MAN: A FEW HOURS AGO, I DISCHARGED MY LAST DUTY AS KING AND EMPEROR.
NARRATOR: WHEN KING EDWARD VIII ABDICATED THE BRITISH THRONE IN 1936, HE SPARKED A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS.
WOMAN: AT STAKE WAS THE MONARCHY AND THE EMPIRE.
NARRATOR: IT WAS A FAMILY CRISIS, TOO, FORCING HIS RELUCTANT YOUNGER BROTHER BERTIE TO BECOME KING.
WOMAN: BERTIE WASN'T BROUGHT UP TO BE KING.
NARRATOR: BUT AT THE HEART OF IT ALL WAS A BITTER CONFLICT BETWEEN TWO STRONG AND DETERMINED WOMEN.
WOMAN: BEHIND THAT GREAT ABUNDANCE OF CHARM LIES A SHREWD, SCHEMING, AND EXTREMELY RUTHLESS WOMAN.
NARRATOR: WALLIS SIMPSON, THE AMERICAN DIVORCEE, FOR WHOM THE KING GAVE UP THE THRONE.
EDWARD VIII: NOTHING CAN CHANGE HOW I FEEL ABOUT YOU.
MAN: SHE WAS SMART, SHE WAS SASSY, AND HE WAS OBSESSED.
WOMAN: HE'D CHOSEN THE LOWEST OF THE LOW.
NARRATOR: AND BERTIE'S WIFE ELIZABETH, LATER THE QUEEN MOTHER... ELIZABETH: I'M NOT AS NICE AS I LOOK.
NARRATOR: WHO BLAMED WALLIS FOR THE WHOLE SCANDAL.
WOMAN: EVERYBODY HAS THIS IDEA THAT SHE WAS THIS SWEET, FROTHY, EMINENTLY DISMISSIBLE GRANNY.
WELL, SHE WASN'T.
MAN: IT WAS A KNIFE FIGHT BETWEEN TWO TOUGH WOMEN WHO WOULD NOT GIVE AN INCH.
MA'AM.
ELIZABETH: SHE WAS NOT FIT TO BE THE KING'S WIFE.
NARRATOR: IT WAS A FEUD THAT WOULD LAST A LIFETIME.
MAN ON TV: AFTER 30 YEARS, A ROYAL REUNION.
THE MAN WHO WAS ONCE KING EDWARD VIII IS WELCOMED BACK TO BRITAIN WITH THE WOMAN HE GAVE UP THE THRONE TO MARRY.
ELIZABETH: I REALLY DON'T WANT TO SEE HER TODAY.
BUT LILIBET WANTED HER HERE.
SHE SAID, "AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, MUMMY, CAN'T YOU BURY THE HATCHET?"
I SUPPOSE ONE MUST DO WHAT ONE MUST DO.
NARRATOR: IN 1967, A ROYAL CEREMONY IS ABOUT TO BRING ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER AND WALLIS, THE DUCHESS OF WINDSOR, TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE ABDICATION CRISIS.
THAT WOMAN KILLED MY HUSBAND.
NARRATOR: ACROSS LONDON, HER AMERICAN SISTER-IN-LAW, WALLIS, IS STILL BITTER, TOO.
SHE BLAMES ELIZABETH FOR THE EXILE OF HER HUSBAND DAVID-- THE FORMER KING EDWARD VIII.
I WONDER HOW SHE'LL RECEIVE ME, WHETHER SHE'LL DO ONE OF HER GIANT SNUBS.
POOR COOKIE.
I WONDER WHAT SHE'S WEARING.
PROBABLY SOME KIND OF FLOUNCY SOFA COVER.
[PLAYING SLOW TUNE] NARRATOR: THOSE WHO'VE WRITTEN ABOUT THE WOMEN OR KNEW THEM PERSONALLY AGREE THEIR DISLIKE FOR EACH OTHER WAS MORE THAN JUST PETTY RIVALRY.
MAN: I THINK THE CENTRAL ISSUE HERE IS THAT WE'VE GOT A QUARTET WHERE THE TWO MEN WERE WEAK AND THE TWO WOMEN WERE STRONG.
AND THEY CONTINUED A FIGHT FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
WELL, I HAVE TO SAY, I THINK THAT THERE WAS A MALICIOUS ELEMENT TO ELIZABETH'S TREATMENT OF WALLIS.
I THINK IT WAS VINDICTIVE, VICIOUS, AND SHE SET OUT TO DESTROY THEM AS A COUPLE.
MORTON: YES, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
SHE THOUGHT THAT HER EFFECT ON DAVID WAS APPALLING.
SHE THOUGHT THAT HER EFFECT ON THE MONARCHY WAS HELPING TO DISINTEGRATE IT, SO, SHE HAD NO TIME FOR WALLIS, AND OF COURSE, WALLIS REFERRED TO HER AS "THE SCOTTISH COOK" OR "COOKIE," SO, THERE WAS A LOT OF BITCHINESS AND RANCOR BETWEEN THE TWO WOMEN.
AND IT BECAME MUCH MORE BITTER AND VITRIOLIC OVER THE YEARS.
NARRATOR: IT WAS AT A SKATING PARTY NEAR LONDON THAT AMERICAN SOCIALITE WALLIS SIMPSON FIRST MET ELIZABETH, THEN THE DUCHESS OF YORK.
MAN: HOT TODDIES STRONG ENOUGH TO NUMB THE PISTON RINGS.
NO, THANK YOU.
NARRATOR: WALLIS WAS THEN MARRIED TO HER SECOND HUSBAND, ERNEST.
ELIZABETH WAS MARRIED TO BERTIE.
AND DAVID, BERTIE'S BROTHER, WAS THE PRINCE OF WALES.
AT THE TIME, DAVID WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH A MARRIED AMERICAN, THELMA FURNESS.
LET'S PUT OUT THE REMAINS OF THE IRISH STEW.
OH, THAT IS A GOOD IDEA.
OHH.
MM.
SUCH A BORE ERNEST ISN'T HERE.
SUCH A BORE HE'S GOT A COLD!
HE'D HATE IT ANYWAY.
HE CAN'T SKATE.
HE COULD HOLD A CHAIR LIKE ME.
HE WAS IN THE COLDSTREAM GUARDS.
COME ON, WALLY; TELL US, WHERE DID YOU LEARN TO SKATE LIKE THAT?
SO FAST.
I'VE ALWAYS LOVED SPEED.
DAVID: BECAUSE YOU'RE AFRAID YOU'LL BE LEFT BEHIND?
WALLIS: SO I CAN STAY AHEAD OF THE PACK...
YOUR HIGHNESS.
[PEOPLE GIGGLING] MORTON: HE LOVED THE INFORMALITY OF LIFE.
HE LOVED ANYBODY WHO WAS FAIRLY INFORMAL WITH HIM AND I THINK THIS WAS PART OF THE APPEAL THAT WALLIS HAD FOR HIM IS THAT--IS THAT SHE DIDN'T DEFER TO HIM, SHE WAS--SHE-- SHE WAS JUST-- SHE WAS SMART, SHE WAS SASSY, SHE ANSWERED HIM BACK, AND HE LOVED ALL THAT.
BUT SHE WAS GRACIOUS AS WELL.
SHE KNEW WHERE THE LINES WERE AND SHE NEVER STEPPED OVER THEM SOCIALLY.
DID YOU ACTUALLY KNOW HER?
YES.
NOT VERY WELL, BUT I KNEW HER, YA, AND I LIKED HER.
I THOUGHT SHE WAS VERY CHARMING, VERY AMERICAN, VERY UPPER CLASS OLD WORLD AMERICAN WITH THAT SORT OF GRAVELLY ASPECT TO HER PERSONALITY.
I THINK IN A WAY YOU'VE HIT UPON THE NUB OF IT.
SHE WAS GRACIOUS IN A VERY SOUTHERN, SHE PLAYED UPON HER SOUTHERN ANCESTRY.
YOU KNOW, SHE WAS ALMOST AN OLD-FASHIONED COURTESAN.
WALLIS: AN AMERICAN WOMAN OF MY GENERATION WAS HAPPY TO TAKE MEN ON, WHILE ENGLISH WOMEN-- THOUGH TOUGH AS MEAT JERKY IN THEIR OWN SPHERE-- WERE STILL SUBSERVIENT.
I DIDN'T CARE WHO I WAS TALKING TO; I'D SAY WHAT I WANTED.
I USED TO SAY TO DAVID...YOU'RE JUST A HEARTBREAK TO ANY WOMAN, BECAUSE YOU CAN NEVER MARRY HER.
[PLAYING SLOW TUNE] SEBBA: SHE WOULD OFTEN SAY, "OH, YOU'RE JUST TREATING ME "LIKE ALL THE OTHER WOMEN.
YOU'RE NOT SERIOUS, YOU'RE NOT REALLY GOING TO MARRY ME."
SHE WANTED TO BE THE ROYAL MISTRESS AND THAT TO HER WAS HER IDEA OF HEAVEN.
DAVID WAS THE FIRST ROYAL MATINEE IDOL OF THE 20TH CENTURY.
HE HAD ENORMOUS CHARM.
WOMEN WOULD KEEP HIS PICTURE BY THEIR BEDSIDE.
HE WAS A SEXY GUY, BUT WHAT YOU SAW WAS NOT WHAT YOU GOT.
CAMPBELL: I THINK HE WAS PERENNIALLY PETER PAN.
I THINK HE WAS A PERENNIAL CHILD.
I THINK HE WAS BASICALLY A VERY SUPERFICIALLY CHARMING PERSON, ALTHOUGH BY THE TIME I CROSSED PATHS WITH HIM, I HAVE TO TELL YOU THE CHARM HAD VERY MUCH SUBSIDED.
BUT HE WAS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PRINCE OF WALES OF ALL TIME POSSIBLY; HE WAS THE MOST POPULAR PRINCE OF WALES OF ALL TIME.
SEBBA: AH, POPULAR.
MANY OF THOSE CLOSEST TO HIM DESPAIRED OF HOW HE'D BE AS A KING.
HE DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE THE SERIOUSNESS THE APTITUDE, THE ATTITUDE TO RESPONSIBILITY.
YES.
OFTEN ON TOURS ABROAD, HE'D BE TERRIBLY LATE BECAUSE HE WAS STILL IN BED WITH SOME WIFE OF A LOCAL OFFICIAL.
NARRATOR: WHEN THELMA FURNESS WENT BACK TO AMERICA FOR A VISIT, SHE'D ASKED WALLIS TO LOOK AFTER DAVID.
BUT ON HER RETURN, SHE SENSED THINGS WERE NOT QUITE RIGHT.
I TELL YOU HE'S CHANGED.
BALONEY.
YOU'RE IMAGINING IT.
YOU DON'T IMAGINE ANYTHING AFTER 4 YEARS.
YOU'RE JUST OFF THE BOAT; YOU'VE GOT TO GET USED TO EACH OTHER AGAIN.
SOMETHING'S WRONG.
I KNOW IT.
I GAVE UP EVERYTHING FOR HIM.
I WAS THE ONE WHO PUSHED FOR DIVORCE, NOT DUKE.
YOU'RE WRONG.
YOU'RE ALL WRONG.
YOU'RE STILL A PRINCESS OF WALES, KIDDO.
MORTON: I THINK THAT WALLIS WAS VERY CLEVER IN--IN--IN FISHING FOR MEN, CATCHING MEN, AND PLAYING MEN, AND DAVID WAS RELATIVELY NAIVE WHEN IT COMES TO THAT... NAUGHTY.
MORTON: EVEN THOUGH HE'D HAD HIS FAIR SHARE OF MISTRESSES.
[WALLIS GIGGLING] NARRATOR: BY THE SUMMER OF 1934, DAVID HAD DUMPED THELMA FOR THE BRASH AND STILL-MARRIED WALLIS, MUCH TO THE DISTASTE OF THE STRAIGHT-LACED ELIZABETH.
ELIZABETH: THAT WOMAN WAS LIKE ONE OF HIS FADS-- KNICKERBOCKERS OR LOUD TWEED OR THAT "MODERN" TRIPLE-DECKER SANDWICH SHE INTRODUCED TO BALMORAL, WHICH COMPLETELY UNNERVED THE KITCHEN STAFF.
SHE WAS NOTHING MORE THAN AN ADVENTURESS.
PART OF THE RITZ BAR SET ALONG WITH LADY OTTOLINE MORRELL-- OR LADY UTTERLY IMMORAL, AS THEY CALLED HER, AND THAT BUNCH WOULD DROP HER LIKE A BRICK WHEN THEY REALIZED THEY'D BACKED THE WRONG HORSE.
SEBBA: SHE MIXED A GREAT COCKTAIL.
A KT, THAT'S WHAT HE REALLY LOVED.
DAVID LIKED ALL THINGS AMERICAN.
AND THAT'S OFTEN TAKEN TO BE SUPERFICIAL THINGS LIKE TROUSER TURN-UPS, PAINTED FINGERNAILS, JAZZ, THE TELEPHONE.
BUT ACTUALLY, WHAT HE REALLY LIKED WERE HIS MISTRESSES TO BE AMERICAN.
AND OF COURSE, HE DID REALLY ENJOY WALLIS BECAUSE SHE EMBODIED ALL THE ATTRIBUTES OF AMERICAN WOMEN THAT HE'D COME TO LOVE.
SHE ANSWERED HIM BACK.
SHE WAS WITTY AND SPIRITED AND CLEVER AND SMART AND HE FELL FOR HER.
WALLIS: DAVID WAS THE OPEN SESAME TO A NEW AND GLITTERING WORLD THAT EXCITED ME AS NOTHING EVER BEFORE.
HE HAD AN UNMISTAKABLE AURA OF POWER AND AUTHORITY.
IT SEEMED UNBELIEVABLE THAT I, WALLIS WARFIELD OF BALTIMORE, COULD BE PART OF HIS ENCHANTED WORLD.
IT WAS LIKE BEING WALLIS IN WONDERLAND.
NARRATOR: WALLIS FIRMLY BELIEVED ELIZABETH-- "COOKIE" AS SHE DISMISSIVELY CALLED HER-- WAS JEALOUS OF HER FAIRYTALE ROMANCE.
COOKIE WAS SWEET ON DAVID.
NATURALLY, HE WASN'T INTERESTED.
WHAT COULD A SILLY, LITTLE GIRL LIKE HER OFFER HIM, A MAN OF THE WORLD?
SHE ONLY MARRIED BERTIE WHEN SHE REALIZED IT WASN'T GOING TO WASH WITH DAVID.
ELIZABETH: I TURNED BERTIE DOWN TWICE.
I WAS WARY OF MARRYING HIM, NERVOUS OF MY PRIVACY TAKING SECOND PLACE.
I DIDN'T WANT TO BE IN THE LIMELIGHT AT ALL.
AND I WAS VERY FOND OF HIS OLDER BROTHER.
WELL, THAT'S NO SECRET; OH, DAVID WAS TREMENDOUS FUN.
SHE WAS ALWAYS GOING TO HATE ME.
I HAD THE PRIZE, SHE HAD SECOND BEST.
I WILL DEFER TO THE DUKE OF WINDSOR, WHO BELIEVED THAT ELIZABETH WAS JEALOUS OF WALLIS, BECAUSE WALLIS HAD SUCCEEDED WHERE SHE HAD FAILED IN THAT ELIZABETH HAD SET OUT TO MARRY DAVID AND HAD NOT SUCCEEDED.
AND IT WAS HIS BELIEF THAT ELIZABETH WAS ENTIRELY MOTIVATED BY MALICE.
WHY DIDN'T SHE MARRY DAVID?
SHE TRIED TO MARRY DAVID; DAVID WAS NOT INTERESTED IN HER.
HE LIKED THEM SLENDER, SLEEK, AND SVELTE LIKE WALLIS.
HE DIDN'T LIKE THEM PLUMP LIKE--AND--AND--AND OLD-FASHIONED LIKE ELIZABETH.
WALLIS: OH, I DON'T BUY IT.
NOBODY IS THAT "GOODY GOODY."
YOU KNOW, DAVID AND I CALL HER "COOKIE" BECAUSE SHE LOOKS LIKE A TUBBY SCOTTISH COOK.
[WOMEN GIGGLING] "IT'S BEEN SO LOVELY TO SEE YOU, BUT YOU REALLY MUST EXCUSE ME.
I'M DYING TO GET THIS CORSET OFF."
MA'AM...WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN US?
[NO SOUND] WALLIS, VOICE-OVER: SUCH A KILLJOY.
SHE HAD NO SENSE OF HUMOR ABOUT IT.
ELIZABETH: SHE SAID I HAD...AHEM.
NO SENSE OF HUMOR...POPPYCOCK.
A FRIEND OF MINE SENT ME SOME WONDERFUL FACE POWDER FROM AMERICA.
IT WAS CALLED DUCHESS OF YORK PINK.
YOU CAN IMAGINE WHERE I PUT IT.
ELIZABETH: I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT POLITICS, BUT I DO KNOW A DECLARATION OF WAR.
MAN: HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE V OF ENGLAND HAS DIED IN HIS NORFOLK HOME.
NARRATOR: ON THE DEATH OF HIS FATHER GEORGE V, DAVID, THE PLAYBOY PRINCE OF WALES, BECAME KING EDWARD VIII.
WALLIS: I SAID, "I'M VERY SORRY."
IT WAS ONLY AS I HUNG UP I REALIZED HE WAS NOW KING.
NARRATOR: FOR WALLIS, BEING MISTRESS TO THE KING MEANT THINGS WERE GOING TO CHANGE.
NOT THAT I LIKED HIS FATHER ONE JOT.
A MAN LIKE THAT IS ALL TOO FAMILIAR.
WE BOTH GREW UP IN THE HOUSE OF A FOUL-TEMPERED BULLY.
THE KING HAD ONE AMBITION FOR HIS CHILDREN-- THAT THEY SHOULD BE FRIGHTENED OF HIM.
CAMPBELL: KING GEORGE V WAS A BRUTE, EVERYBODY AGREES HE WAS A BRUTE, AND I THINK THIS ALSO GOES BACK TO WHY DAVID ALSO HAD ISSUES.
GEORGE V WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT HOW THIS IRRESPONSIBLE YOUNG MAN WOULD ACTUALLY MEASURE UP TO BEING KING.
HE WAS KEPT OUT OF THE LOOP.
HE WASN'T GIVEN THE KIND OF TRAINING, THE ROYAL APPRENTICESHIP THAT HE SHOULD HAVE HAD.
HIS FATHER DESPAIRED OF HIM AND SAID, "WITHIN A YEAR, THIS BOY WILL RUIN HIMSELF.
"I HOPE HE NEVER COMES TO THE THRONE AND THAT THE THRONE PASSES TO LILIBET."
[PLAYING FANFARE] [CANNON SHOT] MAN: EDWARD ALBERT CHRISTIAN GEORGE ANDREW PATRICK DAVID... [CANNON SHOT] IS NOW EDWARD VIII.
[CROWD CHEERING] NARRATOR: THE DAY AFTER HIS FATHER DIED, DAVID WAS PROCLAIMED KING.
SHOCKINGLY, HE BROKE ROYAL PROTOCOL BY JOINING HIS MARRIED MISTRESS TO WATCH THE CEREMONY.
FROM NOW ON, IT'S ALL GOING TO BE DIFFERENT.
NO.
IT ISN'T.
NOTHING CAN CHANGE HOW I FEEL ABOUT YOU...NOTHING.
ELIZABETH: WELL, THE KING CONSIDERED HER UNSUITABLE AS A FRIEND, AND DISREPUTABLE AS A MISTRESS, AND UNTHINKABLE AS QUEEN OF ENGLAND.
SHE HAD TWO HUSBANDS LIVING; SHE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE BRITISH PEOPLE OR THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.
ALL SHE KNEW WAS HOW TO GET A MAN.
THEY SAID IN HER PRESENCE DAVID WAS LIKE A RABBIT IN FRONT OF A FERRET.
WALLIS, VOICE-OVER: NOW HE'S KING, THERE'S LITTLE LEFT OF PETER PAN.
HE'S BECOME A PRISONER OF HIS HERITAGE.
BUT I THINK HE'LL MAKE A GREAT KING OF A NEW ERA-- AND I BELIEVE THE COUNTRY THINKS THE SAME.
CAMPBELL: DAVID WAS MODERN AND THRUSTING.
AND HIS POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS, SUCH AS THEY WERE, WERE FOR CHANGE, MODERNITY, IMPROVING THE SYSTEM, REVAMPING THE SYSTEM.
YOU KNOW, HE USED TO REFER TO HIS PERFORMANCES AS KINGING AND PRINCING, AND, YOU KNOW, HE THOUGHT THAT-- HE DIDN'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.
I--I DON'T THINK IT'S THAT HE DIDN'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.
I THINK IT'S THAT HE THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER WAY TO BE ROYAL.
WHAT WE HAVEN'T SAID IS THAT ACTUALLY, DAVID WAS NOT OVERBURDENED WITH INTELLIGENCE.
THAT ACTUALLY, DAVID DIDN'T LIKE READING BOOKS OR NEWSPAPERS, SO, HE WASN'T VERY WELL INFORMED.
NOW, THAT'S A MAJOR DISADVANTAGE FOR SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO BE KING.
DAVID: IT'S CUSTOM DESIGNED BY BUICK: HYDRAULIC BRAKES AND COIL SPRINGS IN THE FRONT.
120 HORSEPOWER WHICH WILL TAKE YOU TO 60 MILES AN HOUR IN... WHAT'S WRONG WITH A DAIMLER?
BECAUSE IT'S A DAIMLER.
BUT IT'S THE BEST OF BRITISH.
THIS IS FAST, IT'S MODERN: IT'S COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TO ANYTHING WE PRODUCE HERE.
HE ALWAYS HAS TO HAVE THE LATEST THING.
KNICKERBOCKERS.
IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S BETTER; IT'S JUST DIFFERENT.
GET IN.
WHAT?
GET IN!
WE'RE GOING FOR A SPIN.
YES, YES, ALL RIGHT.
IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO CONVINCE YOU.
BERTIE: ALL RIGHT!
HE'LL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN.
[ENGINE STARTS] SEBBA: IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ESSENTIAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THESE TWO WOMEN: BEING MODERN, CUTTING EDGE, SHARP, AND FASHIONABLE WAS EVERYTHING THAT MATTERED TO WALLIS.
I THINK ANOTHER THING IS THAT WALLIS WAS FAR MORE SUPERFICIAL A PERSONALITY THAN ELIZABETH.
BRITTLE.
CAMPBELL: ELIZABETH CLOAKED HERSELF IN OLD-FASHIONED VIRTUE.
I THINK YOU'RE A BIT UNFAIR ON ELIZABETH, BECAUSE I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT HER CHARACTER WAS FORMED IN THE CRUCIBLE OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR, SO, SHE GREW UP WITH DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY AND SERVICE.
SO, WE HAVE DIFFERENT VALUES EMERGING, THEN, DON'T WE?
WE'VE GOT SACRIFICE AND DUTY FOR--FOR ELIZABETH, WE'VE GOT SELF-INTEREST, SELF-ABSORPTION FOR--FOR WALLIS.
NARRATOR: BENEATH THE VENEER OF POLITENESS, ELIZABETH FELT THREATENED BY WALLIS, WHO SEEMED TO BE ENCROACHING UPON EVERYTHING THAT SHE AND BERTIE HELD DEAR.
THIS WAS ALL WILDERNESS WHEN WE MOVED IN.
BERTIE TRANSFORMED IT.
IT'S SO SWEET YOU'VE DONE IT YOURSELVES.
WE FOUND NORAH INVALUABLE.
OH, IT'S HIS PASSION.
YOU SEE THOSE TREES?
HE LANDSCAPED THEM ALL TO GIVE A BETTER SENSE OF DEPTH IN THE VIEW.
THEY BOTH LOVE GARDENING, DON'T THEY?
I ALWAYS CARRY IN MY MIND THE ODD PICTURE OF DAVID-- A SLIGHT FIGURE IN PLUS FOURS, LOPING UP THE SLOPE OF A HILL, SWINGING A BILLHOOK AND WHISTLING.
THAT'S WHEN I FELL FOR HIM.
WE'VE GONE FOR A SILVER LOOK AT THE FORT WITH BIRCHES.
YOU MUST COME AND SEE.
BERTIE: ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, I DO UNDERSTAND!
I KNEW IT.
CERTAINLY USEFUL FOR A SHOOTING BRAKE, BUT IT'S STILL NOT THE MOTORCAR FOR ME.
WILL I NEVER GET YOU OUT OF VICTORIANA!
WALLIS: DAVID.
DO YOU SEE THOSE TREES OVER THERE?
IF YOU CUT THEM DOWN, AND DUG OUT PART OF THAT HILL, IT WOULD REALLY IMPROVE THE VIEW.
IT WOULD OPEN UP THE POTENTIAL HERE.
DAVID: HMM.
ELIZABETH, VOICE-OVER: I KNEW WHAT THAT WOMAN WAS UP TO.
SHE WAS TRYING TO TAKE OVER DAVID AND HUMILIATE BERTIE.
THE ROYAL LODGE WAS OUR HOUSE.
WE'D PUT EVERYTHING INTO IT.
HIS OWN MOTHER SAID, "AT PRESENT, "HE IS UTTERLY INFATUATED, BUT MY GREAT HOPE IS THAT VIOLENT INFATUATIONS USUALLY WEAR OFF."
HIS MOTHER WAS SO AFRAID SHE MIGHT HAVE TO RECEIVE HER.
I THOUGHT DAVID WAS A LITTLE MAD.
HE SEEMED BEWITCHED: A SLAVE TO HER.
IT WASN'T A CASE OF NORMAL LOVE.
NARRATOR: ELIZABETH AND LEADING MEMBERS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT WERE MYSTIFIED BY WALLIS' POWER OVER DAVID.
SALACIOUS RUMORS BEGAN TO SPREAD ABOUT HER PAST.
WALLIS WAS SURROUNDED BY A SEXUAL MYTHOLOGY.
THERE WAS THE CHINA DOSSIER, WHICH SAID THAT SHE'D WORKED IN BROTHELS IN SHANGHAI AND PEKING.
THERE WAS THE FACT THAT VON RIBBENTROP, THE GERMAN AMBASSADOR TO BRITAIN, WAS APPARENTLY GIVING HER 17 CARNATIONS, BOUQUETS, WHICH SHOWED THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT THEY'D HAD SEX TOGETHER.
I THINK THAT THE POINT ABOUT THE CHINA DOSSIER, WHY PEOPLE BELIEVED IN IT WAS POSSIBLY PRIME MINISTER BALDWIN WANTED TO FIND SOME REASON WHY DAVID COULDN'T MARRY WALLIS, SO, THEY DID ALL THEIR DIGGING AND THEIR HOMEWORK AND THAT'S HOW THE RUMORS... CAMPBELL: YES, IT WAS-- IT WAS A SMEAR CAMPAIGN.
SEBBA: WELL, THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD FIND WHAT--WHAT WAS WALLIS' SEXUAL TECHNIQUES, YOU KNOW, THE BALTIMORE GRIP, THE CHINA CLINCH, THE SHANGHAI SQUEEZE.
ALL OF THIS IS UTTER RUBBISH.
MORTON: BUT MORE THAN THAT, THE POINT ABOUT THIS IS THIS IS WHAT THE ESTABLISHMENT BELIEVED AND THIS IS HOW THEY WENT FORWARD.
SO, THEY--THEY BASED THEIR DECISION MAKING ON THE FACT THAT THEY BELIEVED THAT--THAT WALLIS WAS ONE--ONE STEP UP FROM A PROSTITUTE, SO, THEY WERE SEEN AS--AS TOXIC.
NOT TO BE TRUSTED.
NARRATOR: HE MAY HAVE BEEN KING AND EMPEROR, BUT DAVID WOULD LET NOTHING STAND IN THE WAY OF HIS PASSIONATE AFFAIR.
IN THE SUMMER OF 1936, HE ABANDONED HIS DUTIES AND WENT ON AN EXTENDED HOLIDAY WITH HIS MARRIED MISTRESS.
EVEN WALLIS, WITH HER LOVE OF LUXURY AND BOUNDLESS AMBITION, REALIZED THE HOLIDAY HAD BEEN A STEP TOO FAR.
WALLIS: AFTER THE CRUISE, I WENT TO PARIS ALONE.
I SAW THE AMERICAN PAPERS, FULL OF THE MOST LURID REPORTS.
I IMMEDIATELY WROTE TO DAVID--TO GO ON FIGHTING THE INEVITABLE COULD ONLY MEAN TRAGEDY FOR HIM AND CATASTROPHE FOR ME.
WE COULD ONLY CREATE DISASTER TOGETHER.
I HONESTLY DIDN'T BELIEVE WE COULD EVER MAKE EACH OTHER HAPPY.
IT WAS OVER.
HE TELEPHONED IMMEDIATELY.
HE SAID...
IF I TRIED TO LEAVE HIM, HE'D CUT HIS THROAT.
I HAD TO COME STRAIGHT BACK TO BALMORAL.
NARRATOR: AS THEY LOUNGED IN THE MEDITERRANEAN, DAVID AND WALLIS HAD DELAYED AN IMPORTANT ANNUAL EVENT-- THE TRADITIONAL GATHERING OF THE ROYAL FAMILY IN SCOTLAND.
TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, DAVID THEN ASKED HIS MISTRESS TO ACT AS HOST.
FOR ELIZABETH, THIS WAS AN AFFRONT TO EVERYTHING SHE STOOD FOR.
PLEASE EXCUSE ME.
WHY, MA'AM, HOW WONDERFUL TO S-- I'M HERE TO DINE WITH THE KING.
ELIZABETH: DAVID, SO LOVELY TO SEE YOU.
SO LOVELY TO SEE YOU.
YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL, OF COURSE.
ELIZABETH: SHE HAD NO IDEA OF THE BONDS THAT CONSTRAIN A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY.
SHE UTTERLY MISUNDERSTOOD WHAT SHE WAS PLAYING WITH.
CAMPBELL: ELIZABETH WAS VERY SWEET AND SACCHARINE.
BUT THERE WAS ARSENIC IN THE MARSHMALLOW.
EVERYBODY HAS THIS IDEA THAT SHE WAS THIS SWEET, FROTHY, EMINENTLY DISMISSIBLE GRANNY.
WELL, SHE WASN'T.
THERE WAS A WHOLE HEAP MORE TO HER.
SHE WAS STEELY.
IT WAS MORE THAT SHE HAD STEEL.
VERY.
BECAUSE SHE NEEDED TO HAVE THAT TO HELP HER HUSBAND.
NARRATOR: ELIZABETH WAS APPALLED AT WALLIS PLAYING QUEEN AT BALMORAL-- A STILL-MARRIED DIVORCEE SLEEPING WITH THE KING IN QUEEN VICTORIA'S BED WAS SACRILEGE.
LADIES.
ELIZABETH: LADIES, SHALL WE RETIRE?
NARRATOR: FOR ELIZABETH, WALLIS' PRESENCE COULD NO LONGER BE TOLERATED.
WALLIS, VOICE-OVER: PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY DO NOT MIND FORNICATION BUT THEY LOATHE ADULTERY.
IT WOULD BE BETTER THAT I WAS A WIDOW, BUT I WAS NOT.
EVEN THOUGH ERNEST AND I HAD COME TO THE END OF OUR RUN.
THE CORE OF OUR MARRIAGE HAD DISSOLVED; ONLY A SHELL REMAINED, A FACADE TO SHOW THE OUTER WORLD.
NARRATOR: WALLIS' DIVORCE WAS IMMINENT.
DAVID HAD ALREADY COME TO A GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT WITH ERNEST TO SET WALLIS FREE SO THAT HE COULD MARRY HER.
BUT THE GOVERNMENT AND CHURCH OF ENGLAND, LIKE ELIZABETH, WERE ADAMANT THAT DAVID SHOULD NOT MARRY A WOMAN WHO HAD BEEN DIVORCED TWICE.
WHAT IS IT?
NARRATOR: IT WAS SEEN AS CONSTITUTIONALLY AND MORALLY INDEFENSIBLE.
WHAT?
"THE SILENCE OF THE BRITISH PRESS "ON THE SUBJECT OF YOUR MAJESTY'S "FRIENDSHIP WITH MRS. SIMPSON "IS NOT GOING TO BE MAINTAINED.
"THE EFFECT WILL BE CALAMITOUS.
"THERE IS ONLY ONE STEP WHICH HOLDS OUT "ANY PROSPECT OF AVOIDING THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION, "AND THAT IS FOR MRS. SIMPSON TO GO AWAY WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY."
MY GOD.
YOU'LL DO NO SUCH THING.
I WON'T HAVE IT.
THIS IS IMPERTINENCE.
DAVID, IT'S FROM HARDINGE, YOUR PRIVATE SECRETARY.
HE IS TRYING TO WARN YOU THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL INSIST YOU GIVE ME UP.
I AM FED UP WITH ALL OF ENGLAND TAKING CRACKS AT ME, AND NO DECENT SOCIETY SPEAKING TO ME.
WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS?
THEY CAN'T STOP ME.
ON THE THRONE OR OFF, I AM GOING TO MARRY YOU.
THIS IS MADNESS.
YOU CAN'T GIVE IT UP.
DAVID, PLEASE LISTEN-- YOU CAN GO WHEREVER YOU WISH.
I WILL ALWAYS, ALWAYS FOLLOW YOU.
NARRATOR: DAVID ARRANGED FOR WALLIS TO FLEE TO FRANCE, AWAY FROM GROWING PRESS AND PUBLIC ANGER.
IT WAS NOW CLEAR TO THOSE CLOSE TO THE KING THAT HE WAS NEVER GOING TO GIVE UP WALLIS-- EVEN IF IT COST HIM HIS CROWN.
I DON'T THINK HE EVER WANTED TO BE KING.
HE HAD THIS EXTRAORDINARY CHARM AND THEN IT ALL DISAPPEARED.
BERTIE WASN'T BROUGHT UP TO BE KING.
THERE WAS HIS STUTTER AND LACK OF CONFIDENCE AND I DIDN'T WANT LILIBET TO BE HEIR TO THE THRONE.
I DIDN'T WANT THE CHILDREN TO MOVE FROM THEIR HAPPY HOME.
HOW CAN A WOMAN BE A WHOLE EMPIRE TO A MAN?
I WAS DESPERATE FOR HIM NOT TO ABDICATE.
IT WOULD PUT ME IN THE WRONG LIGHT TO THE ENTIRE WORLD, BECAUSE THEY'D SAY THAT I COULD HAVE PREVENTED IT.
ALL I COULD DO WAS REMOVE MYSELF FROM HIS LIFE.
I EVEN PUT OUT A PRESS STATEMENT SAYING I'D GO.
HE WOULDN'T STAND FOR IT.
IT SEEMED ALMOST INCREDIBLE THAT DAVID WOULD CONTEMPLATE SUCH A STEP.
EVERY DAY I PRAYED THAT HE WOULD SEE REASON AND NOT ABANDON HIS PEOPLE.
THE ONLY THING IS HE WAS QUITE HAPPY WITH HER.
I, WHO SOUGHT NO PLACE IN HISTORY, WOULD NOW BE ASSURED OF ONE-- AN APPALLING ONE, CARVED OUT OF BLIND PREJUDICE.
NARRATOR: FOR DAVID, THE CHOICE WAS NOW STARK.
TO REMAIN KING AND MARRY WALLIS WOULD BRING DOWN THE GOVERNMENT-- AND THROW THE COUNTRY AND EMPIRE INTO CONSTITUTIONAL CHAOS.
THERE COULD BE ONLY ONE OUTCOME.
ON DECEMBER 11, 1936, HE BROADCAST HIS DECISION TO THE WORLD.
DAVID: A FEW HOURS AGO, I DISCHARGED MY LAST DUTY AS KING AND EMPEROR, AND NOW THAT I HAVE BEEN SUCCEEDED BY MY BROTHER, MY FIRST WORDS MUST BE TO DECLARE MY ALLEGIANCE TO HIM.
YOU ALL KNOW THE REASONS WHICH HAVE IMPELLED ME TO RENOUNCE THE THRONE.
BUT YOU MUST BELIEVE ME WHEN I TELL YOU THAT I HAVE FOUND IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CARRY THE HEAVY BURDEN OF RESPONSIBILITY WITHOUT THE HELP AND SUPPORT OF THE WOMAN I LOVE.
AND NOW WE ALL HAVE A NEW KING.
I WISH HIM AND YOU, HIS PEOPLE, HAPPINESS AND PROSPERITY WITH ALL MY HEART.
[CRYING] GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
GOD SAVE THE KING!
ELIZABETH, VOICE-OVER: HE FAILED HIS FAMILY, HE FAILED HIS COUNTRY, AND HE FAILED HIMSELF.
HIS OWN MOTHER SAID IT WAS INCONCEIVABLE TO THOSE WHO HAD MADE SUCH SACRIFICES DURING THE GREAT WAR, THAT HE AS THEIR KING REFUSED A LESSER SACRIFICE.
[SIGH] IF THAT WOMAN WAS NOT FIT TO BE QUEEN, SHE WAS NOT FIT TO BE THE KING'S WIFE.
THE CROWN MUST BE ABOVE ALL CONTROVERSY.
NOW THAT DAVID WAS NO LONGER KING, HE NEEDED TO REMOVE HIMSELF FROM THE PICTURE SO THAT BERTIE COULD ESTABLISH HIMSELF, BUT HE HAD LOST THE COMMON TOUCH AND CHOSEN THE LOWEST OF THE LOW-- A THOROUGHLY IMMORAL WOMAN.
MORTON: I THINK THE DEFINING CHARACTERISTIC ABOUT ELIZABETH WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS PREPARED TO SACRIFICE HERSELF ULTIMATELY ON THE--ON THE ALTAR OF MONARCHY, IN A WAY THAT WALLIS SIMPSON WAS NEVER REALLY PREPARED TO SACRIFICE HERSELF FOR ANYTHING.
SEBBA: YES, I THINK DUTY IS TERRIBLY IMPORTANT AND CHRISTIAN DUTY AS WELL AND CHRISTIAN CHARITY.
CAMPBELL: WELL, I ACTUALLY THINK THE DANGER WITH ELIZABETH HAS BEEN TO GLAMORIZE HER AND SANCTIFY HER AND USE THE ABDICATION AS THE VEHICLE FOR SANCTIFICATION.
BUT ELIZABETH WAS ALSO A VERY COMPETITIVE INDIVIDUAL AND ELIZABETH ALSO LIKED THE LIMELIGHT.
["POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE" PLAYING] NEWSREEL ANNOUNCER: THE GLORY OF A BRITISH CORONATION.
NOWHERE IN THE WORLD IS THERE ANYTHING HALF SO WONDERFUL.
NARRATOR: ON MAY 12, 1937, ELIZABETH WAS AT HER HUSBAND BERTIE'S SIDE WHEN HE WAS CROWNED KING GEORGE VI.
THE SAME DATE DAVID'S CORONATION HAD BEEN PLANNED FOR.
MAN ON RADIO: ONLY ONCE OR TWICE IN THE LIFE OF EACH ONE OF US COMES SUCH A DAY AS THIS.
NARRATOR: NOW WITH THE NEW TITLE OF THE DUKE OF WINDSOR, DAVID JOINED WALLIS IN FRANCE.
MAN ON RADIO: ...1937 WILL BE ONE OF THE DATES IN ENGLISH HISTORY THAT THE SCHOOLCHILDREN WILL LEARN ABOUT.
WALLIS, VOICE-OVER: THE WORDS OF THE SERVICE ROLLED OVER ME LIKE A WAVE.
MENTAL IMAGES OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN--SHOULD HAVE BEEN-- WERE RACING THROUGH MY MIND.
AS A WOMAN IN LOVE, I WAS PREPARED TO GO THROUGH RIVERS OF WOE, SEAS OF DESPAIR, AND OCEANS OF AGONY FOR HIM.
MAN ON RADIO: ...WE KNOW THAT GENERATIONS OF ENGLISHMEN TO COME WILL LOOK BACK ON THIS DAY.
[CROWD CHEERING] NEWSREEL ANNOUNCER: IT WAS A ROMANCE THAT ROCKED THE EMPIRE BUT IT THRILLED THE WORLD.
NARRATOR: WITHIN 3 WEEKS OF HIS BROTHER BECOMING KING, DAVID MARRIED THE WOMAN HE LOVED AT A CHATEAU IN FRANCE, AND WALLIS BECAME THE DUCHESS OF WINDSOR.
SEBBA: SO, BY THE TIME DAVID AND WALLIS FINALLY GET MARRIED, IT'S AFTER THE CORONATION.
THEY DO AT LEAST WAIT UNTIL THEN.
AND HOW MANY PEOPLE TURN UP AT THE WEDDING?
7!
NO, OF COURSE WE WOULDN'T GO OR SEND A ROYAL CHAPLAIN TO OFFICIATE.
I MEAN, DIDN'T HE REALIZE WHAT HE HAD DONE?
GIVEN UP THE THRONE!
MORTON: THE ROYAL FAMILY MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT ANYBODY WHO WENT TO DAVID AND WALLIS' WEDDING WERE OUT.
IF THEY WERE CLERGYMEN, THEY WERE OUT, IF THEY WERE ARISTOCRACY, THEY WERE OUT, IF THEY WERE MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY, DEFINITELY NOT.
SO, THERE WAS AN EDICT THAT BASICALLY OSTRACIZED ANYONE WHO DARED TO GO TO THE SO-CALLED "WEDDING OF THE CENTURY."
ELIZABETH WENT OUT OF HER WAY TO RUIN DAVID AND WALLIS' WEDDING WITH A DEGREE OF VINDICTIVENESS THAT IS REALLY QUITE ASTONISHING.
THE ONE POINT YOU MENTION ABOUT BEING VINDICTIVE, ONE NEEDS TO LOOK AT WHY WALLIS WAS NOT GIVEN ROYAL INITIALS.
WHY WALLIS WAS NOT CREATED HRH.
AND I THINK INITIALLY THAT WAS VERY CLEVER AND VERY SENSIBLE, BECAUSE ELIZABETH FEARED BRINGING THEM BACK.
SO, AS LONG AS SHE DIDN'T HAVE ROYAL INITIALS, NOBODY WOULD CURTSEY TO HER, THEREFORE, DAVID WAS NOT GOING TO BRING HIS WONDERFUL WIFE BACK TO ENGLAND TO BE HUMILIATED AND INSULTED BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T HAVE ROYAL INITIALS.
AND THIS WAS, AS THE DUKE OF WINDSOR SAID, A FINE WEDDING PRESENT DROPPED IN THEIR LAP JUST BEFORE THE WEDDING.
DAVID SAID THAT COOKIE WAS AN ARCH-INTRIGUER DEDICATED TO MAKING LIFE HELL FOR BOTH OF US.
BEHIND THAT GREAT ABUNDANCE OF CHARM LIES A SHREWD, SCHEMING, AND EXTREMELY RUTHLESS WOMAN.
ELIZABETH: SHE AND DAVID BLAMED ALL THE HOO-HA ABOUT THE TITLE ON ME.
AS IF I COULD HAVE ANY INFLUENCE ON SUCH A MATTER.
DAVID WAS THE ONE WHO UTTERLY REFUSED TO COME BACK TO THE COUNTRY UNLESS THAT WOMAN WAS GIVEN THE HRH.
HE RANG BERTIE AND BERATED HIM AND WHEN BERTIE SAID NO, DAVID BURST INTO TEARS.
FOR GOODNESS SAKE-- I--WE--BERTIE-- HAD ALREADY MADE HER A DUCHESS!
THE MORNING AFTER THE WEDDING, I WOKE UP AND THERE WAS DAVID STANDING BESIDE THE BED WITH THIS INNOCENT SMILE, SAYING, "AND NOW WHAT DO WE DO?"
MY HEART SANK.
HERE WAS SOMEONE WHOSE EVERY DAY HAD BEEN ARRANGED FOR HIM ALL OF HIS LIFE AND NOW I WAS THE ONE WHO WAS GOING TO TAKE THE PLACE OF THE ENTIRE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TRYING TO THINK UP THINGS FOR HIM TO DO.
NEWSREEL ANNOUNCER: THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF WINDSOR VISIT GERMANY.
THERE'S A BIG CROWD AT THE STATION TO CATCH A GLIMPSE OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS AND THE DUCHESS ON THEIR ARRIVAL FROM PARIS.
NARRATOR: SHUNNED BY HIS OWN FAMILY AND NATION, DAVID GRABBED THE FIRST HAND OF FRIENDSHIP HE WAS OFFERED.
SEBBA: HE WANTED TO TAKE WALLIS SOMEWHERE WHERE SHE'D FEEL SHE WAS A QUEEN, WHERE SHE'D BE TREATED AS IF IT WAS A STATE VISIT BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T HAVE HRH SO NOBODY WOULD CURTSEY TO HER.
I MEAN, HOW FOOLISH AND STUPID, BUT I THINK WHAT THAT SHOWS IS HOW VULNERABLE THEY WERE BECAUSE THE BRITISH ESTABLISHMENT HAD WITHDRAWN ALL USEFUL SOURCES OF ADVICE.
SO, THEY GO OFF TO GERMANY, AND HERE ARE THESE PICTURES WHICH COME BACK TO HAUNT WALLIS OF HER SMILING AND CURTSEYING TO HITLER.
NOW, IN 1937, THEY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS WAS NOT A PLACE WHERE MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY SHOULD GO.
MORTON: FROM THE MOMENT HITLER BECAME CHANCELLOR OF GERMANY IN 1933, HE WAS FASCINATED WITH DAVID.
THERE WAS AN ALLY THAT HE COULD USE, AN ALLY THAT HE COULD TRUST, SOMEONE WHO WOULD MOLD BRITISH OPINION.
HE SAW HIM AS A MAN WHO WAS MODERN, PROGRESSIVE, AND IN TUNE WITH NATIONAL SOCIALIST VALUES.
ELIZABETH: WHAT A CURSE BLACK SHEEP ARE IN A FAMILY.
DAVID IS AN ODD CREATURE.
HE'S EXACTLY LIKE HITLER IN THINKING THAT ANYBODY WHO DOESN'T AGREE WITH HIM IS AUTOMATICALLY WRONG.
DAVID SAID IT WAS NO BUSINESS OF OURS TO INTERFERE IN GERMANY'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS REGARDING THE JEWS OR ANYONE ELSE.
EVERYONE KNOWS I LIKE JEWS.
THE RICH ONES!
BESIDES, DAVID SAID DICTATORS ARE VERY POPULAR THESE DAYS AND WE MIGHT WANT ONE IN ENGLAND.
[CROWD SHOUTING IN NATIVE LANGUAGE] WALLIS: HITLER GAVE ONE A FEELING OF GREAT INNER FORCE.
HIS EYES WERE TRULY EXTRAORDINARY AND I FOUND MYSELF CONFRONTED WITH A MASK.
HE TOLD DAVID CATEGORICALLY HE SOUGHT NO WAR WITH ENGLAND.
NEWSREEL ANNOUNCER: POLAND, SEPTEMBER 1939.
THE GERMAN FOE BEGINS ITS RUTHLESS MARCH OF CONQUEST AND SETS THE STAGE FOR WORLD WAR II.
NARRATOR: WHEN WAR BROKE OUT, DAVID AND WALLIS WERE IN FRANCE, AND THEY WERE SEEN AS A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY.
SO, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ORDERED THEM TO COME HOME, EVEN IF THE ROYAL FAMILY DIDN'T WANT THEM BACK.
WALLIS: WE WERE FIGHTING A WAR ON TWO FRONTS-- THE BIG ONE, AND THE LITTLE COLD WAR WITH THE FAMILY.
ONCE FRANCE FELL, THEY COULDN'T GET US "HOME" QUICK ENOUGH.
THEY WERE OBSESSED WITH DAVID BEING USED BY HITLER.
MIND YOU, IF DAVID HAD STAYED ON THE THRONE, WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD A WAR IN THE FIRST PLACE.
ELIZABETH: WHAT WERE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT MRS. S?
I SENT HER A MESSAGE SAYING I WAS SORRY, BUT I COULD NOT RECEIVE HER.
I THOUGHT IT HONEST TO MAKE IT QUITE CLEAR SO SHE KEPT AWAY.
SHE HATED THIS COUNTRY.
IT WAS QUITE UNSUITABLE FOR HER TO BE HERE DURING WARTIME.
BESIDES, BERTIE WAS STILL FINDING HIS FEET.
SO, BACK THEY WENT TO FRANCE, WHERE WE HOPED THEY WOULD REMAIN.
I THINK AT LAST DAVID REALIZED THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR HIM HERE.
NARRATOR: MORE AND MORE DAMNING EVIDENCE WAS COMING TO LIGHT ABOUT DAVID'S WARTIME ALLEGIANCES-- PROVING ELIZABETH WAS RIGHT TO BE SUSPICIOUS OF HIM AND WALLIS.
[PLAYING SLOW TUNE] MORTON: WHEN FRANCE WAS INVADED IN MAY 1940, WALLIS AND DAVID MADE THEIR WAY TO FASCIST SPAIN.
THEY WERE VERY VULNERABLE THERE, BUT THEY WERE VERY LOQUACIOUS.
THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR BRITAIN TO BE HEAVILY BOMBED.
THEY WERE INDISCREET, THEY WERE DEFEATIST, AND THE GOVERNMENT WAS HORRIFIED BY THIS.
YOU'RE RIGHT WHEN YOU SAY THAT THEY WERE LOQUACIOUS.
BUT ACTUALLY, THEY BOTH SAID SOME DREADFUL THINGS.
I MEAN, DAVID SAID HE REALLY THOUGHT THAT IF THE BRITISH WERE BOMBED, THEY'D MAKE PEACE SOONER.
AND WALLIS SAID, WELL, AFTER ALL I'VE BEEN THROUGH, IT'S NOT VERY MUCH FOR THEM TO SUFFER THAT.
I'VE SUFFERED MUCH MORE.
MORTON: EVEN ROOSEVELT, THE PRESIDENT OF AMERICA, BELIEVED THAT SHORTWAVE RADIOS WERE TRANSMITTING INFORMATION GLEANED FROM WALLIS AND DAVID BACK TO THE NAZIS.
SO, THAT'S THE LEVEL OF PARANOIA THAT WAS IN THE ESTABLISHMENT WITH REGARDS TO DAVID AND WALLIS.
NARRATOR: THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND KING GEORGE VI DECIDED THE SOLUTION WAS TO DISPATCH WALLIS AND DAVID TO A PLACE WHERE THEY COULD CAUSE AS LITTLE HARM AS POSSIBLE--THE BAHAMAS.
IT'S A DREADFUL IDEA.
IT'S DREADFUL!
SHE HAS 3 HUSBANDS LIVING.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNSUITABLE AS THE WIFE OF A COLONIAL GOVERNOR.
HER PRESENCE THERE THREATENS THE CHURCH'S POSITION THAT FAMILY LIFE IS ESSENTIAL TO THE STABILITY AND HAPPINESS OF THE COMMUNITY.
YOU'RE TAKING THIS TOO PERSONALLY.
IT'S A COMPLETE LOWERING OF STANDARDS IF A GOVERNOR'S WIFE, LIKE HER, IS TO LEAD AND SET AN EXAMPLE IN THE BAHAMAS.
IT IS UTTERLY...
ENOUGH, ENOUGH!
WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT TO DO-- HAVE THEM BACK IN ENGLAND?
OR WAIT FOR THEM TO BE PICKED UP BY THE GERMANS AND START BROADCASTING LIKE THE NEXT HAW HAW?
I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT BEING SENT TO THE CARIBBEAN WAS FAR ENOUGH AWAY-- EVEN FOR YOU.
CAMPBELL: ELIZABETH ACTUALLY WENT TO THE EXTENT OF WRITING A LETTER SAYING, I DON'T WANT ANYBODY CURTSEYING TO HER.
I MEAN, YOU TALK ABOUT THE PETTINESS OF IT ALL.
WELL, I MEAN, PART OF THE PETTINESS WAS THAT WHEN THEY ARRIVED INITIALLY, THE FOREIGN OFFICE SAID, HOW DO WE TREAT THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES, AND BUCKINGHAM PALACE CAME BACK QUICK AS A-- QUICK AS A WHIP, AND REMEMBER, THIS IS AT A TIME WHEN BRITAIN WAS ABOUT TO BE INVADED BY THE NAZIS, SAYING DO NOT EVER USE THE TERM "HER ROYAL HIGHNESS" FOR WALLIS SIMPSON, FOR THE DUCHESS OF WINDSOR.
THE BAHAMAS!
WE COULDN'T THINK OF ANYWHERE MORE GHASTLY.
THE PLACE WAS A DUMP.
IT WAS SWELTERING HOT.
IT WAS A DOUBLE ZERO JOB IN A MORON'S PARADISE.
[CROWD CHEERING] ELIZABETH, VOICE-OVER: WHEN I HEARD HER REACTION TO THE BAHAMAS POSTING, I KNEW BERTIE WAS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
I DON'T MIND ADMITTING I WAS TERRIFIED WHEN WE STARTED BEING BOMBED.
THE BLITZ--THE DESTRUCTION WAS SO AWFUL AND THE PEOPLE TOO WONDERFUL.
THEY DESERVED A BETTER WORLD.
IT MADE ME ALL THE MORE DETERMINED TO BEAT THOSE UNSPEAKABLE HUNS.
[GUNSHOT] I'M NOT AS NICE AS I LOOK.
[GUNSHOT] ELIZABETH, VOICE-OVER: I WOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIKE THE ROYALS IN BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG.
I WOULD GO DOWN FIGHTING.
IT'S A BORE WAR.
THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO CALL IT.
I'M GLAD THEY WERE BOMBED.
DARLING!
OH, YOU KNOW, AFTER WHAT THEY DID TO ME-- A WHOLE NATION AGAINST ONE LONE WOMAN.
OH, CAREFUL.
AT LEAST BOMBS ARE EXCITING.
I PROMISE YOU, ONCE HITLER CRUSHES THE AMERICANS AND THIS WHOLE BALLY MESS IS OVER, WE'LL GO BACK.
THEY MAY NOT WANT ME AS THEIR KING, BUT THEY'LL DAMN WELL HAVE ME AS THEIR LEADER.
NARRATOR: WALLIS AND DAVID SAW OUT THE REST OF THE WAR IN THE OBSCURITY OF THE BAHAMAS, BEFORE THEY RETURNED AS EXILES TO FRANCE IN 1945.
WINSTON CHURCHILL: YESTERDAY MORNING AT 2:41 A.M., THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GERMAN HIGH COMMAND SIGNED THE ACT OF UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER TO THE ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.
HOSTILITY WILL END OFFICIALLY AT ONE MINUTE AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.
NARRATOR: ELIZABETH AND BERTIE WON THE HEARTS OF THE NATION DURING THE WAR AND RULED FOR ANOTHER 7 YEARS UNTIL HIS PREMATURE DEATH IN 1952.
MORTON: CLEARLY, THE TRIUMPHAL FIGURE IN THIS WHOLE EPISODE IS THE QUEEN MOTHER.
SHE EMERGES COVERED IN GLORY, REINVENTS THE ROYAL FAMILY.
BUT OF COURSE, SHE DOESN'T SEE HERSELF AS A TOTAL WINNER BECAUSE SHE BLAMES WALLIS FOR THESE LONG YEARS OF WIDOWHOOD, FOR THE PREMATURE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND FROM CANCER, AND--AND THE STRESS AGGRAVATING THAT, SO, SHE BELIEVED THAT ACTUALLY, SHE'D BEEN DENIED THE HAPPY, QUIET FAMILY LIFE WITH HER TWO DAUGHTERS WHICH SHE MAINTAINED WAS ALL THAT SHE CRAVED.
THE DAY BEFORE MY DARLING BERTIE DIED, HE WAS SO FULL OF PLANS AND IDEAS FOR THE FUTURE.
MAKING GARDENS, PLANNING VISTAS, AND RE-HANGING PICTURES AT WINDSOR AND OTHER VERY ENGLISH THINGS WHICH HE NEVER HAD TIME FOR.
HE WAS SUCH AN ANGEL TO ME AND THE GIRLS.
AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT "THAT WOMAN" WAS THE ROOT OF HIS EARLY DEATH.
THEY SAID I HATED HER.
IT'S NOT TRUE.
YOU HAVE TO KNOW SOMEONE TO HATE THEM.
WALLIS: SHE NEVER INVITED ME TO BERTIE'S FUNERAL.
DAVID WENT.
HE SAID...COOKIE WAS AS SUGAR AS EVER, BUT SHE AND HIS MOTHER WERE ICE-VEINED BITCHES.
WHEN WE ARE DEAD, PERHAPS SHE MAY AT LEAST FORGIVE US.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR] I HAVE BEEN PRETTY FLATTENED OUT BY THE WORLD IN GENERAL, AND I'VE CERTAINLY HAD MY SHARE OF EVERYTHING FROM THE BEGINNING-- USED BY POLITICIANS, HATED BY JEALOUS WOMEN, ACCUSED OF EVERYTHING.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR] COME IN.
READY, DARLING?
NARRATOR: FOR YEARS, WALLIS HAS BEEN BLAMED FOR CAUSING THE ABDICATION CRISIS, BUT RECENT EVIDENCE SUGGESTS, HOWEVER UNINTENTIONALLY, SHE MAY HAVE SAVED BRITAIN FROM A WEAK AND TREACHEROUS KING.
SEBBA: WHEN WE LOOK AT THE OVERALL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ABDICATION, IS IT REALLY AN ABDICATION CRISIS OR IS IT ACTUALLY A SOLUTION TO A CRISIS, WHICH ENABLED THE MONARCHY TO SURVIVE?
WELL, MANY PEOPLE WITHIN THE ESTABLISHMENT DID NOT WANT DAVID TO BECOME KING AND THE ABDICATION WAS A SUITABLE EXIT POINT FOR HIM.
HAD DAVID SAT ON THE THRONE AND WALLIS BECOME HIS WIFE, I THINK THE WHOLE COMPLEXION OF THE BRITISH IDENTITY, THE BRITISH NATION, WOULD HAVE BEEN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT.
I THINK IT'S REALLY A GREAT SHAKESPEAREAN TRAGEDY OR AN OPERA.
IT'S GOT ALL THE ELEMENTS OF AN OPERA: GREED, LUST, BETRAYAL, DRAMA ON A HIGH SCALE, AND AT THE HEART OF IT, JEALOUSY BETWEEN TWO WOMEN.
NEWSREEL REPORTER: THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF WINDSOR ATTEND THEIR FIRST PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN THE PRESENCE OF THE QUEEN SINCE THE DUKE'S ABDICATION.
THIS OCCASION SOMEHOW SETS THE SEAL ON ROYAL RECONCILIATION.
THE OCCASION, THE UNVEILING OF A PLAQUE TO THE DUKE'S MOTHER-- QUEEN MARY.
NARRATOR: THIS WAS THE CHANCE AT LAST TO BURY THE HATCHET AND END A FEUD THAT HAD SPANNED 30 YEARS.
MA'AM.
SO LOVELY TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
DAVID: IT'S NICE TO BE HERE ON MOTHER'S BIG DAY.
I'M SO SORRY WE CAN'T SEE YOU AFTERWARDS.
MAYBE ANOTHER TIME?
YES, THAT WOULD BE SUPER.
WHEN?
CAMPBELL: DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE DUKE OF WINDSOR'S DYING WORDS WERE?
"THE WASTE, THE WASTE, THE WASTE OF IT ALL."
ANNOUNCER: "ROYAL WIVES AT WAR" IS AVAILABLE ON DVD.
TO ORDER, VISIT SHOPPBS.ORG OR CALL 1-800-PLAY-PBS.
ALSO AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD ON iTUNES.
