The Duchess of Windsor – The death of the Duchess

The Duchess of Windsor was widowed at the age of 76, and from then on, everything in their home at Bois de Boulogne reminded her of him. She remained behind with servants and a few friends. Her family in the United States was scattered, and any contact had long since evaporated. Several servants left her service, as it did not make sense to keep so many people on for just one person.

At the end of 1972, Wallis tripped in her home and broke her hip and while in the hospital, she climbed out of bed to show off a dance, fell again and rebroke her hip. The following year, she fell in the bathroom and broke several ribs as she fell against the bathtub. She became more forgetful and became worryingly thin as she often forgot to eat. In 1975, her old stomach ulcers played up again, and she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. Lady Mosley recalled, “From then on, she was never quite well again. At times she seemed to be on the point of recovery, but it always eluded her, and her many friends could do little to help.”¹ In February 1976, she was admitted to the hospital for a near-total physical collapse. In early 1979, she had surgery to remove an internal blockage and three months later, she had a bacterial infection that kept her in hospital for several months. When she was released on 14 September 1979, she gave a brief wave to waiting reporters, and it was the last time the public would see her.

The presence of Wallis’ lawyer Suzanne Blum during these years remains a topic of controversy. Was she a devoted servant, or was there something more sinister going on? Many valuable objects disappeared during these years and were probably sold by Suzanne to cover costs as the Duchess did not have many liquid assets. After 1979, Wallis’ doctors advised Suzanne Blum that it was unwise to excite the Duchess in any way, and friends were being denied the opportunity to visit her.

From 1980, Wallis spent most of her days alone in a wheelchair. She was cared for by nurses, who bathed her and put her hair in a bun. She often had to be spoon-fed, and periods of lucidity came and went. Eventually, the Countess of Romanones was allowed to visit her, though another friend noted that she believed this was done to placate the other friends. By then, Wallis’ hair had turned white, and she did not recognise the Countess. When the Countess visited again several months later, Wallis had gone completely blind. A friend named Janine Metz never gave up on calling and finally won permission to see Wallis. She said, “She was like a little bird, all shrivelled up. I came up very close to the bed, bent down and kissed her, she seemed to have no idea who I was, or even that I was in the room.” She whispered to Wallis, “I am Janine. I am here with you.”² She pressed Wallis’ hand, and she pressed back – the only way she could still communicate. Janine would be one of the last of her friends to see Wallis.

By the beginning of 1984, Wallis was completely paralyzed. She was being fed with an intravenous drip, and the doctor visited her regularly. Nurses changed her drip, washed her body and turned her to prevent bedsores.

The Duchess of Windsor died on 24 April 1986 of heart failure following pneumonia – she was 89 years old. Reverend Jim Leo told the press, “Death came round the corner as a very gentle friend, and she was content, she was happy.”³ Her body was washed and dressed in a simple black dress with a jewelled belt before being placed in an oak coffin.  On 27 April, the Lord Chamberlain – on The Queen’s instructions – flew to Paris to collect the Duchess’ body. Her funeral took place on 29 April at St. George’s Chapel. Shortly afterwards, she was laid to rest beside her husband at Frogmore.

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Our book The Duchess of Windsor – A Collection of Articles is available now in the US and the UK.

1. The Duchess of Windsor by Greg King p.494
2. The Duchess of Windsor by Greg King p.501
3. The Duchess of Windsor by Greg King p.502