“If she’d respected the monarchy, understood the Crown and everything it means and stands for instead of spitting in its face, she wouldn’t be in this predicament. Neither would he.”
– the character of Randolph Churchill on the Windsors
Overview of The Windsor Conspiracy
The Windsor Conspiracy is a fictionalized account of the true events surrounding the abdication of King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom in 1936. The King was forbidden to marry the woman he loved, Wallis Warfield Simpson, an American from the Washington D.C. social scene. She was deemed unsuitable, having been divorced twice already. They left the UK, married in France, and retained the titles of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The abdication scandalized the royal family.
The Duke and Duchess were forced to live in exile, and chose to surround themselves with sympathizers of the rising Nazi influence.
The story is told from the point of view of a young woman named Amelia Montague, a fictionalized distant cousin of Wallis’. She left America after her husband’s suicide to work as Wallis’ private secretary.
This book captures the sinister feel of the lead up to, and early stages of, World Word II. Although a work of fiction, it is very well researched and includes references to actual events, including the Windsors’ interactions Adolph Hitler.
Why I Liked This Book
- Amelia is young, resilient, intelligent and resourceful. I enjoyed the point of view she gives the reader. Although I am familiar with the actual events of this time, I still found the story suspenseful and was truly invested in the protagonist’s story arc.
- Although the plot centers around the intense fear and danger of the time, we still get to live vicariously through Amelia’s increasingly glamorous life before everything is turned upside down.
- There are quite a few parallels between the late Windsors and the current Duke and Duchess of Sussex (aka Harry and Meghan). Both Dukes essentially “quit” the roles they were born to fulfill to marry American women and live outside the strictures of the royal family. The Duchesses were accused of social climbing and manipulating their husbands. Both couples suffered from estrangement from their social circles and rebuilt their lives outside of the UK.
“Who was she before she met him? Nobody. He made her someone but it wasn’t enough…She wanted all of it and she’ll get none of it, except him.”
– the character of Randolph Churchill on Wallis, the Duchess of Windsor
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed The Windsor Conspiracy; it’s a great work of historical fiction. It is well-written and fast paced. It provides fascinating insight into the true nature of the Windsors that was even more scandalous than their marriage.
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