Page 44 - All About History - Issue 34-16

The women before Wallis

Edward’s

murderous mistress

Andrew Rose – barrister, judge, and historian
– writes biographies with social, political and
legal themes, specialising in the interwar
period including Stinie: Murder On The
Common, Scandal At The Savoy and The
Prince, The Princess And The Perfect Murder.
In April 1917, Edward was swept of his
feet by Marguerite Alibert, a high-class
Parisian courtesan, professionally
known as ‘Maggie Meller’. Maggie’s
studbook already included a cohort of
seriously rich admirers, including the
Duke of Westminster, French aristocrats,
politicians and bankers. Her eye-watering
sexual repertoire captivated the shy
prince and their afair lasted until the end

of the war. Edward wrote wildly indiscreet
love letters to Maggie, which she kept.
This intimate correspondence would
eventually save her from the gallows.
In 1923, she shot her wealthy Egyptian
husband dead for his money and was
charged with murder. Faced with blackmail, the royal household did a

back-room deal. Maggie stayed silent about the royal afair; the trial judge
ensured the jury were not told about her true (and damning) character. Just a few months before
Edward got his letters back and Maggie walked free from court. his abdication, Edward and
Wallis visited Yugoslavia

Lady Rosemary Leveson-Gower (second
left) poses for a photograph with her
mother (left) and other ladies in 1913

44