Traitor King: The Scandalous Exile of the Duke & Duchess of Windsor

Out of principle, I have determined that I will avoid the autobiography of Prince Harry, "Spare," since I find public bellyaching of the over-privileged in poor taste!HOWEVER, without even picking up a copy of "Spare," I can be assured that the questionable behavior of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had nothing on that of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor!Where do I begin? Since this is not a book report for an anal retentive American school teacher but a book REVIEW, I will try to keep things in the proverbial nutshell!First, the Windsors in exile were given a yearly allowance that would have enabled them to live "comfortably," even stylishly and luxuriously by many standards. Were they grateful at all? Of course not! They wanted MORE! They became known for being first-class "moochers" who took advantage of other people's hospitality. Is it any wonder that the Third Reich decided to use them as a possible "chink" in the armor of Britain?While many remembered the horrors of WW1 and wanted to avoid another "Great War," the Windsors were all too ready to pay the price for peace if it meant kow-towing to Hitler -- especially if he were to set Edward back up on the throne of England as king with Wallis as queen. These papers only came to light after both of their deaths!As promised, this is the "soul" of the book. There is much more, of course, on their wastefulness, wantoness (to put it mildly), how they "borrowed" from jewelers, department stores, and didn't return the merchandise, made promises that they didn't keep, were mean to their underpaid staff, and so forth.To sum lives like these up, what comes to mind is a verse from Psalm 106: "And He gave them their request, but sent leaness to their souls."

I read 3 other books on these two and I usually learn something new, as I did in this one. The writing was fine but there were times were a thought was brought up and then dropped for no apparent reason. Maybe I just didn’t get the subtitles of the issues. There were a few points that could have been left on the cutting room floor but those sections were not that long or involved.The main point that all these books have in common, not that the authors directly point this out, is that during a crucial time for England they dodged a big bullet. If he have been allowed to marry and stayed the king it would have been terrible for England and all of Western Europe.My only question is, why was Churchill such a fan of him? I am sure he could see what problems would occur if the Duke stayed as king. But time after time Churchill would come to his defense.

“Traitor King” is a history/biography describing the lives of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor after the abdication.For the most part, it is highly uncomplimentary to both, portraying them as two very selfish, self-centered, and greedy people who had little love for England and were often seen as Nazi sympathizers and as hopeful that Hitler’s Germany would win the war and reinstall Edward on the British throne as King and “Gauleiter.” It does make at least an attempt at fairness, describing the good works both engaged in during the Duke’s governorship of the Bahamas and that Edward’s pro-fascist sympathies were, in part, a reaction to the rise of communism (responsible for the death of his cousin, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia).But those points seem far outweighed by the couples’ misdeeds, including Wallace Simpson’s affair with German Ambassador and Foreign Minister Von Ribbentrop (later executed for war crimes at Nuremberg), Edward’s “spilling the beans” about allied defenses in Belgium and France, the couple’s violation of wartime currency regulations and lavish lifestyle while everyone else was “making do” under wartime shortages and rationing.While the writing is professional, it is sometimes cumbersome and difficult to navigate. It contains many, many quotes from diaries and correspondence written in the vernacular and style of the British in the 1940s. I found myself having to slow down and even read some passages twice to make sure I understood them correctly.Some of the customer reviews have complained that “Traitor King” contains no new information. As I wasn’t all that familiar with the lives of the Duke and Duchess, I can’t really speak to that. However, the promotional materials do state that the book draws upon “newly released archives." I was surprised to learn a number of things, including: that because of his Fascist sympathies, the government did not want Edward as King and may have refused to allow him to marry Wallace Simpson to force him off the throne; that while Edward enjoyed the trappings of monarchy, he had no interest in the responsibilities and really didn’t want to be King; that the couple toured Germany and actually met with Hitler; Edwin’s drunkenness, dissipation, and general lack of intelligence; and the couple’s complete lack of gratitude towards and concern for those who worked for and/or befriended them.While this book certainly isn’t uplifting, and while I didn’t find it particularly enjoyable (because its two subjects are pretty awful people), it is a work that those interested in the British monarchy, Edward’s abdication, WWII and the interplay of various governments, and Edwin and Wallace themselves, may find to have some value.Three and a half stars rounded up to four.

I was intrigued by the subject and confess I found this book to be immediately engaging and was drawn in as if it were a fiction. But it is no fiction. The extensive reliance upon diaries, letters and top secret government communications lends the material, often shockingly candid, an intimacy and an urgency. As a work of scholarship, the book is well crafted and supplies a plethora of details on sources and footnotes which contribute even more. This is indeed a fascinating story not yet quite told. This extensive work pulls back the curtain.

I thought I, like many people, knew a sufficient amount about the Prince of Wales and Wallis Simpson, as their lives were writ large for so many years. Clearly, I underestimated what I thought I knew. The author's meticulous research shows a couple whose affinity for the Nazi's turned them from sympathizers to traitors. That the prince acted as if the world owed him a living while so many of his countrymen sacrificed so much, is both sobering and odious as the author's research lays bare the circumstances of his life.

I learned from this book how the Duke and Duchess of WIndsor were not just a couple who left Britain before the war. They had significant connections to the Nazi's and were prepared to (as well as expected to) come back to Britain as leaders (like Vichy France) if Britain had lost the war. The Duke is portrayed in the book as a self-centred, weak and stupid person who accomplished very little during his life. The Duchess is portrayed as a manipulative and opportunistic person. As a couple, they were enormously wealthy for their time and they spent their money foolishly. The Duke and Duchess could be used as examples of how the monarchistic system can go astray. Its fortunate that the Duke's brother was a different person. Anyhow, while it was painful to read about the antics of this disgusting couple, I appreciated learning about this important episode in British History.

Interesting information about Edward’s abdication and life with homely girl from Baltimore. Neither of these people or their actions are defensible, but it’s hard to believe that no one ever liked them. The former king had to be the stupidest of a not particularly intelligent family, and Wallis made the most of this, but they stuck together and were greatly celebrated. Surely someone had something good to say about them? Not in this book. One expected Wallis to fly off on a broomstick! One reason HRH was such an embarrassment to the royal family had to be because they were, after all, Germans, and he showed that. Interesting, but unlikable book.

Thoroughly researched and well presented biography of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor from the abdication to their deaths, focussing on the less than admirable parts of their lifestyles; treason, collaboration, Nazi sympathies, racism, anti-Semitic, greed, black market activities, and all round out the picture of two people with no meaning and direction in their lives. Their tragedy is what gave George VI and Elizabeth II the opportunity to reinvent the Royal Family and save the Monarchy in Great Britain.Highly recommend.

This was an excellent book, written not by a biographer, but an historian. With the excellent sources and research, a story is pieced together that outlines the real reasons for the Queen Mother's dislike of Wallis and Edward - and certainly details and shows the Duke's ties to the Nazi regime. It is disturbing how much of the truth was covered up years ago. Now it has come to light. An excellent read for those interested in these times.