Wallis Simpson: Ultimate Royal Villain or the Monarchy’s Greatest Victim?

This week on A Right Royal Podcast, hosts Andrea and Emily are joined by celebrated royal biographer and broadcaster Hugo Vickers to uncover the heartbreaking, untold truth behind the later years of Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor. While history remembers her as the glittering American divorcée who shook the British monarchy to its absolute core, forcing Edward VIII to choose love over his crown, Vickers reveals a hauntingly different reality. Chapters: 00:00 - The Dying Duke’s Final Bow 00:53 - Welcome to A Right Royal Podcast with Hugo Vickers 01:35 - A 20-Year-Old Outsider in the Windsor Court 05:10 - Hollywood Comes to Paris: Consulting on "My Duchess" 06:28 - Deconstructing the Myth: Why Edward VIII Really Left the Throne 09:40 - The Claustrophobic Romance: "If You Want a Spaniel, Buy One" 12:15 - Duty vs. Happiness: The Visual of Dead Eyes vs. Sparkling Eyes 15:00 - The Secret World of the Duchess's Jewels 17:13 - Hello! VIP Community Break 17:40 - The Rise of Maître Blum: Royalty's Most Sinister Relationship 27:10 - Isolated in the Honeyed Light: The Tragic, Bedridden End 30:05 - Collecting the Windsor Artifacts: Hugo’s Personal Bathroom Gallery 35:15 - Wallis Simpson vs. Meghan Markle: Is the Comparison Fair? 38:39 - Final Thoughts: Seeking Sympathy for a Misunderstood Figure Hosts: Andrea Caamano and Emily Nash Producer: Millie Jackson Editor: Sam Chisholm Executive Producer: Charlie Atkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices