As shown in the first season of The Crown starring Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II, King Edward VIII abdicated from the throne so he could be with Wallis Simpson. This meant the Queen’s father then became king and she was then first in line for the crown so the family was not on good terms. However, did Queen Elizabeth II visit her uncle before he died?
The Crown: Did the Queen make peace with the Duke of Windsor before he died?
In 1972, the Queen was visiting Paris on official business and it was while she was there she heard about her uncle’s deteriorating condition.
The former king had throat cancer and didn’t have long left.
Despite their complicated relationship, the Queen, like in The Crown, did visit her uncle who was living in Paris 10 days before he died.
However, it didn’t exactly go how the Netflix show portrayed it.
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He said: “The Queen went up to see the Duke of Windsor.
“With great difficulty, he rose from his bed to give his bow because, of course, she was his Queen now, as well as his niece, and it meant a great deal to him that she paid him this final courtesy.”
This was the last time the Queen saw her uncle before he died just days later.
However, this was not the last time she met with Wallis Simpson.
The Queen did attend her uncle’s funeral where he was buried at Frogmore, the royal burial ground close to Windsor Castle.
Here, she was seen talking to Wallis following the service.
Writing in a telegram after he died, the Queen said: “I know that my people will always remember him with gratitude and great affection and that his services to them in peace and war will never be forgotten.”
The Crown season 3 is now available to watch on Netflix.