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alleged he means to have the wedding before the Coronation he will be open to much criticism, for diverting our interests from the public reception of our young monarchs. Concentrating attention upon himself at this particular juncture (as wd be the case) wd not fail to strike a note of vulgarity & arrogance which will be severely condemned. In a way it wd enhance our welcome of the K & Q - all the same the adventure wd be illtimed and a futher illustration of unpardonably bad taste.
Hitherto the Duke of Windsor has been casual, even happy go lucky in matters of ceremonial - oddly enough he is changing his outlook and is actually becoming pomposo. He expects people to stand in his presence more than hitherto, & his gentlemen in waiting (who pursue a weary rota of attendance at the hebrew Schloss in Austria) are now expected to bring uniform in their kit. His own habits also tend to change. His is still picksome & eccentric about his victuals, depend a good deal on fruit and orange juices early in the day - spends most of the morning in bed after lunch does some winter sport badly or visits a
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DICTATED
7, AUDLEY SQUARE, W.1.
Museum or palace which he knows by heart, then devotes himself to telephoning for hours they say and appears at dinner an hour late:- afterwards joins with his wretched aide de camp till 2 or 3 in the morning:- what a miserable deadening career.
You see the civil list Committee hasn't been set up yet - it ought to have finished its labours and the necessary bit ought to be passed long before the Coronation: but the Duke's affairs are not easily settled. I can't discover the real situation. He gives it out that he is starved by the Govt but what can have happened to the Duchy of Cornwall savings, & to anything left him by Queen Alexandra? There ought to have been an immense reserve put away - even if he has spent 250,000 £ on jewelry and jointure for Simpson there shd still be a substantial sum at his command. His outlays have always been frugal - no racing, card playing, no entertaining or gambling or building - he has always been cautious & on the stingy side too. However lavish in
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the jewellers shop he ought to be a rich man today. Churchill says that nothing will reconcile him to the Govt but a handsome civil list for the D/W. He is very eloquent on the subject, shouts one down at a dinner or country house, but we are given to understand that now he wd be mollified by a seat in the Cabinet when Baldwin returns. Beaverbrook & Rothermere hover in the background awaiting their opportunity. For lack of material to attack the govt they divert their criticism against Cantuar, who remains serene.
You will gather from all this that there is a real feeling of bitterness & resentment at the prospect of the bad manners & misconduct of the late King reviving a period of scandal & intrigue.
C&B
