Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret Ridiculed By Wallis Simpson, Former Maid To Blame

King Edward VIII’s American socialite wife Wallis Simpson ridiculed Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Margaret.

Royal biographer James Pope-Hennessy stayed with the king and Simpson after he abdicated the throne at their converted mill house near Paris in 1957. Although he published a biography about King Edward’s mother, he didn’t publish the most eyebrow-raising details about Simpson. However, the late author’s notes during his stay with the royals have leaked, revealing fresh details about the American twice divorcee who married a royal.

Simpson reportedly shared an incident with Pope-Hennessy about her designer dresses that were ruined by a maid named Irene who used to work for the Queen Mother. Simpson needed a helper and interviewed one who claimed to have been working with Queen Mother, so she hired her.

Simpson recalled that when Irene ironed her Balenciaga dress with a crinoline, the ensemble was ruined. Even the designer, himself, couldn’t describe what Irene did to the crinoline.

“And she just burned up five more of my dresses. Well, that surprised me, because I thought that, after all those years with the Queen Mother, if she hadn’t learnt to iron a crinoline, what had she learned?” Simpson said.

Simpson also recalled Princess Margaret and Queen Elizabeth II’s outfits when Irene was still working for them and she pitied them. She blamed Irene’s lack of ironing skills for the royals’ “screwed up” dresses.

“And, you know, whenever I see pictures of those poor girls (Elizabeth and Margaret) with their suits all screwed up under the arms, I think of Irene,” she added.

Simpson said that she wanted to take Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret’s clothes apart and “loosen them up.”

In Pope-Hennessy’s notes that had been kept secret for 60 years, he described Simpson as good-natured and friendly. However, he also finds her odd while noting her “monumental” head, “veined” eyes and “cannibal” teeth.

When King Edward VIII decided to marry twice-divorced Simpson, the public wasn’t very supportive. So, he decided to abdicate the throne to pursue the love of his life.

Interestingly, things are very different at present. The people are very warm to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding journey was easier than King Edward VIII and Simpson’s.

According to Richard Fitzwilliams, the social attitudes over the past decades have changed. In addition, Prince Harry is way down the line of succession and is unlikely to be a king, so he gets to enjoy more freedom.