The Duchess

Trigger warning: sexual abuse

Wallis Simpson has a long journey before becoming the Duchess of Windsor.

Wallis Simpson has a troubled past. Her first marriage was traumatic and her second is financially stable but lacking love or companionship. She's moved to London with her second husband, Ernest Simpson, and knows no one.

She by chance meets Thelma Morgan (Viscountess Furness, identical twin of Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt), who is the Prince of Wales' mistress. Wallis and Ernest are invited to spend the weekend at Fort Belvedere, the prince's house near Windsor Castle. Wallis is enchanted by the house (and the prince) and tries her hardest to get another invitation to the house. As Wallis continues to wine and dine with society ladies, she puts a strain on the Simpson finances.

When the famous custody trial Vanderbilt vs. Whitney (see The Woman Before Wallis) begins, Thelma leaves England for America to help her twin. She asks Wallis to keep an eye on the prince for her so he won't stray to another woman. Thelma thinks Wallis is too skinny and too old to attract the prince.

This novel's depiction of Wallis is interesting as she is content in her loveless marriage with Ernest Simpson, even though he is dismissed by high society. Wallis imagines her relationship with David will one day end because it cannot become something more. The Simpson divorce is depicted as being forced upon them by Edward VIII, even though they are Americans and he should have no sway over them. Wallis seems reluctant to marry David even though their tale is usually portrayed as one of star-crossed lovers. She is by far the more sensible of the two which is ironic because she may have been a great queen.

David's feelings for Wallis are always what the reader would expect, and the author makes him seem like he would be a good king. He maligns his father the king, especially over his abandonment of his cousin Tsar Nicholas that resulted in the latter's assassination. David feels for the poor citizens of England and wishes his father would do something to help them. As the majority of the novel takes place after World War I and before World War II, his affiliation with the Nazis is not shown.

The novel's narration vacillates between a middle-aged Wallis leading up to and during her early relationship with the future king, and the old Wallis returning to England for the first time since her exile to attend David's funeral.

Author Wendy Holden has already demonstrated her knowledge of the royal family during this era and ability to write about them as an outsider in The Royal Governess. Wallis' story both begins and ends as an outsider to the Windsor dynasty.

Recommended for British historical fiction fans and royal watchers.

Wendy Holden is a bestselling author who also writes as Taylor Holden. She is a former journalist who writes both fiction and non-fiction.

Publisher: Berkley

Length: 432 pages

Release Date: September 28, 2021

I received an electronic galley copy of this title from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.