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EDWARD VIII (1894-1972) A lengthy autograph letter signed, 'David' (also signed a further three times at various breaks in the letter), 8pp., 4to, H.M.S. Renown, at sea, 18th – 21st August 1919, to Freda Dudley Ward (‘Fredie darling beloved little sweetheart mine’). The Prince of Wales, writing in pencil, sends a love letter to his mistress in London ahead of his arrival in Canada, sending news of speeches he has made (‘what I think of all this official work & these cornie [sic] pompous stunts….tho I really do feel that I’ve at last turned the corner as regards public speaking….’), informing her that he will be spending a day at Prince Edward Island (‘I don’t think it will be very strenuous as its such a pip squeak province’), expressing his desire to have been given a silver fox skin, letting her know how much she is missed (‘I do love you, love you, my very own blessed little Fredie darling & I find life very hard & dour without you……it’s hell when we are parted sweetheart & when I can’t hear you say all your divine things which is what keeps me alive….’), stating that he is looking forward to going West and hoping to receive another letter from her (‘there’s only one type of letter for me & that’s my precious beloved little baby’s, only one writing that I search madly for when the letters are being sorted & my poor little heart is beating so fast….’), further making reference to the Canadian Prime Minister Robert Borden with whom the Prince had dined (‘…he’s such a stick & deadly dull except re politics & I can’t tackle him on that subject’), asking to be sent some books of poetry with her favourite verses or lines marked, lamenting the fact that fog has prevented him from playing golf, commenting that he is feeling home sick, and concluding in romantic terms, ‘You can never know what I feel like…..or how I dote over YOU & worship you darling, darling of my heart!! Au revoir and may God have you in his safe keeping beloved one till your very very own devoted & adoring little boy Your David returns to YOU!! Bless you, bless you for ever & ever & I send millions & millions of paper baisers tho what rotten substitutes for our proper ones which must be easily the most divine & marvellous ever known!!’ and in a postscript intimately writing ‘Mrs Thpider sends her love & baiser to Mr. Thpider, she is looking after me vewy well tho she’s vewy bored & fed up & sad at her long separation from her little husband. I hope he’s as well as she is sweetheart!!’. Accompanied by the original envelope bearing a black wax seal to the verso.Freda Dudley Ward (1894-1983) Marquesa de Casa Maury. English Socialite, the mistress of Edward, Prince of Wales from 1918-23. Before leaving England for his tour of North America the Prince and his lover exchanged signet rings with spider motifs, which they called ‘Mr and Mrs Thpider’, as referenced in the letter. Ward remained a close confidante of Edward's until 1934 when his relationship with Wallis Simpson began. Condition report: light age staining in places, previously folded twice for enclosing in the envelope. No particular other problems. Property of a collector.
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