London begins to hear more gossip about Wally

October 29, 1936

There is a rift in the royal family "caused by the friendship of King Edward VIII of England with Mrs. Wallis (Wally) Simpson and his likely for other Americans whom he introduces  in highest court circles, according to the latest scoop in the Chicago Daily Tribune, which is basing its reports on "gossip in London."

It is being said in London that the king's two Scottish sisters-in-law, the Duchess of York and the Duchess of Gloucester, do not approve of his friendship with Mrs. Simpson.  They have "chagrined him by making the fact so clear that he in turn expressed resentment."

According to gossips in palace circles, the duke and duchess of York "have figured less prominently in public functions in recent weeks, in fact hardly at all."   The King's youngest brother, the Duke of Kent, who is said to be his favorite, is "being placed much in the public eye."

While the public has not seen much of the duke of York and the duke of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent "has been making a number of speeches."   The rumors are that this is "an expression of family difference" over Edward's relationship with Mrs. Simpson.  The duke and duchess of York have been relegated "into the background for voicing their disapproval."

American media interest in the king and Mrs. Simpson has been "augmented" since Tuesday when the "former Baltimore belle" won a decree nisi against her husband, Ernest Simpson. 

 
It appears that many British subjects are riled by so much attention. In today's British press, John Drinkwater condemns the "malicious gossip" about the King.
"Certainly foreign papers with a circulation in this country are now busy with our king's private life which under no circumstances can be a proper subject for public discussion or private conjecture. In the circle of his own friends, the king's life is as much his own affair as mine or the dustman's and to not respect his private life is disgraceful."

The editor of This Week doubts that the king will ever marry Mrs. Simpson. He has known for some time that Mrs. Simpson was a member of the King's "inner circle of friends," but he sees no evidence that the King is contemplating marriage with Mrs. Simpson.  He says a marriage is "extremely slender."