Wallis Simpson's Royal Engagement Is The Epitome Of 'If He Wanted To, He Would'

If you've ever dealt with mixed messages in the dating world, there's one old adage that can help you figure out where you stand. The saying "if he wanted to, he would," might sound harsh, but this is one of the unspoken rules you should know before going on a date. The idea is that if a man (or anybody, really) genuinely liked you, he'd make it clear. And no one is a better example of that than Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson. 

Edward became the king of England in January 1936. However, at the time, he was in love with American socialite Wallis Simpson, who had been married twice — and she was still in the process of divorcing husband number two, Ernest Simpson. As the supreme governor of the Church of England, Edward couldn't marry someone who'd been divorced if their former spouse was still alive, and this protocol didn't change until 2002. Edward loved Wallis so much that he proposed anyway, and their engagement took place on October 27, 1936. The powers that be could not get on board, forcing Edward to choose between Wallis and his throne. He chose Wallis, officially abdicating as the king of England in December of that year.

"But you must believe me when I tell you that I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as King as I would wish to do, without the help and support of the woman I love," he told the public in his abdication broadcast, per National Portrait Gallery. So the next time you're listening to your date's excuses for why he can't text back or see you, remember that Edward gave up his kingdom to be with Wallis. If your date wanted to, he would. 

If you listened to certain podcasters today, they'd tell you that someone like Wallis Simpson would never find true love with Edward VIII. Not only was she technically still married when Edward proposed, but she was also 40 years old — past her prime if you believe the ridiculous red-pill notion that women "expire" at 30. On top of that, Edward was widely known to be a playboy, and his mother Queen Mary didn't approve of Wallis. But despite all these factors, he loved her enough to walk away from his throne. It shows not only that men will pursue the women they want against the odds, but also that the kinds of excuses used in the modern dating scene don't truly matter in the case of real love. Once you accept this, it's much easier to enjoy dating in your 30s!

Interestingly, Edward's great-nephew King Charles III has a similar story. While Edward and Wallis are most often compared to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, Charles similarly ruffled feathers to be with the woman he really loved, even after marrying Princess Diana in 1981. He didn't have to abdicate to marry the divorced Queen Camilla in 2005, especially given that he was divorced himself. However, the fact that she was older and not popular with the masses — including his own family — didn't stop him from marrying her in the end. If these trivial dating "rules" don't mean anything to the kings of England, you don't have to give them any weight on the modern dating scene either, whether you're using dating apps to find the one or getting out there in real life. Both royals prove that society's expectations don't matter when the heart wants what it wants.