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As the 40th anniversary of the death of Wallis Simpson on April 24, 1986, falls this week, a royal expert has claimed history is repeating itself with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, whose relationship closely resembles that of the former King Edward VIII and the hated American divorcee.

Andrew Lownie's book on Wallis Simpson and the Duke of Windsor, titled "Traitor King: The Scandalous Exile of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor" focuses on their post-abdication lives and in an interview with the Express, has drawn parallels between the two couples.

And he warns that Meghan is even more ambitious than Wallis Simpson, the American divorcee and socialite, who caused Edward to abdicate the British throne. He believes that, like his great-great uncle before him, Harry is dominated by his American wife, who, he says, unlike Wallis, has no respect for the monarchy.

The author said: "The parallels between Wallis and Meghan are uncanny. Both couples are/were in exile from Britain, estranged from the Royal Family, and it really does feel a bit like history repeating itself."

However, while Lownie believes Prince Harry is a much more sympathetic character than Edward VIII, he describes Meghan as "much more ambitious than Wallis."

He continues: "Meghan is a narcissist who wants to rewrite the narrative, whereas Wallis was always respectful of the monarchy."

"Like Meghan, Wallis was a good time girl who got in over her head, but to her credit, she stuck with this man-child. Like many of the Windsor men, including Harry, he was looking for a mummy figure because he'd never really had one and she did look after him."

Harry was just 12 years old when his mother, Princess Diana, died in a car crash in Paris in August 1997.

Lownie continues: "Wallis clearly dominated the Duke, both emotionally and sexually, probably, but she wasn't a complete monster."

Lownie believes our ongoing fascination with what is often described as "the great love affair of the 20th century" is partly down to the complexity of Wallis' nature and character, adding that "people project themselves onto her."

"There is always more information coming to light about her and still more to learn decades later."

However, he says there is no real evidence to support the more prurient rumours she was "intersex" or had an abortion, two of the many slurs levelled at Wallis.

He did, however, stress she was repeatedly unfaithful to the Duke, of whom she quickly grew bored.

Another royal Robert Jobson, No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author (His last book is "The Windsor Legacy", published by Blink) notes that both Duchesses have received a lot of hate from the public.

Of Wallis, he said: "The public reaction to her was savage. Hate mail. Threats. Talk of acid attacks. Edward's aide, Sir Dudley Forward, was genuinely shaken by the volume and the venom of it.

"He said: 'England loathed her, Britain loathed her. I am always surprised she was never murdered.' A woman doesn't deserve that whatever the circumstances. And history has certainly been rougher on her than on Edward, who got away relatively lightly considering he was the one who actually had the responsibilities."

He added: "She was not simply a romantic caught in the wrong story. She was ambitious and she was shrewd. Some sympathy is warranted. A clean bill of historical health is not."

Like Edward, Harry too appeared to have everything, "the looks, the charm, the fame. And he walked away from it," said the author.

Wallis Simpson's funeral was held on April 29, 1986, a 28-minute service devoid of any typical royal pomp and pageantry.

There was no eulogy and no funeral address for the American divorcee who had caused the abdication of the nation's King.

The private service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, marked by simplicity after a lifetime of excess and frivolity.

Her casket was adorned with a single wreath of white, orange, and yellow lilies from Queen Elizabeth II.

Attended by 175 people, including the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, she was buried alongside her husband, Edward VIII, at Frogmore Royal Burial Ground.

Her tombstone simply reads "Wallis, Duchess of Windsor," omitting the "Her Royal Highness" (HRH) title that Edward had unsuccessfully sought for her throughout his life.

Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, retained her title, Her Royal Highness, but does not use it for her official or commercial work. Following their step back as working royals in 2020, the Royal Family announced the couple would no longer use their HRH titles, though they were not stripped of them.