The Age 13 Feb 1998

Although she played a significant role in English history, the Duchess of Windsor is not remembered for her corsetry. However this picture of the (ex) royal couple, taken on their wedding day, typifies the well-dressed and well corseted matron of the 1930’s.

It was published in the Melbourne Age in February 1998, and accompanied an article about a Sotheby's auction to sell the Windsors personal effects. It mentioned the Duchess's ‘brittle bon mot’ to the effect that ‘One could never be too rich or too thin’.

It has been suggested (without any supporting evidence that I am aware of) that the Duke was addicted to corsets, and that the Duchess's collection of the these garments may have been a material factor in her hold over him.

It is hard to believe that he could have been bewitched by her face, so perhaps there is some truth in this suggestion.

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