The story of how Prince Harry interviewer’s great-aunt had affair with Edward VIII when he was Prince of Wales

Prince Harry has sat down with American journalist Anderson Cooper for a "revealing" interview ahead of the release of his tell-all memoir, titled Spare.

A short trailer for the interview, which will air 8 January on CBS News’ 60 Minutes programme, describes it as “revealing” and Harry’s biography as “explosive”.

But Anderson, 55, and Harry, 38, have a family connection that dates back to the beginning of the 20th century.

In the 1920s and 30s, Anderson's great-aunt, Thelma Furness, had an affair with Harry's great-great uncle, Edward VIII, when he was the Prince of Wales.

It is unknown whether either the Duke of Sussex or the broadcast journalist were aware of the link before they met for the interview.


Lady Furness was the twin sister of Anderson's mother, Gloria Vanderbilt.

Edward first met Lady Furness at an agricultural show in 1926. The pair began an affair, while Thelma was married to Marmaduke Furness, who was owner of a shipbuilding firm and 20 years her senior.

Edward had moved onto Lady Furness despite being besotted with English socialite Freda Ward, the wife of MP William Dudley Ward.

Edward and Freda's passionate affair started to unwind when Freda embarked on another affair with an American polo player in a bid to get the Prince to move on.

And so he did, with Lady Furness.

The couple reportedly exchanged teddy bears from Harrods to remind them of each other while they were apart.

Ultimately, Edward's affair with Lady Furness led him to being introduced to his future wife, American divorcee Wallis Simpson.

The History Press reports that a chance meeting between Edward and Wallis at one of Lady Furness's parties at her house in Melton Mowbry soon blossomed into a close friendship.

He abdicated on 10 December 1936, when he broadcast a farewell message by radio, and left England to marry Wallis in France.

He was made Duke of Windsor and lived abroad, maintaining friendly, although distant, links with his relatives until his death in 1972.

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