Edward VIII's visitors' books showing how former King and Wallis Simpson had ... trends now
Edward VIII's and Wallis Simpson's visitors' books featuring a 'who's who' of 20th century figures have emerged for sale for £30,000.
The two red leather books were filled in by hundreds of VIPs who stayed with them or visited at various locations between 1935 and 1970.
High profile guests included Winston Churchill, who they invited to their French Riviera retreat in 1948.
Other visitors were Prime Minister Antony Eden, Lord Tennyson and Earl Louis 'Dickie' Mountbatten.
They reveal that Equerry Ulick Alexander, adviser Walter Monckton and solicitor Albert George Allen stayed with the Windsors during the abdication crisis of December 1936.
Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson 's visitors' books featuring a 'who's who' of 20th century figures have emerged for sale for £30,000. High profile guests include Winston and Clementine Churchill, who they invited to their French Riviera retreat in 1948
Edward stepped down as King after 11 months so he could marry American divorcee Simpson
Edward stepped down as King after 11 months so he could marry American divorcee Simpson.
The first visitor book is embossed with 'The Fort', the name of Fort Belvedere - Edward's much-loved Windsor home where he signed the abdication papers.
It is also marked with the name of the Austrian castle where Edward and Wallis spent their honeymoon after getting married in 1937.
Although he had intended to return to live in Fort Belvedere the former King was barred from doing so by his brother and so never went back.
He and Wallis spent the rest of their lives living in exile in the Bahamas and France and entertained many high society figures.
There are signatures from Edward's younger brother Prince George and his wife Princess Marina.
Other names include the Earl and Countess of Portarlington, and the Dukes of Buccleuch, Sutherland and Marlborough.
The first visitor book is embossed with 'The Fort', the name of Fort Belvedere - Edward's much-loved Windsor home where he signed the abdication papers
Also featured are NBC broadcaster Fred Bate, interior designers Sibyl Colefax and Constance Spry, Eugene and Kitty de Rothschild, Prince Dmitri
