Wallis Warfield Windsor (also known as Wallis Simpson) was an American socialite who became notorious due to her relationship with and eventual marriage to Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor, who abdicated the British throne to be with her.
Born on June 19, 1896, in Pennsylvania, Wallis Warfield Windsor gained notoriety during the mid-20th century as a result of her involvement in a scandal that forever changed British monarchy history. She was divorced twice before marrying Edward, who was then the Prince of Wales and next in line for the throne of England.
The love affair between Edward and Wallis provoked significant controversy in the UK and around the world, causing a constitutional crisis and leading to Edward's highly controversial abdication in 1936. As a result, Wallis became the Duchess of Windsor upon their marriage later that year.
The couple lived a life of luxury, constantly in the public eye and feted by high society. However, their marriage was not without its complications, and they were generally not well-received by members of the British royal family.
Wallis Warfield Windsor died on April 24, 1986, in Paris, leaving behind a complex legacy - simultaneously seen as a woman who pursued her desires and love against all odds, but also as a catalyst for one of the most significant events in modern British history.
