Once a King

The Lost Memoir of Edward VIII

A retelling of the story of the Duke of Windsor - King Edward VIII, who gave up his throne to marry the woman he loved.

Using never before seen sources, Once a King is a fresh, revelatory and gripping insight into the Duke of Windsor - King Edward VIII - who gave up the throne to marry the woman he loved, twice divorced American Wallis Simpson.

Considering Edward VIII's travels and interests as Prince of Wales as well as his relationship with Wallis Simpson and the course of events leading up to his abdication and subsequent exile, Once a King offers a previously unexplored lens through which we encounter first-hand the hitherto concealed subtlety and raw emotion of two of the twentieth century's most iconic Royal figures: the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

(P)2023 Hodder & Stoughton Limited©2023 Jane Marguerite Tippett

What a find!

I very much enjoyed listening to alternative accounts of the abdication, and listening to the verbatim words from interviews with both Edward and Wallis. Very informative, well read.

His family was horrible!

Loved the book! Found myself so disappointed in the Royal Family every time Prince Edward suffered yet another slap in the face by them! And Queen Elizabeth (later Queen Mother) seems to have been at the heart of most of it! Ironic how her adored Grandson, Prince Charles, ended up doing the same in the end!! Imagine the head of the English church married a divorcee’ now when she was so appalled then!! A different time perhaps but it all seems so hypocritical now! Anyway, I loved the book and can’t recommend it enough!!! I couldn’t put it down!!!

A beautiful work

Most pleasant high English conversations and narrative. Respectful of the Prince and the situation. Restful and timed well. A recommended talking book.

Cleans out the muck.

In recent years there's been a renewed assault on the character of the Duke of Windsor. Claims of him being a Nazi collaborator are disturbing and I was beginning to wonder if I were blinded by my own bias. I'm glad Tippet records the facts, along side the Duke's own words, and let's the reader come to their own opinion.

Interesting Insights Even For Veteran Duke and Duchess of Windsor Students

I enjoyed this book because it delves deeply into the background personalities and frustrations related to the writing of “A King’s Story”. Issues such as the Duchess’s alleged extra-marital affairs are not touched. But a great deal is discussed concerning the Duke’s interested in Nazi-German politics. A lot of the facts are not new to the Windsors’ story but there is enough new material to make it worthwhile. I recommend it more to the veterans of this singular historical period in English history than to the general reader.