Paris mansion of Edward VIII to open to the public: See inside!

The mansion in Paris occupied by Britain’s King Edward VIII, the uncle of Queen Elizabeth II, after he abdicated the throne is opening to the public for the first time. Reporting for TODAY, NBC’s Keir Simmons gets a first-hand look at the new tour.
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#paris #mansion #news

[@RoarxBottomly]

*No man is too rich til you leave the earth you leave with nothing*

[@SpruiellWoodbridge]

well at least the rich achieved something in life before that person dies. his kids will probably inherit the fortunes and pass on to the next generation. cycle of life.

[@MartinesGuziczek]

We live in this earth, we gotta play our part...He's living life while he is still alive...

[@NaragonSpencer]

If you are not in the financial market space right now, you are making a huge mistake. I understand that it could be due to ignorance, but if you want to make your money work for you...prevent inflation

[@AnstettSkelly]

Interesting, This is superb! Information, as a noob it gets quite difficult to handle all of this and staying informed is a major cause, how do you go about this are you a pro Investor?

[@AnstettSkelly]

I feel Investors should exercise caution with their exposure and.exercise caution when considering new investments, particularly during periods of inflation. It is advisable to seek guidance from a professional or a licensed expert in order to navigate this recession and achieve potential high yields

[@yournanna866]

Why do they say the royal family opens the mansion? The home belongs to the French government.

[@jacqueline6926]

I was about to write exactly the same thing!!!

[@fredrika27]

I thought it belonged to the Fayed family!

[@yournanna866]

@@fredrika27 he purchased a timed lease.

[@fredrika27]

@@yournanna866 Thanks for letting me know! It explains a lot!

[@karmelicanke]

1972 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II made a state visit to France and she was received with Prince Phillip with great pomp and ceremony. I was living in Paris at the time and during a motorcade down the Avenue Champs-Élysées, the royal couple were greeted with wild, deafening cheers of welcome and admiration. I often wondered if the Queen organized this trip with the purpose or excuse to visit her Uncle David, Edward VIII, later known as the Duke of Windsor, before he died as it was well known that he was in poor health.

[@hinas_for_life]

Wonderful memories, I look forward to visiting the house when the restoration is finished.

[@Roheryn100]

State visits are organised through the respective Foreign Offices of the two nations involved for diplomatic reasons . They are never done for personal reasons. The Queen was free to make a quick private visit to Paris any time she wished. She often did so to Kentucky.

[@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288]

Didn't Edward visit with Hitler? I've never heard that this guy was a national hero in the UK. I'm confused.

[@ChalNjurshEp]

You got it right. He had hoped something akin to giving Hitler what he wanted so to speak, as a way to end the bloodshed of the War. Bit of a grey area by different historians. Think how now, some believe Zelenskyy shouldn’t be keeping in this war by Ruzzia, cuz there’s been too much bloodshed already. You’re right. He wasn’t seen as any kind of hero of any of that, very much the opposite. David King Edward let down his nation, his people, his family, his king. He was greatly shunned but it was simply over not being allowed go marry whom he loved (sound familiar?) his dad was also rather a way too harsh crazy strict dare I say abusive dad. A large part of why David and Bertie ended up how they did is directly caused by how overly controlling and horrific both their parents were, including Mary of Teck (I think it was she that was Queen and their mother). @@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288

[@ilovebeinagirl]

@@Roheryn100 Really? She's been to Kentucky?

[@PJZZZZ]

The Royal Family did not open this house again ! Nor did they own it they leased it from the city of Paris.

[@Roheryn100]

The Royal Family do not own it. Never have. It was leased from the city of Paris by the Duke of Windsor.

[@Diamondmine212]

The Royal did not and do not OWN the house.

[@reallydarlings-se2xf]

All commentary on this so tacky, during the tour and the talking heads afterwards. There's no decorum left in the world.

[@MrStGeorgeIllawarra]

You expect decorum from Americans? LOL.

[@reallydarlings-se2xf]

None whatsoever.

[@michaeldelgiudice1057]

you said it. cheap and shallow.

[@anacletwilliams8315]

@@michaeldelgiudice1057 So very true! Cheap and shallow.

[@jimhall167]

It's not the mansion of Edward VIII, it's the mansion of the Duke of Windsor.

[@RaymondHng]

And Duchess of Windsor.

[@ItsMe-yv9jd]

You gotta love the American media and watching their 'serious journalists' at work... no doubt one of those Kardashians will be moving into the place after it's restored, (more free publicity folks!)

[@PatrickRKay]

Well he was king edward

[@ItsMe-yv9jd]

@@PatrickRKay He 'was' also Prince of Wales... what's your point? (We know you love to hear the sound of your own voice, but maybe you could try to focus on the valid comment posted.)

[@RaymondHng]

@@PatrickRKay His style and title was His Majesty The King for only eleven months. After his abdication, he became the Duke of Windsor. Three months later, his brother George VI styled him His Royal Highness The Duke of Windsor. By creating him a royal Duke, it ensured that he could neither run for election to the House of Commons nor speak on political subjects in the House of Lords. So referring to him as King Edward VIII refers to his reign from 20 January 1936 - 11 December 1936.

[@andyroo9381]

Are the original furnishings going to be a part of the tour? I thought Mohamed Al Fayed had restored it to its' original look from the days of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor?

[@davidlelacheur3217]

@@andyroo9381 The Duchess left a lot of the original furniture to places like the Palace of Versailles. The quality was that good. I doubt it could be easily replicated.

[@stevefoster4326]

Maybe some, but I was fortunate to buy their "W" engraved silver cigarette box at Chistie's auction in the 1990s.

[@ChalNjurshEp]

@@stevefoster4326would love to see a video of you ever make one!

[@hinas_for_life]

@@stevefoster4326 Lucky you, keep it in good hands for the next generation.

[@corgiowner436]

I though the contents were auctioned off.

[@pdmacguire]

Edward VIII never visited or lived in that house. It was rented and occupied by the Duke of Windsor and his spouse.

[@Thomas-fu8vp]

Rented? They paid peanuts per month if anything. Was it 100 £ ???

[@rogermaes6001]

@@Thomas-fu8vp I think that the residence is the property of the City of Paris, and that Jacques Chirac, then mayor of Paris, rented it to the Windsors for a paltry sum, completely symbolic.

[@anacletwilliams8315]

@@rogermaes6001 Actually the house is not in Paris, but in Neuilly-sur-Seine, a fancy small town close to Paris.

[@jimbo6059]

Edward VIII was he duke of Windsor. His brother was George VI, HIS YOUNGER BROTHER.

[@keithss67]

They were horrible people

[@philipbheller]

Yes it seems Today is soft on history

[@karensback]

​@@philipbhellerbull no-one sugar coats any White history

[@davidpollard1139]

You must have known them well.

[@capricemadrid5353]

Why are we celebrating these people?

[@elmonte-xt2wd]

because we love history

[@cherrytraveller5915]

Because they are still a part of history whether you like it or not.

[@Roheryn100]

You are free to scroll on.

[@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288]

Didn't this guy visit with Hitler? I've never heard that the UK considers him fondly as some sort of hero or romantic figure. I'm confused.

[@davidpollard1139]

​@@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288yes so did lots of other people so what ?

[@greg75002]

I feel a little bid saddend about the two guys making fun and laughing in the rooms. The story of this house had multiple sad endings. It was not a cheerful story.

[@glenncheatham1320]

Agree. I didn’t like how this was handled.🤨

[@ChalNjurshEp]

💔

[@muellkoerbchen]

Precisely. These „guys“ have no class, even the hair wax doesn‘t help.

[@edwardoneil3962]

It's horrendous.

[@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288]

Edward is not considered a national hero or even a romantic figure in UK, so why the fuss? Didn't this guy visit with Hitler? Why can't we spend these minutes of news air time on the Sudan or Haiti or even followup on Afghanistan. Use the building for affordable housing and let's move on.

[@muellkoerbchen]

Very interesting news, but very poorly adressed and presented. Couldn‘t stand those 2 men behaving like bad boys in Blazers who got unecpectedly permitted into a restriced area.

[@rbsmith3365]

Without any furnishings. It’s sad.

[@stephenwinter8892]

Greetings from Canada thanks for sharing this video

[@giearomin2738]

It's practically empty😮

[@cremebrulee4759]

No one lives there, so it would be empty.

[@dolphins15]

@@cremebrulee4759what about other estates not lived in but has paintings and furniture?

[@dolphins15]

Wallis sold things idk if after Edward some items went to the palace of Versailles

[@sharonbennett3318]

I don’t believe that Diana agree to marry Dodi

[@TheImperialChannel]

*More of a haunted mansion. The events and people who were there had grim endings.*

[@randywatts6969]

A lovely, and grand house.

[@mespb]

Wouldn’t he no longer be called King Edward after he abdicated?

[@ChalNjurshEp]

@@mespb yes. But he did used to be a king before he gave his crown up, so it’s not as if he wasn’t a king before :P

[@mespb]

@@ChalNjurshEp yeah, but the problem calling him King in this, especially with Queen Elizabeth being Queen is that the tittle King supersedes the title of Queen, which is partly why when we’ve had Queen Royals, their husbands have never been King consorts. So it’s inaccurate. You can see the guys in the video carefully calling him Duke, but the news wants to be more flashy, so they call him King with not even past tense.

[@livingincaptivityIII]

​@@ChalNjurshEp He was never crowned.

[@graceyoakum8863]

He was never crosned

[@mespb]

@@livingincaptivityIII maybe he means he gave up the ability to be coronated.

[@alexisbelcher3967]

Gilded prison, for outcast people from an era long gone 😢A mansion of misery looms here .😢

[@alexandrosdearges-chantler5532]

Its nothing to do with The British Royal Family The Duke rented the house at a very low rent from either the Paris authorities or the French Government, as did Fayed

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Thank you for sharing.

[@clairevancleave1508]

The Fayeds were so conniving and transparent. The Q saw to it that Dodi never got UK citizenship…such a laugh.

Not citizen subject

[@clairevancleave1508]

Tru’ dat!

[@alundavies1016]

Actually citizen, the term subject has been pretty much phased out.

[@rogermaes6001]

Altough dating from 1929, a magnificent exemple of french classic architecture : simplicity,, balance, nobility. Nothing to remove, nothing to add; Too bad, it is empty now... Thanks anyhow for the discovery. (In the series "The Crown", the mansion is a quite convoluted renaisance style castel, nothing to see with this genuine beauty)

[@berglettemom6045]

Keir, you forgot to tell us about the dog!!

[@manuellaopao8418]

i watched “the rose “ in college decades ago ……it was epic movie …like watching actual concert…

[@RobustArid379]

Wow house

[@maxklein1614]

"Little known"? Are you daft?

[@christina-yp6jy]

Thank you.

[@hansulrichboning8551]

Perhaps the french should rent it to Harry and Meghan.😂

[@j.r.8223]

Interesting.

[@HaloFlemz86]

What a lovely little love nest for a former king who barely could pay the rent and had to beg the royal family to increase in his allowance but the story’s the walls could tell. I hope someone will buy it a restore it to its former glory. The duchess did have lovely taste. I’m sure they were happy in the house.

[@ChalNjurshEp]

al Fayed did restore it. He recently passed.

[@meyou3566]

@@ChalNjurshEp It has been restored again recently and he left it to become a house museum like many others in Paris.

[@michaelcraigjesso6043]

Seriously lady, The Crown is not real life. Edward was more than taken care of, plus he sold King George Sandringham and Balmoral castle which was equivalent to hundreds of millions in todays money. While the Paris house was almost rent free, they still owned Le Moulin Auber. He also continued to receive salaries from different positions held in common wealth counties.

[@cherrytraveller5915]

@@michaelcraigjesso6043 the crown has a basis in history. It may be loss with the truth but most of the facts are there

[@Roheryn100]

@@michaelcraigjesso6043Correct. It took years for King George to pay his brother for Sandringham and Balmoral. If the Duke of Windsor chose to spend grotesque amounts of money on jewelry for Wallis, that was his own problem.

[@ChalNjurshEp]

The Duke of Windsor! The Abdicated King!😮

[@lindap.9163]

Will they original furnishings or replicas be put into the house?

[@RaymondHng]

In lieu of death duties, Wallis's collection of Louis XVI style furniture, some porcelain, and paintings were made over to the French state. The British royal family received no major bequests. Most of her estate went to the Pasteur Institute medical research foundation.

[@RobustArid379]

Tea anyone?

[@steveconn]

Versailles pretty nice too.

[@calebkiddonline]

Didn’t the Egyptian guy buy this place?

[@ChalNjurshEp]

@@calebkiddonline Al Fayed did buy it/lease it, yes.

[@livingincaptivityIII]

He leased it.

[@ISouza-qs9yy]

Interesting the realtor looks a bit like the Duke of Windsor , the hair, the clothes etc

[@lornapalmer6426]

They need to put the furniture back .

[@RaymondHng]

In lieu of death duties, Wallis's collection of Louis XVI style furniture, some porcelain, and paintings were made over to the French state. The British royal family received no major bequests. Most of her estate went to the Pasteur Institute medical research foundation.

[@GreenYoshi3881]

That’s a beautiful home 😮

[@irawilliams343]

I wonder how much Edward VII spent to maintain this house and such a glamorous lifestyle

[@ChalNjurshEp]

@@irawilliams343 they didn’t have much money tbh. Leaving behind your crown because your family won’t let you marry the person you love and chose, sending you into literal exile, does not pay. 💰

[@irawilliams343]

@@ChalNjurshEp so how were they able to make ends meet?

[@dianeunderhill8506]

They had an allowance from the Royal Family.

[@jimleonard6822]

@@irawilliams343 As the eldest son, King Edward VIII (afterwards the Duke of Windsor) inherited the bulk of the immense private fortune of his father, George V. He also benefited, as others have mentioned here, from the sale of the two vast private estates of his father, Balmoral and Sandringham. Despite what is portrayed in "The Crown", which is a work of fiction, Edward was immensely rich but, like many rich people, hated to part with a penny. He made his choice when deciding to marry Wallis, his choice, not hers. She was backed into a corner by him, a spoilt and wilful boy who wanted his cake, as the saying goes. All this talk of "An allowance from the Royal Family" shows a misunderstanding and simplification of former King's situation, he was a skinflint and, in the opinion of those who knew him intimately, untrustworthy. Churchill had his measure, as did those servants of the Crown who were privy to his private life before his abdication. Going back to the comment "An allowance from the Royal Family", this is a nonsense statement. It implies that "The Family" clubbed together to give Edward an allowance every year. Not a chance! His "allowance" would more likely have come from the British Government or, indirectly, from the Crown Estate, not directly out of the Monarch's pocket.

[@livingincaptivityIII]

He would have been Edward VIII.

[@TT_1221]

It's a beautiful house but I wouldn't like to live there. Bad Vibes given it's miserable history.

[@thomasecosse]

They were not exactly hard up, pretty nice Digs!

[@samanthab1923]

Where are all the furnishings? Does Dodi’s father still own it?

[@paulmarkwilkinson8778]

No dodi's dad died last year

[@ChalNjurshEp]

@@paulmarkwilkinson8778 may he rest and finally feel his peace

[@RaymondHng]

In lieu of death duties, Wallis's collection of Louis XVI style furniture, some porcelain, and paintings were made over to the French state. The British royal family received no major bequests. Most of her estate went to the Pasteur Institute medical research foundation.

[@samanthab1923]

@@RaymondHng I know the auction of all her jewelry was a big deal. Even the catalogue is valuable 💍

[@livingincaptivityIII]

Al-Fayed never owned it, he was leasing it.

[@debralittle1341]

Why?

[@qqsilvarerum]

Inside.....empty!🤣

[@tobiojo6469]

Interesting video

[@___beyondhorizon4664]

It's like a curse

[@shaboopie12]

Didn't this guy interview Putin? Now he's touring a summer home? What a contrast.

[@clairevancleave1508]

Who runs The Foundation, btw?

[@troycrawford1478]

Nice mansion. 😇

[@5649902]

Will be there

[@dolphins15]

I got a book about this that was owned by dame Vera lynn, shows pictures of the place, Edward’s bath had a bored over it as he only took showers

[@davidranasinghe8093]

Now no duke of windsor no fairytale they all gone ❤😢

[@Beedee664]

Why are you shouting😂

[@1y167]

On a pas besoin d’un énième musée ! Vendez ca a un richard quelconque qui y habitera

[@margaretlovelock7031]

Why ids this man shouting?

[@jean-paulpotet1988]

The building is regal, but the furniture shown is quite disappointing.

[@dianeunderhill8506]

The furniture was auctioned off.

[@marcs9453]

who owns this house now????? anyone know??????

[@piplebref4607]

The City of Paris. It was leased to the Windsors at a peppercorn rent. Fayed took over the lease based on his promise to restore the house.

[@davidlelacheur3217]

The house belongs to the French government,as it did when the Duke and Duchess lived there.Alphyed only had a lease.

[@piplebref4607]

@@davidlelacheur3217 I know he had his reasons, but Fayed selling off the contents was one of the most short-sighted things anyone could have done. This was history and it was intact.

[@graceyoakum8863]

The government

[@CarolMartin-xm1ri]

He didn't own the home did he?

[@alundavies1016]

It wasn’t so much that she was American, it was that she was a divorcee that was the issue.

[@gidzmobug2323]

I thought the mansion ended up in al-Fayed's hands.

[@livingincaptivityIII]

He only leased it.

[@gidzmobug2323]

@@livingincaptivityIII Then who does really own it? The British Royal family?

[@livingincaptivityIII]

@@gidzmobug2323 The City of Paris.

[@JV-yd4qg]

Next will be the Harkles in Montecito. Another Edward in the making~👌

[@cherrytraveller5915]

Do grow up

[@richardsmith579]

No mention that this house was built by Haussmann, for himself. He was the architect behind the redevelopment of Nineteenth Century Paris and far more interesting than the spivvy Edward and his gold-sucking wife.

[@_Ben4810]

I'd forgotten Al Fayed once owned it... His classic Arabic elite "buy your way into everything & every situation" ways thankfully cut no mustard in particular with the Duke of Edinburgh who saw straight through what he was all about...! 🙏

[@livingincaptivityIII]

Leased.

[@maga6252]

Wallis and Edward or W.E. as the umm Duchess would say. Shades of the former royal lives on with Harry and Meghan or H&M. 😎🇺🇲🇬🇧

[@LarcR]

Wonder who paid for David and Wallis to live there? I'm sure they didn't. They were two of the champion spongers of all time.

[@ChalNjurshEp]

@@LarcR huh?? They paid the rent. But they did receive salaries or “salaries.” Don’t you already know that they paid the rent?

[@davidpollard1139]

I think the French government let them live there rent free.

[@modfus]

It is a beautiful house - in Paris this is called a 'hôtel particulier'

[@japanjack62]

Kinda sad he had to give up the throne. His brother might have lived longer and QE the second would of became queen in 1972, after her children for the most part had grown up...

[@jimleonard6822]

He didn't have to give up his throne, it was his choice.

[@vigfhfc]

wow a house

[@cwayzums]

Harry missed his chance to purchase the home that would have been his mother’s.

[@benu_bird]

Do you mean Althorp? That was never Diana's. That went to her brother, Charles, as the male heir.

[@cherrytraveller5915]

You do know where this place is??? It is in France and had nothing to do with Diana. This was the home of Edward and his wife Wallis. Edward was the Queen Elizabeth uncle which makes him great, great uncle to Harry. Edward and Wallis didn’t own the building so no one from the RF were left it as some sort of inheritance as it wasn’t Edward to give away. Does this clear things up.

[@Roheryn100]

@@cherrytraveller5915 Did you watch the video? Diana and Dody visited the house before the accident. Al Fayed says he planned to give it to them as a wedding present.

[@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288]

He had a lease, not ownership.

[@benu_bird]

@@Roheryn100 How could he give away a house that he didn’t own?

[@berryrl9]

Edward Viii?? Pls, he’s only Duke of windsor

[@cherrytraveller5915]

He was proclaimed King so yes he was King. Edward V was neither proclaimed nor crowed but he is remembered as King. How is that different

[@ChalNjurshEp]

@@cherrytraveller5915 bingo!

[@cheryldodd-marko9787]

🕊🇺🇲💕

[@ricardopolanco9477]

This house for sale

[@mobrown7594]

Now Charles married Camila is married to Charles same situation lol

[@karensback]

Whites are wonderful

[@AizonDeSoteraux-tv1xx]

AT LEAST EDWARD VIII HAD BALLS.. UNLIKE CHARLES...

[@dianeunderhill8506]

Edward VIII/Duke of Windsor was weak. Charles is quite different!

[@user-pk7hk3vb4s]

fascist’s , French and Italian citizens should know better about electing fascist politicians after WW2.

[@jackiechristian-di6sy]

Not a lot of celebrities would be caught visiting the new Windsors in California....unless they wanted to end their careers really quick and I cant see William, Catherine or George visiting the dying Harry or Megs either.

[@ChalNjurshEp]

Sussex. They are not Windsors. No more dukes nor duchesses will have that name.

[@babyjane4ever]

And you toxic people always had to drag in Harry en Megan.. They are happy and living their own life.. accept it and leave them be!

[@user-yi7mg5ig6l]

@@babyjane4everThey are still trying to be relevant. Perhaps, if they had truly looked about for Charities to support rather than make everything about M, they wouldn’t have such a bad rap. Oh, they were going to go to Africa, continue to support the work H had begun in Lesotho but nothing came of it. Instead we have seen her making fun of his Grandmother, HM Queen Elizabeth and the established standards required in her presence and he not saying a word. Now, she wants Titles for her “children” where previously she thought them unnecessary. This is what one has when one is self-absorbed.

[@cherrytraveller5915]

Meghan and Harry live rent free in your head. This isn’t even about Meghan and Harry and yet here you are making it about them. Another keyboard warrior thinking they are an expert on Meghan and Harry. Too bad the video was about EDWARD and WALLIS. Luckily for you there are plenty of hate channels that are right up your alley. Jog on to one of those and find other people who suit your narrative.

[@cherrytraveller5915]

@@user-yi7mg5ig6l she wasn’t making fun of the Queen. That is called self depicting humour where you make fun of yourself. Did you actually watch that documentary or did you just cherry pick the parts you wanted to see. The only ones who made out Meghan was insulting the Queen are those that didn’t watch the documentary and used the snapshot of her pretending to curtsy as proof she was insulting the Queen.

[@teriscott685]

No one cares

[@davidpollard1139]

People who like history and beautiful houses care.

[@edwardoneil3962]

It really should just be demolished. It's got a horrendous history.

[@Roheryn100]

Why blame the house ? No one was murdered there. It was a pretty little jewel box before the Duke of Windsor leased it; maybe it will be reborn again.

[@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288]

I hope it can be tastefully redone as affordable housing. Real people need real places to live, not luxurious nonsense that no one can afford. Put it to good use.

[@davidpollard1139]

Listed building so a fairly idiotic comment.

[@SymphonyBrahms]

Cheater Charlie and Strumpet CowMilla should move in. They would feel right at home there.

[@kismit100]

At least she had class, unlike that other American so called Duchess

[@cherrytraveller5915]

Oh honey you need to read a few books. Wallis and Edward when the war struck stubbornly refused to evacuate when told to do so. They had to be ordered out. Even then there was a special mission conducted titled “cleopatra wish” which involved people putting their lives at risk to retrieve a swim suit for Wallis from their home. She refused to evacuate further without it. History is not your friend on this one

[@Roheryn100]

Wallis had zero class herself, and leeched off other men. The Duchess of Sussex at least made her own way and her own money for years before meeting Prince Harry.

[@ChalNjurshEp]

@@kismit100 LOL, NO