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Wallis Warfield Simpson, the twice-divorced Amer-
ican for whom the king of England, Edward VIII,
would renounce his throne.
Twenty-six people were killed and 78 she shared with her second husband, never to set foot in Britain again
were dug out of the rubble. Ernest, at 5 George St., not far from without the permission of his brother,
Selfridges. A mutual friend had intro- the new king. After their marriage, the
A few steps east along Oxford Street duced them. couple lived their lives in exile, mostly
from the Thistle Marble Arch hotel is in France.
Selfridges -- the monumental depart- While the affair with the divorced
ment store built by American Harry American was common knowledge Americans clearly have had a major role
Gordon Selfridge, whose riches to rags to those in high society, the general in shaping London. And one won-
story is the subject of a popular PBS-TV British public was kept in the dark for ders, if the American Wallis Warfield
mini-series. After serving as a senior years, even though newspapers abroad Simpson had not won the heart of King
executive at Chicago’s Marshall Field & reported on the romance. Eventually, Edward VIII, what direction would the
Co. department store, Selfridge came Simpson filed for divorce in Britain. British monarchy have taken?
to London “to teach Britons to shop.” She had moved to a four-story fur-
Nearly forgotten after he squandered nished house at Cumberland Terrace
his fortune on gambling and other near Regent’s Park. IF YOU GO
vices, Selfridge today is remembered
within the sprawling store in a cozy The liaison was on its way to producing Benjamin Franklin House museum, the
lower-level bar called Harry Gordon’s. a government crisis, with the king told only remaining house occupied by
by government leaders that marriage Franklin: www.benjaminfranklinhouse.
One of the most intriguing Ameri- was out of the question. By now, the org
cans to have lived in London is Wallis newspapers were all over the story.
Warfield Simpson, the twice-divorced Grosvenor Square: london.usembassy.
American for whom the king of En- Simpson was reviled in the press, gov/rcgrsvnr.html
gland, Edward VIII, would renounce his received threatening letters and wit-
throne. Memories of her can be found a nessed angry crowds outside her home. Athenaeum Hotel: www.athenaeum-
few blocks north of Oxford Street. In December 1936, she left England hotel.com
for France. Days later, with no gov-
Their love affair began in 1933 when ernment support for his position, the VisitBritain: Britain’s national tourism
the king, then the Prince of Wales, king abdicated, leaving the throne for agency with information on all areas:
would drop in for drinks or dinner the woman he loved. He was given the www.visitbritain.com
at the Bryanston Court apartment title Duke of Windsor and was ordered
90 Wine Dine & Travel Summer 2014

