“AT THE MOMENT DUE TO THE COST OF LIVING HERE WE ARE FEELING RATHER PINCHED” WINDSOR (Duchess of, Wallis Simpson, 1896-1986, Wife of Edward VIII)

Exceptional long Autograph Letter Signed with initial to “Dearest Martha” saying that “the Duke and I have the letters about the Memorial to Charlie. We think it a wonderful idea. And so appropriate having it connected with the Boys Club at Locust Valley and I am sure as the letter says ‘It will be something that will please him’. I don’t suppose a day goes by that all of us who knew him well do not think of him... I simply cannot realize yet that I cannot sit down and write him nonsense and receive some in return. We are sending a much too small cheque to the fund. I wanted to tell you the reason we could not make it more, actually at the moment due to the cost of living here we are feeling rather pinched - and do not seem to be able to raise our income for the moment. We have just heard from Charlie Muir that he has persuaded Edith to come over with him we are thrilled and delighted that we are to see her - they, I believe are joining us in Biarritz - I have offered the attic in Paris for that part of her stay but I think she will stay at Charlie’s apartment which is more comfortable plus an extra man on the spot!... I know some people have cancelled their trips due to the Middle East. Monsieur Spaak... didn’t feel that was necessary - we have had the most awful (to be said like Ellen) summer - only about 10 days of sun... I have no gossip from here - that seems to be mainly among the Peerage - the English papers have a tasty bit each day about Lords and Ladies, the famous reserve seems to be ‘rocked n rolled’ over. Tender lover and we are truly sorry not to be able to give more towards such a wonderful thought for a wonderful person...”, 4 sides 4to., on separate sheets, Moulin de la Tuilerie headed paper, 4th August, no year, circa

Le Moulin de la Tuilerie was the country retreat of the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson between 1952 and 1972. Their weekend home - that was also the only home they ever actually owned - constitutes the old mill house and a warren of similarly picturesque outbuildings on the outskirts of Gif-sur-Yvette, south of Versailles, and 22-miles southwest of Paris. Every weekend, a small and unusual convoy made up of the Duke in his Chevrolet, the Duchess in her blue Cadillac, and their staff rattling behind in a Citroën, converged upon their country idyll, then just a forty minute drive from the Villa Windsor. In 1952, a year before they acquired the Villa Windsor for a comparative peppercorn rent from the French government, they succeeded in obtaining £80,000 from the British government to purchase the Moulin from Drian, topped up the following year with a further £20,000 to renovate and decorate. It was the only home they would ever own and according to Wallis, “our only real home”.

Item Date:  1960

Stock No:  42080      £1250

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