No, King Edward and Wallis Simpson Did Not Have a Love Story

By: Beth Moreton | Published: Mar 08, 2024

Throughout history, many have claimed that the story of King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson is one of love, as he abdicated the throne to be with her.

However, some people are now saying that this story isn’t a romantic tale, and some pretty dark truths were not made public.

Wallis Simpson Was Twice Divorced

Before meeting Edward VIII (then known as Prince David), Wallis Simpson had already been divorced and was at the time married to her second husband, Ernest Simpson.

An image of Wallis Simpson when she was younger. She has her hair pinned up and is looking off to the side.

Source: Daily Express/Wikimedia Commons

However, this posed issues for Edward as the British establishment, the Church of England, the government, and Edward’s advisers all opposed this relationship, according to the BBC.

Edward VIII Was a 'Flawed Character'

Tracy Borman, who hosted the show “Private Lives of the Monarchs,” looked into the lives of the monarchs that were hidden from the public.

A painting of Edward VIII when he was a prince. He is wearing his garter robes, which are blue with a red sash and an English flag emblem on the robes.

Source: Albert Henry Collings/Wikimedia Commons

When talking to Fox News, she said that Edward was a “flawed character” and that he had a lot of insecurities. Borman also said that he was “childlike when it came to women” and that Simpson was “like a mother figure” to him.

Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII Had an Affair

When Wallis met her second husband, Ernest, they ended up moving from the U.S. to London, and he had even left his previous wife and daughter for Wallis, according to TikToker Fatou Bojang.

A black and white image of Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, during their affair. They are at a ski resort and are both wearing dark clothes. Edward is carrying some skis.

Source: Unknown photographer/Wikimedia Commons

Before she divorced her husband to be with Edward, Wallis and Edward had an affair; even though Wallis was never really interested in his personality, he was in love with her.

Edward VIII Didn’t Necessarily Abdicate for Wallis Simpson

For almost 90 years, it has been said that the only reason Edward VIII abdicated the throne was so that he could be with Wallis Simpson.

Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII with President Richard Nixon. Simpson is linking arms with Nixon. She is wearing a white dress with colored beads and Nixon and Edward are both wearing black tuxedos with white bow ties.

Source: Jack E. Kightlinger/Wikimedia Commons

However, Borman believes that Edward never actually wanted to be king and that had Simpson not been in the picture, he would have found another excuse to abdicate anyway.

Edward VIII Thought the Monarchy Was a 'Thing of the Past'

Further proof that he may simply have never wanted to be king and that he was simply looking for a way out lies in letters to his first lover.

A painting of four generations of the royal family, consisting of Queen Victoria, Edward VIII (then Prince Edward), Prince George, Duke of York (later George V), and Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VII). Edward VIII has some flowers that he is giving to Queen Victoria. She is sitting and everyone else is standing.

Source: William Quiller Orchardson/Wikimedia Commons

In these letters, according to Politico, Edward said he thought the monarchy was a “thing of the past” and that his father, George V, was “out of touch.”

Edward VIII Was Deeply in Love with Wallis Simpson

All great love stories involve both people being in love with each other, but Edward and Wallis Simpson’s relationship was much more one-sided.