REVIEW #24: TRAITOR OR ROYAL BRAT?

17 Carnations The Windsors, the Nazis and the Coverup
By Andrew Morton
Michael O’Mara Books Limited 2015

From the outset, I must confess that I think of biographers as arrogant parasites affixing themselves to somebody significant, in order to make a name for themselves. In less than a thousand pages, these writers purport to accurately record the lives of the subject when, in reality, we all know that if two or three people speak at a funeral, they are all painting a different perspective of a person, depending on whether they are a colleague, a family member, or a teammate. I approach autobiographies, also, with a large dose of scepticism, since the person writing is hardly capable of objectivity and will inevitably curate a sympathetic narrative of their life – as we all do. All that being acknowledged, I find it fascinating to read about people’s lives, especially their motivations, the impact of their personal and professional relationships, their philosophy of life and the character that underpins it all, be they fabulous or flawed . . . or both!

IF WE WANT A BETTER FUTURE, WE MUST UNDERSTAND THE PAST.

This biography of the Duke of Windsor presents him as a self-indulgent narcissist who refused to carry out his duty as King, yet continued to expect adulation and make demands on King George VI who struggled to deal with his brother’s petulant, high-handed orders. Moreover, in the middle of a war setting, the Prime Minister was having to deal with such petty concerns as retrieving Wallace Simpson’s favourite bathers and fine bed linen from France and deliver them to the Bahamas. Nobody could have invented the childish demands of this couple, or the duke’s naïve conversations with Hitler and his representatives, as he tried to exert the power he had given away, making grandiose statements that the war would have been averted, had he remained king.

Andrew Morton has carefully researched his material, aided by the fact that many of these documents were historically important and therefore preserved and made available to German and allied historians. Moreover, there were many letters between the Duke and his Prime Minister who continued to treat his demands with deference, whilst simultaneously trying to minimize the problems associated with the duke’s indiscreet commentary criticizing Britain’s position and lauding Hitler. In light of his treacherous and petulant behaviour, it was hard to understand the response he drew from adoring British crowds who gathered to see him, whenever he was allowed to make a public appearance. It wasn’t surprising that the royal family and the government colluded to keep him out of the picture as much as possible and to deny access to those damning files that would expose the British public to the true picture of their charismatic ex-king.

At every turn, it seemed that the only person he was fighting for was himself. Perhaps there is a more sympathetic biography out there that would challenge this picture, though the comments of Philip Ziegler, the duke’s official biographer hardly seem favourable, since he argued that the Duke of Windsor ‘could be condemned for his behaviour, but not convicted’ as intentionally traitorous. In Operation Willi, Michael Bloch disdainfully depicts him as a self-absorbed man more concerned about his possessions and royal status than restoring peace to Europe.

Although I found the first chapter somewhat tedious, I am glad that I continued because it helped me to understand the nature of the British monarchy in the past and why Prince Harry still had a battle when he tried to carve out a new role for himself to serve the queen in the twenty-first century. Having just read Spare, it was very interesting to make comparisons between the two dukes. Thankfully, the Duke of Sussex is motivated by the opportunity to serve others, not self-aggrandisement and he and his wife continue to do that, despite the barrage of negative press. Judging from this biography, the evolution of the role of British royalty has clearly been much needed. As we are shaping societies for the future, it is wise not to forget the past and to do our best to learn from it.