Two private Thames islands linked to Edward VIII head to auction for £1.65m

Two private islands on the River Thames, once linked to the secret courtship of UK's King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, are heading to auction after failing to find a buyer at a higher asking price last year. The unusual estate, which combines privacy, history and riverfront views, is now expected to fetch £1.65 million when it goes under the hammer on July 28, 2026.A royal-linked retreatHolm Island and Hollyhock Island sit on the River Thames in Wraysbury, Berkshire, around 20 miles west of central London. The two islands are connected by a footbridge and have long been tied to one of the most famous romances in British royal history.