WALLIS SIMPSON (BEFORE THE PUBLIC SCANDAL)

Academic historians still argue as to the importance of Mrs Wallis Simpson (as she then was) to the outbreak of the Very British Civil War. For some, she was the principal cause; to others, only a proximate cause. Most agree, however, that she was a causa sine qua non.

For a lengthy period, the British Press voluntarily censored itself about the relationship between Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson. The American Press, however, was not so restrained:

An original US Press Photo of Mrs Simpson on 15th October 1936 (12.30 pm)
transmitted by wire 1st November 1936

    

The reverse of this photograph reads:

'WALLY' AT A COCKTAIL PARTY

LONDON...A NEW PHOTOGRAPH OF MRS ERNEST "WALLY" SIMPSON, FORMER BALTIMORE, MD, BEAUTY, WHOSE RISE FROM A BALTIMORE BOARDING HOUSE TO FRIENDSHIP WITH KING EDWARD VIII CAUSED A BUZZ OF GOSSIP THAT HAS BEEN INTENSIFIED BY MRS SIMPSON'S FILING OF SUIT FOR DIVORCE FROM HER WEALTHY BARRISTER HUSBAND. MRS SIMPSON WAS PHOTOGRAPHED HERE AS SHE ATTENDED AN AFTERNOON COCKTAIL PARTY."

Wallis Simpson obtained a decree nisi against Ernest Simpson on 27th October 1936. The British Press' self-censorship broke down on 3rd/4th December 1936, leaving Edward VIII to make his fateful decision during the night of 7th/8th December 1936. The timeline to the Very British Civil War had begun..