In 1955, the Lascelleses moved to Fort Belvedere, Surrey, the former country home of Gerald Lascelles's uncle, Edward VIII (the Duke of Windsor).
Fort Belvedere, Surrey, the country home of King Edward VIII, scene of his 1936 abdication
The triangular turreted structure was set amidst a dense plantation of trees and overlooked Virginia Water, a man-made body of water constructed by Thomas and Paul Sandby at the behest of the Duke.
•
Edward held his final meetings with British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin and signed the Instrument of Abdication, witnessed by his brothers, at the fort.
•
The property remains in the ownership of the Crown, and is currently occupied by private tenants, Canadian businessman Galen Weston and his wife Hilary Weston.
•
Gerald Lascelles was the tenant between 1956 and 1975, on a 99 year lease, and restored the gardens, adding a swimming pool and tennis court.
Edward, being notoriously lax in security, often left top secret government files sent to him unguarded in his Fort Belvedere residence, giving Mrs. Simpson every opportunity to do so.
Fort Worth, Texas | Fort Worth | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Fort Sill | Fort Bliss | Fort Leavenworth | Fort Bragg | Fort Benning | Fort William | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | fort | Fort Smith, Arkansas | Fort Bragg (North Carolina) | Red Fort | Fort Sumter | Fort Lee, New Jersey | Fort Knox | Fort Wayne | Fort Monroe | Fort Drum | Fort Stockton, Texas | Fort Smith | Fort Sam Houston | Fort Myers, Florida | Fort Worth Star-Telegram | Fort Vancouver | Fort McMurray | Fort Hood | Fort Stockton | Fort Lauderdale |