We all know the tale of Edward VIII giving up the crown for Wallis Simpson.
It’s a royal love story that’s been retold a thousand times.
But while the spotlight blazed on the king and the woman who captivated him, one figure quietly faded into the background: Wallis’s husband, Ernest Simpson.
Ernest has long been written off as a dull, helpless man who quietly stepped aside.
But in truth, he led a rich, fascinating life filled with charm, romance, and resilience—and maybe, just maybe, Wallis let go of someone truly remarkable.
Ernest Wasn’t Just “The First Husband”
Born into privilege as the son of a wealthy British ship-broker and an American mother, Ernest was no nobody.
He was polished, good-looking, and well-connected.
His sister, Maud, was married to a British politician and hosted posh parties in Belgrave Square attended by royalty and influencers of the day—including the Prince of Wales.
Ernest had the kind of old-school charm and impeccable style that turned heads.
Even future romance queen Barbara Cartland was briefly taken in by him.
She later wrote that he flattered her but wasn’t serious—mainly, she said, because his sister kept reminding everyone he “had to marry money.”
Wallis and Ernest: The Power Couple Before the Scandal
Ernest’s first marriage to Dorothea Parsons produced a daughter, but it wasn’t until Wallis Warfield came into his life that he seemed truly smitten.
They met in 1926 and married two years later.
By Wallis’s own words, Ernest was witty, well-read, fashionable, and emotionally balanced.
Despite what history tends to say, their marriage wasn’t cold or transactional. It gave Wallis a sense of stability she hadn’t known before.
Ernest, in many ways, brought out her softer, more grounded side—until another man came along.
When a King Walked In, Everything Changed
Wallis first viewed her flirtation with the Prince of Wales as harmless. So did Ernest.
At the time, Edward seemed immature and not particularly threatening.
Wallis even said she would drop him if Ernest ever objected.
But things quickly escalated. Ernest, though hurt, stayed composed.
He didn’t cause a scandal, partly because he still cared deeply for his wife.
In a poignant letter from 1936, he wrote to Wallis: “Guard [that flame] carefully, my darling… if only in memory of all the sacred lovely things that have been.”
The Twist: Ernest Fell in Love With Wallis’s Best Friend
While Wallis was pursuing Edward, she underestimated her own husband’s ability to move on—and with someone close.
Mary Kirk Raffray, Wallis’s best friend since school and even a bridesmaid at her first wedding, had been staying at the Simpsons’ flat in London.
Initially, Wallis encouraged Mary to keep Ernest company.
But things got serious.
When Ernest and Mary rekindled their connection during a business trip to America, a real romance began. Once Wallis found out, she was furious.
That door she assumed would always be open? It slammed shut.
The Simpsons divorced in May 1937, and by November, Ernest had married Mary.
A Love Just as Deep as Edward and Wallis
Ernest and Mary’s connection was strong. Mary’s sister, Anne, described their bond as one filled with deep joy and intimacy.
They built a promising life together, even welcoming a son in 1939. But that happiness was short-lived.
When war broke out, their son was sent to the U.S. for safety. Then came devastating news: Mary had breast cancer.
In her final year, she told her sister she was “heartbroken” for Ernest but wanted to be strong for him.
Thanks to Winston Churchill’s intervention—recognizing Ernest’s dignity during the Abdication Crisis—Mary was flown to America to reunite with her son before she passed.
Ernest later said she was “the bravest of the brave” and the love of his life.
Ernest’s Final Chapter: Still Dashing, Still Devoted
In 1948, Ernest married for the fourth and final time.
His new wife, Avril Leveson-Gower, was a stylish divorcée with quite the past—including a sister notorious for shooting her lover.
Ernest and Avril shared ten happy years before he died of throat cancer in 1958 at the age of 61.
Throughout his life, Ernest remained a principled, patriotic man.
During World War I, he left Harvard to join the Coldstream Guards.
And while his ex-wife was cozying up to fascist sympathizers, Ernest, who had Jewish heritage, stood firmly against Hitler.
He even took on a secret mission in India during World War II.
Was Ernest the One That Got Away?
Knowing all this, you can’t help but wonder—did Wallis make a mistake? She never publicly criticized Ernest and always spoke fondly of him.
She called him “a strong and noble character” and admitted he had been a true friend.
But for a woman who craved opulence, adventure, and a place in history, Ernest’s quiet, enduring love may not have been enough.
As he once wrote to her, “Could you possibly have settled down to the old life and forgotten the fairyland through which you had passed? My child, I do not think so.”