BBC Learning English
Words in the News
19

th

August 2011

Wallis ‘was not keen on royal wedding’

Words in the News

© British Broadcasting Corporation 2011

Page 1 of 2

bbclearningenglish.com

Wallis Simpson, the woman whom Edward VIII abdicated the throne for, may still have been

in love with her husband, Ernest Simpson. Previously unseen letters from Wallis to Ernest

suggest she felt lonely and wasn’t keen on marrying the British royal. BBC’s Farhana Haider

reports:

The popular image is that of a rather cold, scheming woman who wormed her way into the

affections of Britain's future king. But previously unseen letters suggest that Wallis Simpson

was an insecure woman who felt trapped by her relationship with Edward. The letters have

been uncovered by Anne Sebba. She says they show that Wallis Simpson might still have

been in love with her second husband Ernest Simpson.

Additional extracts reveal the extent of Mrs Simpson’s continued love for her former husband,

even writing to him while on her honeymoon with Edward. Anne Sebba says that as an

American, Mrs Simpson loved the access to the highest levels of English society, to be

showered with expensive jewellery, to be the mistress of the future king. But she expected

the eventual fate of most mistresses, which is to be dumped.

But he didn't dump her, causing the biggest constitutional crisis for centuries. Despite the

widespread criticism of his relationship with the American divorcee, Edward VIII

renounced his throne in December 1936. Edward and Mrs Simpson married in June 1937

following her divorce from Ernest.

Farhana Haider, BBC News

Words in the News

© British Broadcasting Corporation 2011

Page 2 of 2

bbclearningenglish.com

Vocabulary and definitions

scheming

given to deceiving others

wormed her way into

seduced

insecure

lacking self-confidence

felt trapped

felt unable to avoid or escape fate

uncovered

revealed

to be showered with

to receive many

to be dumped

to be abandoned

constitutional crisis

The marriage was opposed by the king's government in the

United Kingdom on religious, legal, political, and moral

grounds. Mrs Simpson was perceived as an unsuitable

consort because of her two failed marriages.

widespread criticism

opposition from different quarters

renounced

gave up

More on this story:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13112678

Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2011/06/110819_witn_simpson_page.shtml