Edward Dudley Metcalfe

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Major Edward Dudley Metcalfe, MVO, MC, (1887 - 1957) was the best friend and equerry of Edward VIII.[1] Major Metcalfe first met Edward VIII when the latter was touring India in 1922. Edward was impressed with Metcalfe's knowledge of horses and insisted that he become a member of his personal staff.[2]

In 1925, He married Alexandra Naldera Curzon,("Baba") (1904 - 1995 )[3], 18 years younger than he and the third daughter of George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston and Viceroy of India, and Lord Curzon's first wife, the American mercantile heiress, formerly Mary Victoria Leiter,Mary Victoria Curzon, Baroness Curzon of Kedleston. He was known as 'Fruity' to everyone except his wife's Godmother the aged Queen Mother Alexandra, who thought he was called 'Juicy'. Considered "penniless, brave, amiable and rather dim," he knew from the beginning that he was "the wrong person for the beautiful, imperious and much younger Baba."[4]

He was an intensely loyal person but was repeatedly let down by the most important people in his life. Baba gave him a son, David Metcalfe, and twin daughters and then neglected him for her sister's philandering husband Oswald Mosley and a succession of other lovers. He eventually divorced her.[5]

His closest friend, the Duke of Windsor, callously exploited him. Despite years of service as companion and equerry, Fruity was abandoned in Paris ahead of the German Advance in May 1940 when the former monarch fled to Biarritz. Like his sister-in-law Mary Irene, he was kind and a heavy-drinker.[6] Major Metcalfe's home was a grey stone house in Ashdown Forest, about 40 miles south of London.[7]

Metcalfe was commissioned into the Indian Army in 1907 and joined 3rd Skinner's Horse as a Lieutenant in 1909. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1917. He was promoted Major in 1922 and retired in 1927. In 1940 he was commissioned a Pilot Officer in the Administrative and Special Duties Branch of the Royal Air Force. He was promoted Flying Officer in 1941 and resigned his commission in 1942.

Metcalfe was portrayed in the 1980 7x50 min episode mini-series, "Edward and Mrs. Simpson", which won the 1980 Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series.[8]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Ziegler Philip (2004) "Metcalfe, Edward Dudley", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, retrieved Mar 24, 2007 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  2. ^ "Time Magazine" (Jun. 08, 1925) retrieved Apr 8, 2007Time Magazine
  3. ^ Tompsett Brian C. (2005) Index to Royal Genealogical Data, retrieved 3/17/2007Royal Genealogical Data
  4. ^ Gilmour, David (Oct 28, 2000) "Washing one's mother's linen" a review of THE VICEROY'S DAUGHTERS: THE LIVES OF THE CURZON SISTERS by Anne de Courcy, The Spectator, retrieved 4/9/2007a review of THE VICEROY'S DAUGHTERS
  5. ^ de Courcy Anne (2002) "The Viceroy's Daughters: the Lives of the Curzon Sisters", W. Morrow, New York, amazon.co.uk, paperback retrieved Feb 23, 2007Publishers Preview
  6. ^ Gilmour, David (Oct 28, 2000) "Washing one's mother's linen" a review of THE VICEROY'S DAUGHTERS: THE LIVES OF THE CURZON SISTERS by Anne de Courcy, The Spectator, retrieved 4/9/2007a review of THE VICEROY'S DAUGHTERS
  7. ^ Time magazine (Sep. 25, 1939) "Good Old Duke" retrieved Apr 4, 2007 "Good Old Duke"
  8. ^ "Edward & Mrs. Simpson""Edward & Mrs. Simpson"