Kerry Taylor Auctions
Lot 202
A rare and important photographic album including images of King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson on the Nahlin cruise, compiled by their friends and companions Herman and Katherine Rogers, August-September, 1936, 69 pages containing approx. 277 black and white photographs showing the King, Wallis and friends at play cruising the Adriatic on the Nahlin, visiting Greek temples, Prince Paul of Yugoslavia's lunch on board, Sir Sydney Waterlow's picnic at Tailor's Bay, Chalkis where Nahlin hit a bridge, picnics on Greek islands (where Wallis sports rubber bathing hat and elasticated swimsuit and the King appears bare-chested or in Breton top), a meeting with Turkish general Fahrettin in Istanbul and a trip on Kemal Ataturk's private train, a trip to Vienna (where Wallis catches a cold), a partridge shoot on Sir Walter Selby's estate (the King wears a loose blouson jacket and a pair of Bermuda shorts in contrast to the hunting tweeds of his companions) and finally a visit to Balmoral with deer stalking trips - the King wears a stalking cape with hood (which causes great mirth), long stalking trousers, tartan suits and full highland dress with Balmoral tartan kilt, 29 by 40cm, 11 1/2 by 15 3/4in
An additional 5% VAT is payable on the hammer price, this can be refunded if proof of export outside the EU is provided within 6 months of the sale date.
In August 1936, King Edward VIII, who had recently acceded to the throne, chose to take his married lover - Mrs Wallis Simpson, on an extended cruise around the Adriatic and Eastern Mediterranean. The fact that Spain was in the throes of a civil war and there was unrest in the Balkans did not deter him from embarking on the trip, despite government advice to the contrary.
The specially chartered Nahlin yacht, was partially re-fitted for the cruise, with the library converted into a master bedroom. Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson were accompanied by a few close friends including - Herman and Katherine Rogers (who made this album), Sir Alan 'Tommy' Lascelles (assistant private secretary), Minister of War - Duff Cooper and his beautiful wife Lady Diana, Lady Brownlow and Lord Brownlow (Lord-in-waiting).
Whilst Britain remained unaware of the royal romance (thanks to acquiescent press barons who quashed all mention), in the US and Continental Europe the affair was widely reported as Wallis' aunt Bessie (who lived in the US) was to inform her upon her return to France at the end of the trip. Not all of the coverage was flattering.
The visit to Balmoral took place at the end of the Nahlin cruise on 23rd September, 1936, Wallis having briefly stopped in London beforehand to meet with her lawyer to finalise details of her divorce from Ernest Simpson. Her petition for decree nisi was to be heard on 27th October, at Ipswich Assizes. If all went to plan and the divorce was granted - it meant the couple could be married before the planned coronation date of 12th May, 1937. In the Balmoral section of photographs at the end of the album, the pair look happy and relaxed and are seen joking with the Duke of Kent and Lord Louis Mountbatten.
Just three months later, 10th December 1936, with the King unable to rule without Wallis beside him, he chose to abdicate his throne and empire - and was created Duke of Windsor.
This album compiled by Katherine and Herman Rogers illustrates rare, private moments during the King's brief reign. They show the calm before the storm in the lead-up to the abdication crisis, where Edward VIII renounced crown and empire - all for the woman he loved, surely one of the most romantic gestures of all time? CONDITION REPORT: Exterior of album is good, a few small scuffs to edges. It appears to be complete except for a gap on page 4, taken soon after the board the Nahlin and one at the end of the album in the Balmoral section. The photos are pencil numbered on the back in sequence. They were pasted onto the grey card pages and where they have become loose or detached we have added clear photo corners to re-fix them in their correct places. The photos are generally good. There is a glue spot on the front of one with Katherine Rogers and Lord Brownlow in Vienna. In a series of photographs taken on Sir Watford Selby's partridge shoot, inked crosses on the pages at the back of the photos show through faintly on 7 in the paler areas. Also in the Balmoral section, faint lines can be seen in the skies of approx. 12.
