MARGUERITE ALIBERT and THE PRINCE OF WALES

According to Andrew Rose, the author of The Woman Before Wallis, Marguerite Alibert rose from a common sex worker in one of the finest brothels in Paris, and was groomed to have an upper class presentation by the owner, Madame Denart.  Marguerite was 16 and had recently given birth to an illegitimate daughter. 

The Prince of Wales had met her on an early trip to France, but for seven years she was the "keep" of Andre Meller, a much older and rich older married man, and was seen around Paris and on foreign travels with him.  Their relationship ended when she was just about 22 and the first world war in Europe was beginning.

In 1914 on the eve of the war, Marguerite even drove a car for the Red Cross briefly, but since a warm climate was her doctor's suggestion, she went to Egypt for the first time where there was also no war threat. In Cairo she continued to have clients and when she came back to Paris she left Madame Denart and moved to the maison de redezvous of Madame Sonial de Thevals, another brothel where rich and powerful men paid for their pleasure. Being a courtesan or mistress was acceptable in Parisian society and such relationships were shown off rather than hidden as they were in Britain. The brothel sent out errand girls but actresses in need of money also worked there. Men paid astronomical sums and the prostitutes were not hurried or overworked. Marguerite was popular enough to be able to hold soirees in which she socially entertained creative people, entertainers, and minor aristocrats.  

On Saint Georges Day, the 23rd of April 1917, the Prince of Wales was on a three day leave and staying at the Hotel de Crillon, a luxury hotel. It was there that they were properly introduced while having lunch.  She wore emeralds and pearls, had long auburn hair, a beautiful face, and was delightful and charming.  He was captivated.

During their relationship, between 1917 and 1919, the Prince of Wales wrote Marguerite at least 20 letters. These were not just mash notes. He wrote from his heart. He also aired his political views and talked against his father. She wrote back.  He never considered these letters could hurt him - or the Monarchy - at some time in the future. The Prince may have been a bit more discretionary in that he never paid brothel sex workers with cash but instead gifted them jewelry and other fine things. Marguerite sent him sexy literature.  Perhaps part of his enjoyment of the relationship was that it occurred without his parents knowledge or approval. 

By 1917 the Prince was advised by those who wished to protect him and the Royal Family to end the affair. Perhaps the reason he did was that he was getting involved with other women and would soon take Mrs. Freda Dudley Ward, an unhappily married woman with a much older husband, as his Mistress. Mrs. Ward and the Prince also wrote letters to each other.  Their relationship was considered embroiled between 1920 and 1921. Their relationship ended in a friendship after she sought divorce in 1922, but Freda never used the many letters that they sent to each other as lovers or friends, written between 1918 and 1930, for blackmail.

When Marguerite realized that the Prince was leaving their relationship, she wrote him a horrible letter hinting blackmail because she had the letters he had written to her.  She wanted money.  He sought legal advice. But nothing happened because Marguerite had met Henri Laurant.  He was rich enough to give her and her daughter Ramonde a good life.  He proposed marriage and as she had only money in mind, Marguerite accepted.  She told Madame that she would give it six months.

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Continue to read the saga of Marguerite Alibert in coming posts!