Edward VIII’s lederhosen he wore on honeymoon go on sale

A pair of lederhosen worn by Edward VIII on his honeymoon with Wallis Simpson has been put on sale.

The Duke of Windsor, who abdicated the throne to marry the divorced American socialite, is believed to have bought the traditional German clothing in Austria in 1937.

During the trip the former King controversially met Adolf Hitler, attended a Nazi rally and was photographed giving a Nazi salute.

The Duke of Windsor, who abdicated the throne to marry the divorced American socialite, is believed to have bought the traditional German clothing in Austria in 1937

Front and back: A pair of lederhosen worn by Edward VIII on his honeymoon with Wallis Simpson have been put on sale

Edward VIII, pictured here in his lederhosen on his honeymoon with Wallis Simpson (middle) and Nazi sympathiser Fern Beedeaux (right), was photographed giving a Nazi salute 

Edward VIII, pictured here in his lederhosen on his honeymoon with Wallis Simpson (middle) and Nazi sympathiser Fern Beedeaux (right), was photographed giving a Nazi salute 

The trip was arranged by Charles Bedeaux, a French millionaire who had hosted the couple at one of his French chateau for their wedding on June 3, 1937.

Bedeaux had connections with the Nazi party and even rented a villa near Hitler’s Alpine retreat at Berchtesgaden. He and his wife Fern joined the newly-weds for part of their honeymoon.

A black and white picture being sold with the lederhosen shows Edward wearing them with Wallis and Fern at one of the Bedeauxs other properties, Borsodivanka Castle in northern Hungary.

A similar picture of Edward in the lederhosen was used in December that year on the cover of Look magazine.

The outfit previously belonged to the Duke of Windsor’s estate but for the past 20 years it has been in the hands of a private collector who has decided now is the right time to sell it.

The pale grey chamois lederhosen, which have leather shoulder straps and lacing to the sides, are tipped to sell for £7,500 ($10,000).

During the unofficial royal visit, Edward had a private meeting with Hitler at his retreat in Berchtesgaden and gave a public speech declaring the Nazi economic model to be ‘a miracle’ and was photographed giving Nazi salutes.

Darren Julien, of US-based Julien’s Auctions, which is selling the lederhosen, said: ‘The Duke and Duchess of Windsor spent many holidays in Austria, including a portion of their honeymoon in 1937. 

Edward appeared on the front cover of Look magazine in 1937. Stood beside Wallis Simpson, he was wearing the lederhosen

Edward appeared on the front cover of Look magazine in 1937. Stood beside Wallis Simpson, he was wearing the lederhosen

The auction takes place on November 17 and the lederhosen is tipped to sell for £7,400

The auction takes place on November 17 and the lederhosen is tipped to sell for £7,400

‘Their fondness for the region was reflected in his style.

‘He was photographed in lederhosen on the cover of the December 7, 1937 issue of Look magazine where he wears this exact pair.

‘Anything from the Duke and Duchess have become highly sought after therefore increasing their collectability with collectors, museums and admirers of the history for the royal family.’

Edward became King in January 1936 but only months into his reign he caused a constitutional crisis by proposing marriage to Simpson, who had divorced her first husband and was seeking a divorce from her second.

When it became apparent that he could not marry Simpson and remain King, Edward abdicated after just 326 days on the throne.

Earlier this year it was revealed that Winston Churchill tried to block the release of secret documents revealing Nazi plans to put Edward back on the throne.

Captured telegrams showed a German plot to allow the former king to become monarch again if Britain was forced to make peace in the Second World War.

According to files released by the National Archives, in the aftermath of the war historians sought to publish the telegrams but Churchill intervened to protect Edward’s reputation.

The documents also revealed Germany’s Foreign Minister believed Edward strongly favoured peace with the Nazis.

The auction takes place on November 17.

 

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