10th February 1937
The Pathe News Reel began rolling to the crowded picture house; "Mrs Wallis Simpson returns to Britain after being away from the King since last November. There's no word as to where Mrs Simpson will now go. She is met by Lord Mountbatten but it's safe to say that if she has come back to our shores, there's only one man she wishes to see". The crossing from Calais had been calm but Wallis's mind had been turning over since the call from Edward 9 days ago. Mountbatten had been dispatched to meet her and would take her to Fort Belvedere where she would be staying. As they made their way from Dover, Mountbatten briefed her on the plan.
"Wallis, has David explained what's to happen?", he asked kindly. Wallis shook her head, her hair perfectly set and her trademark pearls in place. "All I know is that I was told to buy some smart clothes in Paris", she laughed, "I predict cocktail parties and I don't mind telling you Louis, after months alone in a Paris apartment I could do with company". Mountbatten smiled, "You're going to see Queen Mary tonight". The smile drained from Wallis' face. "Queen Mary?! Oh no, no, I don't think so Louis", she stammered. She'd met the Queen when she was presented at court and her impression of her had hardly changed. She was cold, frosty, imperious, starchy and she knew that the last thing Mary would want to do is meet the American divorcee who had led her son astray.
"The King met with Queen Mary this morning. They discussed things, she's agreed to meet you on the advice of the Prime Minister", Mountbatten said patiently. He took her hand, "You'll be fine Wallis. She isn't the old dragon you might think she is". Wallis' head began to spin. What would she say? What would she wear? Should she curtsey, should she call the King 'His Majesty' or 'David'? Would he be there? Before she could gather her thoughts, the car drew up to Fort Belvedere. Her worries were distinguished temporarily as the smiling face of the man she loved greeted her. She went to speak but he took her hand tightly and said, "I believe in you". Silently, they entered the Fort and dressed for dinner.
The drive to Marlborough House seemed to last a lifetime. Wallis had been so nervous that she'd even declined a glass of water in case she spilled it on her smart and simple black dress. She'd been conservative in her choice of attire, just a black evening gown in chiffon and velvet with the simplest jewellery. Nothing osentatious or showy, just simple and understated. The drawing room of Marlborough House was alive, the Duke and Duchess of Kent and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester chatting and quaffing champagne. The Yorks were notable by their absence. Marina was the first to greet the couple, kissing the King on the cheek and dropping a curtsey whilst she greeted Wallis with an air kiss and a warm, "How are you dear?". Alice was similarly welcoming, though Henry was more guarded and simply nodded with a "How do you do?". Wallis felt like a stranger at a wedding even though she'd seen the assembled company socially for the last decade.
As she chatted with Marina and Alice, their discussion was cut short by the entrance of Queen Mary. Mary was dressed in lilac and grey, helped along by a walking stick. To her credit, she didn't immediately gaze at Wallis but neither did she ignore her. She crossed the room to kiss her son and the men bowed and the women curtseyed. Edward led the introduction, "Mama, this is Wallis Simpson". Mary forced a smile and shook her hand, "How do you do Mrs Simpson?", she said pleasantly. At dinner, Wallis was seated next to Prince George and as she laughed with him, she couldn't help but realise that Mary was viewing her with a mixture of caution and intrigue. There was no opportunity for a big conversation between the two leading ladies of the meeting but neither was there animosity. Mary had agreed to make an effort for her son, she did so perfectly.
The meeting was reported in the press the next day, despite the Prime Minister's request for silence. "QUEEN MEETS WALLIS", the headline rang out. The public were surprised and excited. "If she's alright by Queen Mary, she's alright by me", one working class chap said cheerily in a news reel. It was the kind of response the King wanted but it would now force a statement. The Palace and Downing Street would have to agree on a public announcement. If they announced the marriage, it could be disastrous. Parliament still had to approve. But then the people would soon know of the plan when the Act of Parliament was introduced. It was time for a meeting of King and Cabinet.
13th February 1937
The King took his seat. The Cabinet sat in a circular arrangement, their papers set before them. "Good morning Gentlemen", he said. His opening statement had been rehearsed and approved by the Prime Minister; "Last night, at 8pm at Windsor Castle, I proposed marriage to Mrs Simpson. She accepted". Most of the Cabinet launched into applause but some simply looked at one another, the remnants of the Baldwin camp. "I am sure I speak for all of us when I say congratulations Your Majesty", Chamberlain said. History was about to be changed forever. The Royal Family would never be the same. As the meeting unfolded, agreements were made and finally a timeline was settled upon. On Valentine's Day 1937, the engagement between the King and Mrs Simpson would be announced. An Act of Parliament called "The Royal Marriages Act 1772, Amendment" would be brought before the House making provision for a King to marry with the consent of parliament in a morganatic arrangement. The act would also make provision for the Sovereign to change the title or style of his consort as he saw fit but Edward had agreed with the Cabinet that Mrs Simpson would never be known as Queen Wallis.
Instead, Wallis would be created a Princess and a Duchess in her own right with the style of 'Royal Highness' before the marriage. The wedding would take place in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle and would be a small intimate affair. After the marriage, Wallis would rank second in the Order of Precedence for women (after Queen Mary) and would undertake the same duties as a Queen Consort would. Any children from the marriage would not be entered into the Line of Succession. A review date was set for the 1st May 1950 when there would be an opportunity for change. Agreeable to all sides, the announcement was finally made at 10pm. But what of the dominions? Churchill's suggestion was to allow the individual governments to make their own decisions about Wallis's position which would save time and akward feeling but Chamberlain was less certain. It was finally agreed that in the Act of Parliament, provision would be made that Wallis would be known by her United Kingdom style and title in all British dominions, reinforced by Letters Patent. The marriage was secured but this was by no means over.
To be continued...