Editing Wallis Simpson (section)

==Widowhood==
Upon Edward's death from throat cancer in 1972, Wallis traveled to the United Kingdom to attend [[Death and funeral of Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor|his funeral]],<ref>Conducted by [[Launcelot Fleming]], [[Dean of Windsor]] (''[[The Times]]'', Monday, June 5, 1972; p. 2; Issue 58496; col. E)</ref> staying at Buckingham Palace during her visit.<ref>Bloch, ''The Duchess of Windsor'', p. 216; Sebba, p. 272; Vickers, p. 26</ref> She became increasingly frail and eventually succumbed to [[dementia]], living the final years of her life as a recluse, supported by both her husband's estate and an allowance from Elizabeth II.<ref>Sebba, pp. 274–277; Vickers, pp. 99–120; Ziegler, p. 555</ref> She suffered several falls and broke her hip twice.<ref>King, pp. 492–493</ref>

After Edward's death, Wallis's French lawyer, [[Suzanne Blum (lawyer)|Suzanne Blum]], assumed [[power of attorney]].<ref>Bloch, ''The Duchess of Windsor'', p. 221; King, p. 505; Menkes, p. 199; Vickers, pp. 137–138</ref> Blum sold items belonging to the Duchess to her own friends at lower than market value<ref>Vickers, pp. 124–127, 165</ref> and was accused of exploiting her client in [[Caroline Blackwood]]'s ''The Last of the Duchess'', written in 1980 but not published until 1995, after Blum's death.<ref>Vickers, pp. 178–179</ref> Later, royal biographer [[Hugo Vickers]] called Blum a "Satanic figure&nbsp;... wearing the mantle of good intention to disguise her inner malevolence".<ref>Vickers, p. 370</ref>

In 1980, Wallis lost her ability to speak.<ref>Bloch, ''The Duchess of Windsor'', p. 222</ref> Towards the end of her life, she was bedridden and did not receive any visitors, apart from her doctor and nurses.<ref>Vickers, pp. 158–168</ref>