text: can anybody give me a list of famous duchesses? especially ones those who have lead really interesting lives? duchess of windsor: twice divorced american named wallis simpson who married england's king edward viii (1937). he had to abdicate his throne because monarchs were not allowed to marry divorced people. they married, were banished from the royal family, moved to the caribbean and spent most of the rest of their lives there. the only time wallis ever saw the royal family after the marriage was at her husband, the former king edward viii's funeral. they were not treated well by the family, including the queen. they saw edward as disloyal to his country and not taking his responsibility as king seriously because he married wallis.  duchess of york: sarah ferguson married queen elizabeth's 3rd child/2nd son prince andrew and became duchess of york upon marriage (1986). she was hounded from the beginning because of her boisterous nature, overspending, horrible wardrobe, and for cheating on her husband. was eventually banished from the royal family and all royal functions. the only royal function she was allowed to attend since their divorce was princess diana's funeral.  duchess of york: queen elizabeth the queen mother was the last person before "fergie" to have held the title of duchess of york. she and her husband, prince albert (who upon his brother's abdication in the 1930's became king george vi) were the duke and duchess of york. she became queen when edward abdicated and her husband was crowned and her two children were suddenly 1st and 2nd in line for the throne.   duchess of cornwall: camilla parker-bowles. i think we all know her story. because she married prince charles, the prince of wales, she is technically the princess of wales (diana's title) but the queen bestowed a new title upon her to avoid any uproar among diana loyalists.