Page 42 - All About History - Issue 34-16

The women before Wallis

Lady Thelma Furness
and the Prince of
Wales in 1932

King of hearts

Edward’s long list of lovers
revealed, and it seems he hated
‘princing’ just as much as he
loved other men’s wives
Marguerite Alibert 1917
Edward fell head over heels for this French courtesan
while serving in France in World War I, and took
advantage of her experience in the bedroom.
Marion Coke 1917

His irst liaison on home soil, Marion was married
to the Earl of Leicester, who eventually warned the
prince to stay away.
Lady Portia Cadogan 1917

During his afair with Lady Coke, Edward also
romanced his sister’s best friend, but she ended the
relationship to marry his friend Lord Edward Stanley.
Rosemary
Leveson-Gower
1918
A noted society beauty, both of the
prince’s parents were against the
match as they claimed there was a
‘taint of the blood’ in the Leveson-
Gower family.
Freda Dudley
Ward 1919-34
The English socialite was also
a married woman, but she was
regarded as a model of discretion
throughout their af air.
Lady Thelma
Furness 1930-34
Edward and Thelma’s af air began
while they were on safari together.
She was, of course, married to
another man. In 1931, she introduced
him to her close friend Wallis.
Wallis Simpson
1934-72
An American socialite and married

woman, Simpson iled for divorce in
1936 in order to marry Edward. He in
turn abdicated the throne.
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