07:53

[Music – A Nice Cup Of Tea by Sam Costa & Peter Yorke & His Orchestra, Album Tea Dance 1920s, 30s, 40s Vintage Tea Party]

Section 2 – History & Historiography

[Music Fade Out]

08:10

Titles have long been used to indicate status and power.  Coveted by many that aspire to heights larger than their origins or present circumstances would indicate otherwise.  One of the most prominent, prestigious, and longest running titles in the world is the Prince of Wales.

08:26

During the post Roman era, the most powerful Welsh ruler was considered the King of Britons that eventually morphed into the title Prince of Wales used as the equivalent of the title king during the 12^th & 13^th Centuries.  Originally, the title was given to native Welsh princes until the 12^th Century.  The last of those Welsh only rulers known is Llywelyn ap Gruffuld.  His wife Eleanor de Montfort was the first Princess of Wales as well as Lady of Snowdon.  Eleanor died in childbirth while Llywelyn died in battle, both in 1282.

09:00

A different Llywelyn the Great ruled under the title Prince of North Wales.  On his death in 1240, the title would be passed onto his younger and legitimate son Dafydd ap Llywelyn, the Prince of Gwynedd, a Welsh kingdom and a Roman Empire successor state.  The title would be shortened to the Prince of Wales and the first time used for a ruler in 1244.  The title would pass onto his nephews until the line ceased in 1283.

09:27

As heir apparent to the British or English throne, King Edward I bestowed the title onto his son Edward of Carnarvon in 1301.  The next time the title was given in 1343 by King Edward III to his son Edward of Woodstock, also known as the Black Prince.  The origin behind the “Black Prince” nickname is unknown but theoretically derived either from wearing a black shield and armour or earned for a brutal reputation especially during battles against the French in Aquitaine.  When the Black Prince died before ascending the throne, the title passed onto his brother Richard of Bordeaux in 1376 who became King Richard II in 1377.  Another notable Prince of Wales, Henry VIII took over the title after his brother Arthur Tudor’s death.

10:11

Until most recently, Queen Victoria’s son Albert Edward who became King Edward VII was the longest title holder at 59 years 45 days.  Prince Charles has had the title for 63 years, 300+ days and ongoing.

The Prince of Wales title can only be given to the heir apparent and thus someone unable to be displaced in the line of succession.  It is strictly considered as male and primogeniture in nature.  However the title is not hereditary nor automatic.  It must be given by the reigning monarch. 

10:45

An heir apparent is any person who cannot be removed and will inherit whatever title, role, property, or whatever as long as that person outlives the preceding property holder.  An heir presumptive is someone who can be displaced if a birth of a nearer heir occurs prior to the property holder’s death.  I.e. in most European monarchies the heir apparent is the eldest child, however in the past that primarily meant male heirs above females.  Such as King Henry VIII’s son Prince Edward also assigned the title Prince of Wales upon birth became King Edward VI and succeeded to the crown prior to his elder sisters Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth I, both who later then went on to reign by default after their younger brother’s death.

11:31

There have been times with no Prince of Wales.  Princess Elizabeth was heiress presumptive but not the Princess of Wales.  After David – King Edward VIII, the next Prince of Wales was Prince Charles, who did not automatically get the title upon birth nor his mother’s ascension to the throne but received it in 1958 when he was 9 years old.  There has been no official Princess of Wales as heiress apparent.  Generally, the title Princess of Wales is for the wife and future queen consort.  Technically, Camilla automatically has the title with her marriage but has chosen not to use it publicly due to the lingering association with Diana. With a new succession law, the first female heiress apparent eligible would be Princess Charlotte only if her brother Prince George passes away.

12:16

Related to getting the title, the second most important duty as the future king is finding an appropriate wife and ensuring the continuing line of succession.  As most of us are aware, in British law anyone up to 6^th in the line of succession must get approval of their potential spouses to marry.  This is incredibly even more important for those who will directly inherit the throne.

And here is where Prince David – King Edward VIII was long a concern for the crown.  One year before his succession Frazier Hunt published the biography The Bachelor Prince, which discusses the need for the Prince to find a wife and marry.  If he fails at this even if he gets the throne, then his niece Princess Elizabeth will become the future queen.  At that time, Elizabeth was only 9 years old.

13:01

According to Lady Colin Campbell in several videos, David was one of the most popular Prince of Wales.  Queen Victoria’s son Albert Edward was also highly popular and set fashion trends like the dinner jacket.  He married at age 21 to Alexandra of Denmark.  Already at age 36 – 37, David’s long bachelorhood might have added to his appeal like how the supposed singlehood availability of rockstars and movie stars enhances the various what if daydreams and possibility of a romance for any fan.

13:31

Only David had little interest in young available ladies, preferring married women instead.  By the way, in January 1931 he met Wallis Simpson at a party thrown by his  current married mistress Viscountess Thelma Morgan Furness.  On June 10^th, 1931, Wallis Simpson will be presented to his parents King George V and Queen Mary as part of the fourth court of debutantes and some married ladies that year.  This will be unrelated to Wallis having a romantic relationship with the Prince, which will not really occur until 1934. 

14:03

Now when discussing the Prince who became King Edward VIII only to abdicate for love then known as the Duke of Windsor, modern biographies all too readily mention his prior indiscretions, which would not have been so boldly published prior to his abdication.  There are at least 3 biographies in my review on David before his succession.  By the way, his full name is Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David.  In public and as a prince, he might be referred as Edward primarily but in private and by family and close friends he is David.  One book refers to David, the other Edward, and so on ever alternating depending on perspective.

14:40 

As a naval officer after World War I, David loses his virginity to a prostitute in Paris.  From 1917 to 1918, he will quickly become embroiled in a passionate affair with well known courtesan Marguerite Alibert and writes her several letters both sexually explicit and candidly criticizing his royal family.  A few years later in 1923, Marguerite Alibert is charged with murder of her husband Prince Ali Kamel Fahmy Bey of Egypt at the Savoy Hotel in London.  After seeing the opera The Merry Widow, they had a fight, and she shoots him in self-defense.  She faces a sensationalistic trial where she details all sorts of abuse and exploitation by her husband – much of which others dispute or side eye due to her quite lengthy previous sex worker history.  It is now known she also used the letters by the infatuated Prince of Wales as blackmail and leverage to be found acquitted of the charges.

More letters would later resurface upon her death, as she always kept them as insurance.  They would then be destroyed after her death.  By the way as mentioned in Episode 04: Wonderful Things, Prince Ali’s death is listed as part of King Tut’s curse that fell on the first set of people who entered the tomb in 1922.

15:52

David would go on to have affairs with several married women – Freda Dudley Ward, Thelma Morgan Furness, and Wallis Simpson.  Speculation is that he liked more domineering and nurturing women as well as he never truly wanted the throne.  In contrast, there are several instances indicating he did indeed wanted to keep the throne but not under the terms of the law.

According to John F. Kennedy, “Forbidden fruit tastes sweet, but its aftertaste is bitter.”

Royal and privileged lives can be quite messy, and the heart wants what it wants.  Love, money, power, status,… All elements that do not always play well together.