How Wallis Simpson faced a smear campaign in Britain before Meghan Markle
- Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee, was subjected to a disinformation campaign by British intelligence in the 1930s.
- The campaign included false narratives about her personal life, suggesting scandalous behaviors to undermine her relationship with Edward VIII.
- The smear tactics not only impacted Simpson's life but also mirrored contemporary issues faced by other American women in the royal family.
In the 1930s, Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee, became embroiled in a scandal that rocked the British monarchy following her marriage to Edward VIII. This union led Edward to abdicate in 1936, triggering a significant crisis for the royal family. Amidst this turmoil, a disinformation campaign, orchestrated by British intelligence officer Harry Steptoe, emerged. He produced a fictional 'China Dossier' that cast Simpson in a scandalous light, alleging her involvement in a range of dubious behaviors including pornography and exotic sexual practices learned in China. Simpson had lived in China with her first husband, Earl Winfield Spencer Jr., and returned as a single woman. The campaign aimed to discredit her and halt the impending marriage, which was seen as destabilizing to the monarchy. The rumors, which included absurd tales of her being a porn model and a gambler, were reportedly based on existing scandals and societal perceptions from Chinese culture, twisted to fit Simpson's narrative. The impact of this smear campaign lasted well beyond Simpson’s time, with these salacious stories becoming deeply ingrained in public consciousness. Even decades later, references to Simpson’s alleged sexual exploits have persisted in popular culture. The parallels drawn with Meghan Markle's experiences highlight a continued pattern of using smear tactics against American women who marry into the royal family. Ultimately, the case of Wallis Simpson illustrates the lengths to which the establishment went to preserve its image, sowing distrust and disdain against perceived threats to the monarchy.