could these BE any better?
By Katherine J. Igoe Published
-
Here's How 'The Crown' Honors Queen Elizabeth in Its Final Episode
The epic drama looks back on a monarch's legacy.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
The Best Bollywood Movies of 2023 (So Far)
Including one that just might fill the Riverdale-shaped hole in your heart.
By Andrea Park Published
-
‘Bachelor in Paradise’ 2023: Everything We Know
Cue up Mike Reno and Ann Wilson’s “Almost Paradise."
By Andrea Park Last updated
-
Who Is Gerry Turner, the ‘Golden Bachelor’?
The Indiana native is the first senior citizen to join Bachelor Nation.
By Andrea Park Last updated