Sir Henry ‘Chips’ Channon had been friends with The Prince of Wales, later Edward VIII and later the Duke of Windsor, in the early twenties. As Channon became a good friend (and later neighbor) of his brother, the Duke of Kent, he saw even more of the Prince, as the two brothers were close, so he remained loyal to his connection with Wallis Simpson how it came out secret for a constitutional crisis.
Although Channon recorded events in great detail, with both the Duke and Duchess of Windsor still alive when the first edition of the diaries was published in 1967, there was much to be left out. including personal views on the King’s state of mind as he pursued his mistress. Also, it was felt out of the question to publish Cannon’s views on the Duke and Duchess of York. The Duchess – by that time Queen Elizabeth Queen of the Queen – was still alive, and popular, and by introducing very negative views about her and indeed King George VI, which was still popular in the public memory, had severely damaged Channon’s death reputation.
In the following diaries, the text is highlighted in bold and features revised information never seen before – including ‘VERY SECRET’ excerpts from a long and highly honest memo Channon wrote about his ring-in view of the Abdication, and his feelings about the key partners, while new events such as in his memory.
Simon Heffer
1935
January 23rd
Lunch with Emerald [Cunard] to meet Mrs Simpson, the maîtresse-en-titre Prince of Wales. She is a nice, quiet mouse, well bred, with a woman with big impressive eyes and a big mole.
April 4th
We had a lunch party here. The plot was for a politesse to Mrs. Simpson. She is a cheerful, bright, understanding, quiet little woman, both unique and inexperienced. But, as I wrote to [Prince] Paul Yugoslavia today, she is already on the air of personality and walks into the room as if she thought she would not be cut to: at least she would not be surprised. She has full power over The Prince of Wales.
May 14th
Really excited about Mrs. Simpson, who has been banned Ward Freda Dudley and her entire group from York House: it’s a war for the knife between the former and current mistress. I’m in my secret mood. Mrs. Simpson has greatly improved The Prince.
May 17th
The royal romance goes above and beyond all that is fascinating: The Prince of Wales is enthralled by Mrs Simpson. She is suddenly an American longing for society by storm while she still prefers, so when she leaves her – as he leaves everyone in time – she will be safe.
May 24th
I went inside [Lady] Honor [Guinness, Channon’s wife] for cocktails at Mrs Simpson’s small flat in Bryanston Court. The Prince of Wales charmed himself; boisterous, gay and wrinkled. It’s extreme au[x] petits soins with his wife, whom he calls Wallace [sic]. He shook and passed the cocktails, very much the jeune homme de la maison. The London association is now divided between the old pro-Freda Ward support group, which The Prince is no longer avoiding, and Emerald Cunard.[’s set] who is shouting at the new regime.
May 31st
We went to the opera, Barber Seville and the Prince of Wales and amnage Simpson joined them in an Emerald box. I was interested to see what an incredible grip Mrs. Simpson had on him. In the meantime she told him to hurry or it would be too late to go to the Queen.
June 9th
Much is said about the Nazi succession of The Prince of Wales; it is said to have influenced Emerald (which is somewhat strange by Herr Ribbentrop [Hitler’s Ambassador to the UK from 1936]) through Mrs. Simpson.
1936
January 21st
The King is dead – Long live the King. The eyes of the world are on the Prince of Wales, the new Edward VIII.
January 22nd
The trumpet blew a bug [and] read out the consent of King Edward VIII. A wonderful, wonderful show that I will never see again. I then saw a large black car, (the King!) Driving away with the blinds dragged down. The crowd moved thinking that the woman was the Duchess of Kent, but I saw Mrs. Simpson… No one was ever in love with the present King.