King Edward VIII famously abdicated the throne in order to marry divorcee Wallis Simpson, but his version of their love story has been revealed in unearthed notes.
Queen Elizabeth II's uncle made handwritten notes recalling the moment he realised he had fallen in love with Wallis, the then-wife of Ernest Simpson whom he had met in 1931 at a party thrown by his mistress Lady Furness at Burrough Court.
According to the MailOnline, Edward spoke to American journalist Charles Murphy about his abdication story for articles published in Life magazine and a book. Murphy's papers at Boston University revealed Edward developed feelings for Wallis in 1934, two years before he abdicated.
His notes revealed: "Fell in love with the Duchess two years before abdication. It happened in restaurant, no frivolous business, age on my side. I had sowed my wild oats. Made lots of mistakes, in [a] superficial way.
© Glasshouse Images/Shutterstock"I knew I was falling in love with another man's wife. When found myself falling in love should have withdrawn. But remarkable business about love is that it happens before one knows it."
Edward had a bullet-point list detailing her desirable qualities, including independent, elusive and chic. The royal had also explained to Murphy: "She satisfied something creative in me. She brought into my life something not there before: curiosity, independence, impudence, questioning, warmth. I saw things in a new light."
After their first meeting, in which he said he was "impressed with her vivaciousness, wit and smart repartee", Edward and Wallis became close friends but did not confirm their relationship until years later.
© GettyIn January 1936, Edward took the throne after his father King George died, and Wallis filed for divorce from Ernest nine months later on 27 October.
By December, Edward had signed the Instrument of Abdication – making the Queen's father King George VI the monarch – and had proposed to the American socialite with a Cartier engagement ring.
Sold at auction for £1.3 million, the ring boasted a platinum band and a 19.77-carat rectangular emerald flanked by diamond baguettes. Inside, Edward paid tribute to two sentimental dates – their engagement and the day Wallis' second divorce proceedings began – with an engraved message that read: "We are ours now 27 X 36."
Wallis – who was previously married US Navy pilot Earl Winfield Spencer from 1916 to 1927 – finalised her divorce from her second husband in May 1937. Wallis and the Duke of Windsor got married the following month at the Château de Candé.
The bride ditched the tradition of wearing white and opted for a pale blue Mainbocher wedding dress which reportedly matched her eyes. The bride accessorised with a coordinating blue halo-shaped straw hat by Parisian milliner Caroline Reboux, and bridal gloves that accommodated her large emerald and diamond engagement ring.
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