At the height of the Second World War Wallis Simpson, wife of the former King Edward VIII, ordered a top level diplomatic mission to rescue a swimming costume that she had left behind at her luxury South of France villa. Mrs Simpson ordered the American Minister in Lisbon and American Consul in Nice to find the swimming garment.
Even though part of the South Coast of France was occupied by Nazis at the time, the diplomats did as they were told and opened up the shuttered rental property. According to Andrew Morton, biographer of Diana Princess of Wales, in his scathing new book ’17 Carnations: The Royals, the Nazis and the Biggest Cover-Up in History’ the retrieval of the swimsuit was codenamed ‘Operation Cleopatra Whim’.
Morton’s new book also explains The Duke and Duchess of Windsor’s close ties to the Nazi regime and how after Edward’s Abdication in 1936, the Second World War was simply a minor inconvenience to their lifestyle. Despite the fact that millions had lost their lives Mrs Simpson “had other pressing concerns” notably the missing swimsuit.
Andrew Morton writes, “Even though their rented villa was locked and shuttered and that part of the coast was occupied by the enemy, the diplomats duly did her bidding. In the mist of war the swimsuit was found and dispatched safely to the grateful duchess.”
The scathing new book also notes that Edward and Mrs Simpson were in regular contact with high-level Nazi commanders in order to beg them to protect their homes in Paris and in the South of France. Morton writes, “The duchess was most concerned that their bed linens be protected from damage. Even the diplomat brother of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco was horrified by the duke’s behaviour.”
Andrew Morton describes Edward as “a man who was disaffected with is position, disloyal to his family and unpatriotic towards his country.”
Shortly after the abdication in 1936, Mrs Simpson became to be viewed by some Palace Courtiers with deep suspicion, being described as “a witch, a vampire and a high-class blackmailer.”
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