Edward on Edward

Interviews Duke of Windsor's servants and the daughter of Sir Walter Moncton. DoW paid for half of George V's tomb. George VI had to borrow money to purchase Balmoral and Sandringham from Duke of Windsor. Duke of Windsor lied to his brother about how much money he had in the bank. Questions of security during Edward VIII's reign: red boxes left lying around. Loose talk at the Windsors' dinner parties during ww2 in France. After Germany invaded France (May 1940), Duke took Wallis to Biarritz. Then returned to Paris and told by C.O. to go south, which he did, and abandoned his friend/equerry, Fruity Metcalfe, who later insinuated DoW had deserted. Indicative of how DoW alienated even his closest friends. While Paris was falling, Windsors did not head to Bordeaux with the rest of the British army, but headed for Spain, instead. This led to the Windsors becoming a pawn and nearly getting kidnapped by the Germans. Duke of Windsor argued with UK gov't re terms and conditions for his return to England. Churchill finally had to order DoW home. However Duke was already headed to Lisbon. Churchill finally decided to send DoW to the Bahamas as governor, to get him out of the way, further exiling him. Ribbentrop tried to lure DoW back to Spain from Portugal. Windsors preoccupied with retrieving linens from Paris; sent a servant who was assisted by DoW's Nazi contacts. Windsors socializing in Lisbon. Churchill refuses DoW's request to get his servants released from military duties so they can accompany him to the Bahamas. Duke requests to leave Lisbon on 8 August instead of 1st August, thus Churchill realizes the German plot to stall DoW is working. Bahamas: Botched investigation of the murder of Sir Harry Oakes. Paris: Richard Burton quoted saying the Windsors' dinner party was boring, and he told Wallis she was "the most vulgar woman [he'd] ever met" (from RB's diary). International Café Society: Wallis entertaining and socializing at the villa in the Bois de Boulogne. House in France contained memorabilia from his reign. Windsors' daily routines, clothing, toilette habits, golf, fashion, jewels, formalities, meals. Wallis as a fashion and style icon. Relationship with couturiers and foreign royals. Trips for two months every year to New York City to visit with the their Café Society friends and attend fashion week: friends subsidized their trips, paying for their expensive suite at the Waldorf Towers in Manhattan,"mountains" of daily fresh flowers, hired paintings to adorn the suite, limousines, clothing. The Windsors often stayed on an extra two weeks and their friends begrudgingly paid the costs. Video clip of Wallis teaching Edward R. Murrow how to play jacks during a US tv appearance. Wallis hissed at a NY socialite who held her hand out to be kissed by the duke. Duke spoke German to Jewish dinner guests, who were taken aback. Wallis enjoyed society in NY more than in Paris, but the duke did not enjoy NY as much as Wallis. Wallis' unfortunate unseemly affair with Jimmy Donahue. It was mentioned in gossip columns, much to the duke's distress. Duke discussed his portfolio which was worth $10 million (at that time). Seen as gauche. Duke paid bills knowing his checks would be saved as souvenirs rather than deposited in the bank. Details about Wallis' huge collection of jewels. A visit to Harry Winston where a personal note from Wallis is shared on camera. A story about a fabulous necklace made of emeralds purchased from a maharani and the ridiculous and humorous reason why Wallis stopped wearing it. Weekends relaxing on Long Island, NY where friends spoiled them. Playing golf, getting investment tips. Trips to Palm Beach and other places in the US. Dinner for the Windsors at Nixon's White House. Tax-free status granted by the French gov't. The remnants of their former holiday home on the riviera in the south of France. The duke made some visits to England. Dinner parties at Old Mill House in France - the only home the Windsors ever bought. Discussion about snobbery, shallow, petty spites. Discussion about the Windsors' pug dogs, the dog cemetery near Old Mill House is the Windsors' "only legacy." Friends and family members discuss whether Wallis or the duke ever regretted his decision. In 1967 the Windsors, invited by Queen Elizabeth, attend the unveiling of a memorial plaque dedicated to Queen Mary. Duke's cancer of the throat. Wallis didn't know how sick he was; she was losing her memory. Duke received the queen while he was very ill. Duke buried in Windsor Castle in 1972.