Letters from Edward, Duke of Windsor to Freda Dudley Ward, 1920

SAFE/MLMSS 7765 (Safe 1/259)

fonds

1920

Textual Records, Graphic Materials

457050

Microfilm : CY 4708, frames 1-233 (MLMSS 7765; filed at Safe 1/259)

1 box

Edward VIII was born in 1894, the eldest son of George V. As Prince of Wales he was associated with a succession of married women including Freda Dudley Ward. In 1920 he visited Australia and New Zealand on HMS Renown spending nine days in Victoria, eleven days in New South Wales, four days in Tasmania, eleven days in Western Australia, six days in South Australia and eight days in Queensland. The overland journey from South Australia to Queensland via inland New South Wales towns was scheduled to take an additional ten days. He succeeded to the throne in January 1936 but abdicated 11 months later in order to marry the American divorcee Wallis Simpson. In 1937 he was created Duke of Windsor.

(A). Ten letters written between 23 May and 21 August 1920 from HMS Renown, Melbourne, Perth, Hobart, Brisbane, Coochin Coochin Boomah (Queensland), Wingadee sheep station (Coonamble), and Sydney. They range from 8 to 32 pages in length and give details of the Prince's engagements, both public and private and his opinions of the dignitaries he met including the Lord Mayor of Sydney, the Prime Minister Billy Hughes and Sir Walter Davidson, Governor of NSW. He describes the difficulties of touring and the places he visited in some detail. Throughout he conveys his passionate love for Freda Dudley Ward who had been his mistress since 1918. (Call No.: Microfilm CY 4708, frames 1-223)
(B). Four black and white photoprints. (Call No.: Microfilm CY 4708, frames 224-233)
1. Addressing the ship's company on the fo'c's'le of HMS Renown, 26 May 1920.
2. Landing at Jervis Bay, N.S.W., 14 June 1920.
3. Official landing at Sydney, 16 June 1920. Inspecting the guard of honour with the Governor-General Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson.
4. Official drive through Sydney, 16 June 1920.

In copyright:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder

Extracts published in Edward VIII, Duke of Windsor & Godfrey, Rupert. Letters from a prince Edward, Prince of Wales to Mrs. Freda Dudley Ward, March 1918-January 1921. London: Little Brown & Company, 1998.

Microfilm copy made Apr. 2007.

Art & About Sydney: Public Space - Private Lives - State Library of New South Wales (20 September - 20 October, 2013)