Wallis Simpson was an American woman whose romance with King Edward VIII caused a huge crisis in the British Royal Family in 1936. She had been divorced twice, which prevented the King from marrying her under strict rules. Discover how love forced a King to give up his throne!

What would you do if you had to choose between your biggest dream job and the person you love most in the world?

That’s exactly the super dramatic choice a British King had to make way back in 1936! The story is all about Wallis Simpson, an American woman who was completely captivating, even to the King of England, Edward VIII. Wallis grew up in Pennsylvania and Maryland, but her life took a wild turn when she fell in love with a future monarch. Her story is one of high society, big decisions, and even bigger drama for the British Royal Family! We are digging into this amazing moment in British History for kids!

Finn

Finn says:

"Wow! Giving up a job as King? That’s like giving up being the star player on every sports team *and* getting to live in a castle forever! Wallis must have been super special to make Edward make that choice!"

Who Was Wallis Simpson, Anyway?

Before she ever met a king, Wallis Simpson was born Bessie Wallis Warfield on June 19, 1896, in Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania. She was a bright kid who always loved fashion and being clever!

Wallis was not English; she was American! She grew up in a time when people sometimes had to move around a lot. Her first husband was an American Navy pilot, Earl Winfield Spencer Jr., whom she married in 1916. But that marriage didn't last, and they divorced in 1927.

Next, she married an English-American businessman named Ernest Simpson. While married to Ernest, Wallis really started moving in high-society circles—that means she was meeting all the rich and important people in London. It was at a party that she would meet the man who would change everything: Edward, the Prince of Wales!

Mind-Blowing Fact!

Wallis was known for having amazing style! She was so fashionable that when she married Edward later, she wore a special, beautiful shade of light blue dress, which became famously known as 'Wallis Blue'!

The Royal Love Triangle: The Abdication Crisis

When Edward became King Edward VIII in January 1936, everything got complicated. He was the King, and the King of England is also the head of the Church of England. The problem? Wallis had already been divorced *once* and was getting a divorce from her *second* husband, Ernest, in 1936.

In the early 1930s, the British government and the Church of England had very strict rules. They believed the King could not marry a woman who had been divorced twice and still had two living ex-husbands. Imagine the rulebook for the King! Edward didn't care about the rules; he only cared about Wallis.

Edward told his Prime Minister that he wanted to marry Wallis, but the government strongly disagreed. It was called the Abdication Crisis because the King faced an impossible choice: give up the throne to marry the woman he loved, or stay King and give her up.

1 King
Who abdicated for love
1936 Year
Edward became King and then gave up the throne
2 Divorces
Wallis had before marrying the former King
Duke of Windsor New Title
Edward received after leaving the throne

How Did Edward VIII Say Goodbye to the Crown?

King Edward VIII knew he had to make a big decision by the end of 1936. He couldn't be King and marry Wallis, so he chose Wallis!

He gave a famous speech on the radio on December 11, 1936. This was a huge deal because most people had never heard a King speak like that directly to them. He told everyone he was giving up his job because he couldn't do his royal duty without the support of 'the woman I love.'

The next day, his younger brother, Albert, became King George VI. Edward was then given a new title: Duke of Windsor.

The Wedding: A Quiet Affair

It took a little while for Wallis's divorce from Ernest to be finalized, which happened in May 1937. Just one month later, on June 3, 1937, Edward and Wallis finally got married in a small, private ceremony in France at the Château de Candé.

Because of all the controversy, almost no one from the Royal Family came to the wedding. Wallis became the Duchess of Windsor when they married. Even though she was married to a former King, she was *not* given the title 'Her Royal Highness' because of her past.

💡 Did You Know?

Because Edward gave up the throne, his younger brother, George VI, suddenly became King! This meant George VI's young daughter, Princess Elizabeth, suddenly jumped up the line to become the next in line to be Queen—and she eventually did, becoming Queen Elizabeth II!

🎯 Quick Quiz!

What was the main reason the British government did NOT want Edward VIII to marry Wallis Simpson?

A) She wanted to move the Royal Family to America.
B) She was friends with a rival King.
C) She was an American who had been divorced twice.
D) She refused to live in Buckingham Palace.

Life After the Crown: The Duke and Duchess of Windsor

The Duke and Duchess of Windsor spent most of their lives living in France, away from the direct spotlight of the Royal Family. They were often seen as socialites who traveled and enjoyed a very glamorous lifestyle.

During World War II, Edward was sent by his brother, the new King, to be the Governor of the Bahamas. This was an important job to keep him safe and show he was still serving his country, even though he wasn't King anymore.

Wallis and Edward stayed married until he passed away in 1972, and she lived on in Paris until her death in 1986. Their story remains one of the biggest royal dramas ever!

  • Born: June 19, 1896, in Pennsylvania, USA.
  • First Met Edward: Around 1931, when Edward was still the Prince of Wales.
  • The Big Decision: Edward gave up the throne in December 1936.
  • Married: June 3, 1937, in France, making Wallis the Duchess of Windsor.

The story of Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII teaches us that sometimes love means making incredibly hard choices that can change history forever. It showed everyone that even the most powerful people in the world have to choose between their duty and their hearts! Keep exploring history to find out what happens next!

Questions Kids Ask About British History

Was Wallis Simpson ever Queen of England?
No, Wallis Simpson was never the Queen of England. When Edward VIII chose to marry her, he had to give up the throne first because the government would not allow him to marry a twice-divorced woman as his Queen.
What happened to King Edward VIII after he quit being King?
He was given the title Duke of Windsor by his brother, the new King George VI. Edward and Wallis then lived in France for most of their lives, away from the main Royal Family duties in Britain.
When did Wallis Simpson and Edward get married?
They married on June 3, 1937, in a private ceremony in France, about six months after Edward officially gave up the throne in December 1936.
Where was Wallis Simpson from?
Wallis Simpson was from the United States. She was born in Pennsylvania and grew up mostly in Baltimore, Maryland, before moving to England where she met the future King.

Keep Exploring the Royal Drama!

That was a rollercoaster of history! Wallis Simpson’s story is a reminder that history isn't just about battles and big inventions—it’s also about powerful people making tough, dramatic choices for love! Check out our related episodes to see what happened to the King’s brother who took over the throne!