Exploring "Letters From a Prince- Edward VIII to Freda Dudley Ward 1918-1921"

The story of an overlooked box of historical treasures and a dive into the first meeting between Edward Prince of Wales and his beloved Freda Dudley Ward.

Why This Book and These Letters

I stumbled across this book a few years ago and I had to have it. In the Editor’s Note at the beginning, we learn that the discovery of these letters happened completely by chance. Rupert Godfrey (the editor) and his wife were visiting friends in Canada and he was helping his friend sort through lots of old papers, stamps and items he had collected through the years, he opened a trunk full of letters and he felt suspicious that he might know who wrote them. At the time, he was reading Philip Zigler’s biography of Edward VIII so he knew who ‘Mrs. Dudley Ward’ was when he stumbled across the name. (Although fairly well known now, Freda Dudley Ward was very very discreet during the affair and although they remained close until his marriage to Wallis Simpson, it was a time where the media was not as intrusive as it is today. So most people would probably not have known about his longtime affair with Freda unless they ran in the same circles. Out of his mistresses, she is by far the hardest to find information on.) As for how Rupert’s friend got the letters? Apparently Freda’s ex-husband moved to Canada after their divorce and so it is likely her ex had the letters there with him. Rupert’s friend got the trunk from a co-worker, but as for how the co-worker got the trunk, it remains a mystery. After sorting through all of the letters, photos, cards, newspaper clippings, etc. Rupert photocopied everything and then set about transcribing the letters and putting together this masterpiece. 

To me, this book provides insight about a historical figure that we think we know. Everyone who is interested in British history has some knowledge of Edward VIII, the King who gave up the throne to marry an American divorcé. Elizabeth II’s Uncle. The Exiled King. The Duke of Windsor. The Brother in Law that the Queen Mother hated. Etc. What we are far less familiar with is who he was on the inside before all of those things. Can we understand his actions later in life by looking into who he was as a young man? Edward was in his early twenties when he became involved with Freda, and I believe that looking into this period of his life will provide us a much grater understanding of him. I am excited to dive into this early and more unknown part of his life and gain a better understanding of him both through his letters but also through discussion with all of you!

Setting The Scene, Young Edward

A few facts I think it might be important to keep in mind when we look at Edward. He was born in 1894, (basically the same age as the daughters in Downton Abby) so if you can imagine being born into an extremely stiff and Victorian Royal Family, and then having the massive social change that was brought on during WWI right at the time you are transitioning into adulthood. Suddenly things were so much more free and unrestricted. Prince Edward was a man of the people and he was moving in a crowd that his family and the royal establishment was not in any way prepared for him to be moving in. Would that have made him a good or bad king? We will never know. 

BUT, what we do know is that in fact, in 1917 he met Rosemary Leavinson-Gower who was the daughter of the Duke of Sutherland and he actually did propose to her and she accepted. The royal family were the people to veto the union due to a “strain of madness in her lineage.” (Remember, Edward’s father George V was the grandson of Queen Victoria, who dealt with her Grandfather George III’s “madness” hanging over her reign for many years. I wonder if the establishment didn’t want to reintroduce that back into the fold?) Was his relationship with Freda, which sparked up in just the beginning of 1918, a reaction to the Royal Family thwarting him? Did that put a bad taste in the mouth of someone who was already starting to push the rigid bounds of the Royal Family Firm? Was Freda, being older than Edward, a way to find a somewhat maternal figure to comfort and guide him, while also lashing out at his family and system for not letting him marry who he wanted? Did he simply think Freda was a rebound who actually turned into a great love? It’s all very interesting to think about. 

One thing I do think it is important to note is that for his whole life, Edward was raised to be King. He was the one. He had unimaginable pressure, and seclusion for his entire childhood. (Which is why you see the Royal family today making the lives of royal children as normal as possible for as long as possible.) And as the heir, he did find the daughter of a Duke (who I am sure was entirely suitable to marry) at a perfectly normal age to do so…and the establishment said no… So, how do you think that made him feel at the time? Whatever was to happen in future, Edward DID make steps to do what was expected of him with regards to creating his own Royal Family unit and he was ultimately told no. 

The Beginning of Edward and Freda

We know that the Prince was on leave from WWI when he met Freda. He was at a party in Belgrave Square which was hosted by Mrs. Kerr-Smiley (who, ironically was the sister of Ernest Simpson) and who was walking with a friend sought refuge in the house during a raid. The Prince was very attracted to Freda and she was somehow persuaded to stay at the party. The pair then danced together the entire rest of the evening. Evidently his first letter to her was accidentally opened by her mother-in-law with whom she was staying (how awkward…) They ended up having him to tea and that was the start of their relationship which would last from 1918 until 1934. (Although they were not physically intimate that entire time.)

What is striking about his writing is that you really see how childish he is. For someone who one thinks might be a much stronger character, preparing to lead (at that time) the biggest empire in the world, Edward wrote like a very self-deprecating little boy. In the very first letter, he is trying to set up a meeting but said he is “afraid he will be an awful bore.” Upon reading it, I instantly wondered if he was trying to flirt, or if he was actually that unsure of himself. Upon later reflection, I personally think that he was likely looking for a somewhat maternal figure as he was raised in a rather rigid style. 

Although in the book we are told Freda’s marriage was essentially over and that she and her husband were living separately, we learn that she was very hesitant to get involved with the Prince. We know Freda was a very involved mother, and in all honestly, probably thought she had it made. She had a position, freedom and her children. So, why did she say yes to him? Did she feel she could not say no to the Prince of Wales? Did she find him oddly charming? Or did she feel like she needed to mother and advise him? (In later letters, there is clear evidence that she admonished him for things like using bad language, etc.) My guess? Probably a combo of all three. And I am sure in the end, that she did grow to love him in some way. The author does state that in the one letter of the group where Freda was writing to the Prince, she was kind, but not nearly as adoring as he was in his words to her. 

The fist letter found in the trunk was from the Third of March, and by the Eighth of March, he is writing about wanting to talk to her alone. 

“But there are several things I want to ask you as regards Sunday and next week, if you will be alone. But a dance is such rotten place for talk isn’t it?!!” (This letter was signed “Yours very sincerely, Edward)

The following letter is from March 26th, and as you will read, the tone turns altogether much more intimate…

“Again Millions and Millions of thanks for all your great kindness to me and everything, darling; I can’t possibly write all I want to say to you or thank you properly but I know you will understand!! I’m afraid this is a very indiscreet letter but you said it was safe to write and that it wouldn’t be opened; I can’t help writing like this (and how much more I could write but dare not!) though please tell me if I have been silly as I expect I have!! I have been careful not to mention names of places of dates or anything like that and I don’t think I have said anything very terrible though how I long to angel!!” (This letter was signed “Your E.”)

These words and change in tone clearly tell us that intimacies were exchanged between the now couple. And honestly, when I think of the past, I often think of those strict Victorian rules, but we must remember, this Edward was the grandson of Edward VII…who had a SLEW of mistresses. And rather than just a chase, I truly think that Edward the young Prince was looking for comfort, acceptance and a safe place to land. Particularly because he was likely feeling rather dejected after his engagement was called off. Through that lens, it is easy I think to understand him more. Keep in mind brother Albert (George VI) was able to find a woman who was a huge source of comfort to him, and in a lot of ways, what we know about his relationship with Elizabeth mirrored what we know about the relationship between Edward and Freda. But Edward, when trying to find the right woman was told no. For someone as sensitive as he appears to have been, that was likely a blow. And for someone who was as forward thinking as he was, he was also not likely to marry strictly for duty, which history shows rang absolutely true. 

So, aside from the enormous amount of rhetorical questions above, here are the questions I leave you all with.. I’d love you to answer any of them, or share your own thoughts!

1. Do you think the Prince was lashing out after his failed proposal?

2. Was Edward actually that self-deprecating? Or was he trying to flirt? Or was he like a little kid in need?

3. Why do you think Freda actually decided to start a relationship with the Prince when she seemingly had what she wanted from life. 

I hope that this first post in this series gets you thinking about looking at Edward VIII in a different light, and as a younger man. The major drama of his life was decades from playing out, and we know that Freda, aside from Wallis, was the longest and perhaps the most life changing relationship of his life. Freda no doubt had one of the most significant roles in shaping who Edward was and who he matured into. 

In our next post of this series, we will follow Edward back to War and hear not only about what his days at the front were like, but how he was doing without his beloved Freda. 

Until Next Time,

McKenzie