never-before-seen photo of exiled Duke of Windsor in ceremonial robe

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Resplendent in ceremonial robes he would never again be able to wear in public, never-before-seen photo shows exiled Duke of Windsor posing at French country retreat he shared with Wallis 

An extraordinary new picture of the former King Edward VIII, posing in the historic finery of the Order of the Garter, has emerged. In the shot the Duke of Windsor stands in a blue velvet cloak, red sash and white stockings - but despite the formality of the ceremonial costume, he stands squinting in the sunny back garden of the French country retreat he shared with Wallis Simpson. The snap was included in one of three personal photo albums that cover decades of the duke and duchess's lives together. It also includes a snap from of the then-Prince of wales and his future wife at Fort Belvedere, Windsor (inset). The albums were passed to Henri Gay, 90, the duke's head gardener at La Maison de la Tuilerie, south west of Paris. Mr Gay, who worked for the royals for seven years from 1966, said he even took the incredible image. He said: 'On one occasion he called me over to take a picture of him in his robes. It was in the garden where he had installed a mini-golf course.' The collection of pictures has been described by Sothebys as 'a remarkable record' of the Duke of Windsor's private life with Wallis.