The year was 1950.
Edward, Duke of Windsor, abdicated the throne of England 14 years earlier to marry American socialite and twice-divorced Wallis Warfield Simpson, passing the crown to his brother, Albert, who became King George VI and was the father of Queen Elizabeth II.
As for the former king, Edward was free to do what he liked. In 1950, he and his duchess hopped an ocean liner and crossed the Atlantic to North America.
New Orleans' Mardi Gras was their eventual destination. They arrived in the Crescent City to great fanfare on Feb. 21, 1950, by train after vacationing in Mexico City.
The Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson, does a curtsy while holding the hand of her husband, the Duke of Windsor, former King Edward, as he bows to the royalty of Rex in 1950. New Orleans was in a social swivet. 'Who will curtsy to whom when the Kings and Queens of Rex and Comus and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor meet?'
FILE PHOTO BY NORMAN J. BERTEAUX
They were wined and dined at Antoine's, received the keys to the city from Mayor deLesseps “Chep†Morrison and watched the Rex procession along Canal Street from the Boston Club Balcony.
But it was what happened after the parade that made Mardi Gras history.
"Is it true that King Edward, who abdicated the throne of England, came to Mardi Gras in New Orleans with his wife Wallis Warfield Simpson — and the two of them bowed to Mardi Gras royalty?" one reader asked.
In short, they did. Hierarchy was inverted. Social codes blurred, and the Old World met New Orleans.
The Duke and Duchess of Windsor bow so their majesties at Comus bal masque in 1950. New Orleans was in a social swivet. 'Who will curtsy to whom when the Kings and Queens of Rex and Comus and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor meet?'Â
FILE PHOTO
The historic moment still exists — frozen in wax at The Great River Road Museum, next to Houmas House in Darrow. Its displays include the wax figures that once belonged to New Orleans' former Musée Conti Wax Museum, which closed in 2016.
The Great River Road Museum purchased and restored the figures, including likenesses of the Windsors.
The figures, dressed in reproductions of the Mardi Gras ball outfits worn by the British royalty, stand before a costume worn by a previous Rex king. A photo behind the figures shows the duchess in a graceful curtsy while holding the hand of the duke as he bows.
The 1950 king of Rex was local businessman Reuben H. Brown; his queen, Mary Brooks Soulé, was a debutante. But as the king and queen of Carnival, they were New Orleans royalty, meaning they didn't bow to anyone — including the former king of England and his wife.Â
Corinne Morrison, wife of New Orleans Mayor De Lesseps S. 'Chep' Morrison, greet the and Duke and Duchess of Windsor during their 1950 visit to New Orleans' Mardi Gras.
FILE PHOTO
The moment repeated itself that evening when the Windsors also bowed to Mystick Krewe of Comus royalty.
Graciously welcomed
Meanwhile, Times-Picayune reporter Pondine Schoenberger recounted in her Feb. 22, 1950, front-page story how royalty from both the Rex Organization and the Mistick Krewe of Comus graciously welcomed the Windsors.
"Real royalty shared the spotlight with make-believe royalty in New Orleans Tuesday, and it was anyone's guess who caused the most excitement," Schoenberger wrote. "The Duke and Duchess stood on the balcony of the Boston Club while Rex, king of the Carnival, toasted his fair queen and her court."
Schoenberger's story followed the duke and duchess through an itinerary that included talking to reporters and meeting New Orleanians, a luncheon and a meeting with the king and queen of the Mistick Krewe of Comus, who, according to their tradition, weren't publicly named.
The Duke and Duchess of Windsor at New Orleans' Mardi Gras in 1950.
PROVIDED PHOTO BY ARTHUR HARDY
They also got into the spirit of Mardi Gras.
"What His Royal Highness seemed to enjoy most about the parade were the bands, particularly the little blonde drum majors," Schoenberger wrote. "He and the duchess also seemed to get a big kick out of reaching for necklaces and other baubles thrown from the floats. They would grab them eagerly, then toss them back to the crowd."
The day's festivities finally wound down with an escort into the Rex Ball in the Municipal Auditorium.
"Following the grand march, the Windsors were led up to the royal throne, which dominated the stage," Schoenberger wrote. "Here, they were formally presented to the King and Queen of Comus, who were standing at the time. The duchess went into a graceful curtsy and the duke bowed from the waist."
Cheers exploded from the crowd, while the Comus royalty reciprocated with their own bows. Yes, according to the article, Comus royalty bowed.Â
Wax likenesses of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor are on display in The Great River Road Museum next to Houmas House in Darrow. The wax figures, wearing reproduction outfits from the night the duke and duchess bowed to Rex royalty, once belonged to the Musée Conti Wax Museum in the French Quarter, which closed in 2016.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER
Then came the presentation to the Rex court.
"Again curtsy and bow were the occasion for prolonged applause from the spectators," Schoenberger wrote.
However, Schoenberger mentions no bows by Rex royalty.
Finally, Arthur Hardy, perhaps the foremost authority on Mardi Gras, cited an account of the event by authors Charles Dufour and Leonard Huber in the first official history of the Rex organization, “If Ever I Cease to Love†in a Feb. 15, 2017, article for The Times-Picayune:
“When the captain of the Comus organization presented the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, they looked anything but apathetic. The Duchess hit the floor with two of the most beautiful and graceful curtsies ever seen, and the Duke bowed from the waist, almost touching the floor with his forehead. Comus’ 2,500 guests were in ecstasy. They responded with deafening applause.â€
More than 75 years later, the royal encounters still stand among the most remarkable moments in the city's Carnival history.