BBC Learning English Words in the News 19th August 2011

Wallis was not keen on royal wedding

Wallis Simpson, the woman whom Edward VIII abdicated the throne for, may still have been in love with her husband, Ernest Simpson. Previously unseen letters from Wallis to Ernest suggest she felt lonely and wasnt keen on marrying the British royal. BBCs Farhana Haider reports:

The popular image is that of a rather cold, scheming woman who wormed her way into the affections of Britain's future king. But previously unseen letters suggest that Wallis Simpson was an insecure woman who felt trapped by her relationship with Edward. The letters have been uncovered by Anne Sebba. She says they show that Wallis Simpson might still have been in love with her second husband Ernest Simpson.

Additional extracts reveal the extent of Mrs Simpsons continued love for her former husband, even writing to him while on her honeymoon with Edward. Anne Sebba says that as an American, Mrs Simpson loved the access to the highest levels of English society, to be showered with expensive jewellery, to be the mistress of the future king. But she expected the eventual fate of most mistresses, which is to be dumped.

But he didn't dump her, causing the biggest constitutional crisis for centuries. Despite the widespread criticism of his relationship with the American divorcee, Edward VIII renounced his throne in December 1936. Edward and Mrs Simpson married in June 1937 following her divorce from Ernest.

Farhana Haider, BBC News

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Vocabulary and definitions

scheming wormed her way into insecure felt trapped uncovered to be showered with to be dumped

given to deceiving others seduced lacking self-confidence felt unable to avoid or escape fate revealed to receive many to be abandoned The marriage was opposed by the king's government in the

constitutional crisis

United Kingdom on religious, legal, political, and moral grounds. Mrs Simpson was perceived as an unsuitable consort because of her two failed marriages.

widespread criticism renounced

opposition from different quarters gave up

More on this story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13112678 Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2011/06/110819_witn_simpson_page.shtml

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